pharmacy robots!

[Zadock]

I’ve just been to collect my meds from my local pharmacy. I need to avoid Teva which they know, but this time the 25mcg levo was Teva. They kindly changed it in store but explained that in future they won’t be able to offer/avoid specific brands as all meds will be picked by a robot! Their only advice was to go elsewhere. I’m shocked and wonder if anyone else has been told this? I specifically chose this pharmacy as it is (or was) a small independent and not part of one of the big companies. Yet another obstacle to our need for treatment??

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

This happened to the chemist at the bottom of my road. ☹️

It was an independent, then got taken over by a large group. Used to be able to order in anything they didn't have on the shelf next day or afternoon. Lately they have a sign up saying they need 72 hours to order anything in.

The last (and final) prescription I took there was for a few different things and as at least one had to be ordered I left it with them for the 72 hours. Went back and even then it was missing my Levo. The pharamacist couldnt even phone them for 2 days to find out when they might get the Levo. I had to go get a whole new prescription for it.

They need 72 hours as it goes to a warehouse where a robot picks the order and then parcels it all up in a plastic wrapper. This is such a backwards move!

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

oh blimey this is awful 😞 Progress huh 🤔

[Cezza]

morning this happened to me 4 weeks ago so I contacted my new GP was kindly but bluntly told to find a chemist myself until I find one that will supply me what I needed so I did but in doing so I’ve now realised each chemist stocks different brands & hardly any can confirm what they would definitely get in when they order it in for u but keep looking as u will find one I was lucky I stumbled access a chemist that had just changed there supplier to a brand I’ve never heard of I am safe for now until next time then I will be expected to do it all over again I hope this helps & good luck I’m on T3 but same situation x

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello there,My chemist gets prescriptions filled out at a HUB and it just depends which brand they have in stock,you can't request a particular one.What I have to do is open my prescription bag at the counter,check and see if it's a brand I can take and if it isn't I hand it back and they reprint my prescription so I can take that prescription to another pharmacy. I then just go to different chemists and ask what brand they have before giving over my prescription. That's the way around it for me.

[Zadock in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Thanks for the tip. I’ll check if they’ll let me do that. The problem is usually with the 25 levo. The 50s and the T3 are always ok (so far). But fewer companies make 25 tablets. Perhaps I can adjust times I request meds from the gp to separate the 25s. It all takes extra time for we patients doesn’t it!

[Cavapoochonowner]

Yes that's what I do.I take 125mcg Fri-sun.Then 100mcg Mon-Thurs. My problem is with the 25's too ,so I order them so they come separately so it's easier for pharmacist just to re-issue that prescription. I thought I'd got it cracked but when I opened my prescription at home on monday(I take medication for migraine and high eye pressure) my 100mcg levo was teva.I could have screamed.I'll have to check both from now on.So frustrating.

[Zadock in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

So sorry for you! I've got into the habit of opening the bag before I leave the pharmacy. We shouldn't need to but it's become necessary. Up to now my pharmacy always had stock of Wockhart 25s in the store. So I assume from what they've said that this may change and/or are the robots in store - who knows?!