To be pissed off that GP changed my oral contraceptive pill without telling me?

[KingaRoo]

I have been taking Cilest for years and years. It suits me as I PCOS and have reacted badly to other pills over the years (one notably gave me terrible acne and made my hair fall out). Cilest was taken off the market recently so they put me on another brand, Lizinna, which has the exact same types of oestrogen/progesterone which is really important.

Just received my new prescription and they have given me Microgynon which is the one my hair fell out with. I am so annoyed they just did this without even discussing it with me. I suspect it's cheaper.

My GP is calling me this afternoon to discuss but I am so angry!! What if i hadn't checked?

Also, does anyone know if Lizinna is no longer available and, if so, what types of pill are particularly good for PCOS? I've tried googling but not got anywhere.

I know some types of pill raise androgen levels and I need the ones that lower it.

[hazandduck]

That really isn’t on, maybe it was some sort of glitch but I was on the mini pill due to having migraines if I went on microgynon it could increase risk of stroke, so it’s not a harmless slip for them to make! I would complain. I know there is a crisis going on but you still deserve the correct prescription, it’s bloody dangerous to just switch drugs like that.

[TerrapinStation]

I can't imagine anyone would think you are being unreasonable, who would do that?

I'd keep an open mind until you hear what they say on the call and take it from there.

[bellsbuss]

I was on Cileste and have been out on Cilique by my GP.

[CatRamsey]

I have PCOS and I take Levest, but I think that may be the same as Microgynon just with a different name, I'm not sure.

Awful of your GP to do that without discussing first. You'd think it'd be on your record that you had issues with it before.

Hope you get it sorted.

[KingaRoo]

Thank you I will look up Cilique.

[sorayme]

I've always taken Yasmin. GP said it was too expensive and swapped mine without my say so. I now just buy them online. Shouldn't have to but just easier.

[Fruitbatdancer]

Every time they do a review at mine they put me on microgynon. It must be cheapest but sends me insane. Every time they say ‘not sure how that happened yours was out of stock’ and magically mine then is in stock. Fuckers.

[BrightYellowDaffodil]

I was on Cilest and was changed onto Lizianna (which I've had no problem with, and appears to be exactly the same ingredients). Your GP should really have discussed/mentioned the change but Cilest has been discontinued.

[Savingshoes]

I would be livid! It's your body, I would definitely ask the GP why they did this without discussing with you first.
Then say you want your notes to say "interactions - mycrogynon" and the symptoms you had last time.

[BrightYellowDaffodil]

I've also had my surgery put me on cheaper alternatives in the past, which is probably why they've swapped you to Microgynon (which made me depressed). They swapped me back without quibble.

I've had no issues obtaining Lizianna.

[KingaRoo]

Argh. I'm not normally an angry person but this has made me so mad. I'm already stressed wfh and home schooling while trying to do housework etc on top and now I feel like my whole day is being taken stressing and researching pills so I can be prepared for my GP's call.

[Annabk]

My GP did this once. I bought my usual pill from a legitimate online pharmacy, to tide me over, then changed to a different practice when I had time.

[KingaRoo]

Relieved to hear people are still getting Lizinna. I spoke to the prescriptions team and they said lots of contraceptives are currently unavailable but not sure I trust what she says as she was also insisting my pill had been microgynon for years...

[BrightYellowDaffodil]

@KingaRoo Lizinna seems to be available online with a prescription, which you'd have to pay for but it would be an option to tide you over until your GP had it in stock?

[lockdownstress]

May have been a local stock issue. May have been an automatic computer thing not noticed by the GP. At the moment, a bit of understanding and a polite request that it is changed back would be appreciated rather than going in all guns blazing. We're kind of stressed in primary care now.

[Wildlingyoumakemyheartsing]

We're kind of stressed in primary care now.

No one on this thread has said anything about corona. We get it's difficult. But this is 'care' and you still have the right to know what chemicals you are ingesting and some 'care' from your GP. So a calm conversation and, if appropriate, a sincere apology would probably be appreciated by the OP in order for her to maintain any level of trust in her GP practice.

[LouHotel]

Doesn't this highlight the fucking hell that is contraceptives. So far posters have had their hair fall out, depression and turned mad...no wonder male contraceptives don't get signed off they wouldn't put up with it.


Sorry to derail OP, no your not unreasonable and I cant think of another meditation that would just be swapped without consultation.

[vinoelle]

There is likely an explanation for this - eg stock issue or similar. Please don’t get worked up egged on by posters on this thread and go in all guns blazing. I’m sure if you approach this in a normal manner things will be explained.

[Needingsupportplease]

I'm the same! Been on cilest for years previous to having my baby. I was put on microgynon and told just to give it another go (was on this about 10 years ago) it made my hair fall out aswell!! You are not been unreasonable especially without discussion! Hope you get sorted x

[KingaRoo]

Thank you. I wasn't planning on being rude, just checking that I am reasonable to feel so angry over this. Feels like another area of women's health where we're told to put up and shut up.

Reassuring that I might be able to get it on a private prescription if necessary, thanks.

[Itsnotalwaysme]

I take loestrin and mines was changed to microgynon without being told.

I take loestrin to control the release of hormones because I have mental health issues this really makes me Ill. Loestrin stopped that.

I called up my drs and explained and they changed me to marvelon. No problems yet

[KingaRoo]

And I'm stressed too!!!

[Puddington]

This is so strange to me because I had been on microgynon for years and years and for me it worked perfectly, allowed me to skip periods and had no side effects etc (TOTALLY understand that different pills affect everyone differently ofc), I went off the pill for about a year and when I went to my GP and asked to go back on it she told me they were no longer prescribing microgynon and gave me a different one which was discontinued and I then went onto a second one but was still told I couldn't have microgynon even though I told her I really would prefer it as it worked a lot better for me than the one I was put on. With the two other ones I've had I'm not able to skip periods at all which is a huge pain and I think they affect my mood at times in ways microgynon never did

I might have to look into online pharmacies as PPs have said. I hope you get something sorted OP, it's ridiculous the hoops we have to jump through and the sheer headache of just getting something that works for you!!!

[zscaler]

YANBU, that’s not on. Even if there is an explanation, they should have discussed it with you first.

[ouch321]

Mine normally says X has been discontinued so I'm going to give you Y ok?

Or

Is it ok if I give you X as it's the generic form of Y and it's cheaper.