Just today received further letter dated 30th July from my MP who put a written Parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Health and I quote:
The Department is assured the supply of Actavis immediate release propranolol tablets is sufficient to meet normal demand. Actavis modified release propranolol capsules are currently unavailable. However, they are expected to be back in stock by the end of July and supplies of generic propranolol capsules are currently available from an alternative manufacturer. The Department does not have information on stock holding of propranolol at a local level
UK pharmaceutic supplies and the Ministry have yet to acknowledge the fact that having to use different manufacturers products can affect patients. Helen
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Getting quite casual about collecting the right scripted meds now! When it works, itâs easy. On TV last night however huge publicity about the UK drugs shortage of the commonly used HRT drugs. GPs donât know what to prescribe because theyâve no idea what stocks the pharmacies have! Um. Making lots of menopausal ladies nervous apparently. Helen
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Just read a Daily Mail newspaper article on the HRT drugs shortage entitled âHRT crisis: Now supply shortage hits more drugsâ. Apparently pharmacists are warning that production problems are the cause and other drug supplies are also being affected. Supplies of blood pressure pills, painkillers and epilepsy treatments have all been affected in recent months it reads. The article also stated Epilepsy UK warned that they have seem a sharp rise in the number of people struggling to obtain Epanutin, Epilim (aka Sodium Valproate) and Topamax. HRT drugs seem to be in shortest supply but oral contraceptives and anti-inflammatories (Naproxen was mentioned by name) are also affected.
Maybe I didnât dream my Propranolol drug shortage after all. Helen
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Whoops! Lulled into false sense of security. This monthâs script is The Pits. The one brand that really doesnât help. Interestingly when changing pharmacies I was assured the ânewâ one never uses this particular brand but now itâs popped up even there. Ten days before I could have accused it of being a Spectre from Halloween. Maybe it is. Helen
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Oh yes, the different brands. My last prescription resulted in a mix of 3 different brands of pizotifen, some yellow, some white, some big, some small. I donât like the yellow ones, I donât want E numbers in migraine meds (when I studiously avoid them in food) I had to wait three weeks getting a box or two in dribs and drabs and constant calling into the chemist as they were finding it hard to source (I use a box up every 3 to 4 days). I was quite concerned about actually running out. I think Iâll have to build a bit of a surplus suppy up. All our local GPâs have gone over to nominated pharmacy so I canât get a script take it somewhere and ask can you fill it ? and if not take it elsewhere. It goes electronically to the nominated chemist, I have no idea if it has been received until I call in/phone up and I canât take it elsewhere when they canât fill it.
The pharmacist says they have to take what they can get but I dislike the the inconsistency. (I suspect it is also down to cost). It seems to be across the board. My father takes a few meds and doesnât like the inconsistency in brands and colours of pills as it confuses him. My son takes amitriptyline for migraines and every time his script is a different brand and colour of tab, foul bright blue ones in a flourescent packet this time (just what a migraineur wants to see). I do wonder about quality control.
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The joys of the NHS for you, eh. Thereâs been loads in the National Press about medical shortages of many commonly prescribed drugs the last few months. All comes down to increased cost.
I find itâs amazing. Certain brands of decaff tea get me so I stick to one all the time Iâm that sensitive yet Iâm expected to swallow any old brand of Propranolol. The GERD consultant told me the medicine content has to be exact but itâs the filler that differs and can cause problems. Like you I think of people who have some visual/mental impairment.
For what itâs worth a peripatetic pharmacist told me thatâs not allowed. Anybody should be able to request and obtain an actual physical prescription (written on real paper which I know you like me are old enough to recall) that they can take to any chemist of their choice, in his very words (in the outer Hebrides if you like). After all what would happen if you were suddenly called away to another part of the country to care for a dying relative. Chemists wonât issue a double prescription to take away. With Propranolol size varies according to brand and also according to strength. I take a 60mg dose. Nobody makes 60mg pills so itâs 40 + two 10mg tablets and if I have two different brands on the go its almost impossible to tell the strength by size. Very easy to take a double dose. Not the best option with betablockers! Helen
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