MNHQ here: your thoughts around Brexit and medicines - and what Leave voters think now

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We've had a request from Heather Saul, the woman's editor at "the i" newspaper, who'd like to find out more about what Mumsnet users think about how (or indeed whether) Brexit is affecting their approach towards prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

We know from a recent survey of Mumsnet users that 11% of respondents said they were stockpiling over-the-counter medicines, and 8% said they were stocking up on prescription drugs. We've also seen from quite a few threads that for those who have chronic or serious conditions - or who are caring for people who do - the availability of medicines and things such as prescription formula seem to be causing some anxiety.

Heather Saul covered the grocery-stockpiling aspects of our survey in the i at the time and she's now interested in finding out more about which conditions and medicines are causing MNers the most concern as B-Day, and a possible No Deal, approaches.

So if there's anything you'd like to share about your thoughts, specifically on medicines and health, please add your posts here. Of course if you're not at all worried and think the risk has been overstated, you're very welcome to say so!

If anyone would like to share something with Heather off-site, you can email her directly on [email protected] [contact details edited by MNHQ 26/02/19]. She's also on the look-out for people who might be willing to be interviewed on this topic, so if that's something you're happy to consider please email her and she can let you have more details.

And she's also keen to talk to Leave voters about what they think about Brexit now - so again, if you've got something you'd like to share, please let us know here or email Heather directly.

Thanks
MNHQ

[AutumnCrow]

It's the spectre of medicine shortages that is worrying me most, to be honest, our of the whole shit-show. I've stocked up on OTC medicines, but I am entirely dependent on my GP for prescriptions for the drugs I need to manage chronic, permanent health conditions, e.g. Thyroxine.

I'm only allowed two months' supply at a time, so I'm dreading April when I'm due to get my repeat order. Will there be any tablets in stock? If not, then what? I can't not take it.

[PostNotInHaste]

Yes absolutely we are stocking up on Insulin in this household. It’s not exactly optional and whatever brinkmanship is going on I will not potentially jeopardise my DH’s life. It’s hard enough having to live with type 1 Diabetes for over 40 years since childhood, it is ridiculous to think we are even having to consider this possibility in the U.K. in 2019.

We monitored the situation then a friend who is senior in a Hospital Diabetes department who has insulin dependent relatives herself went from saying it will be fine to actually get some just in case. The stress this is putting some people under is immense and itself will be detrimental to healt( as stress can adversely affect blood sugar levels. I just don’t have the words to explain how I feel about this.

[Littlespaces]

I ordered an extra batch of my son's asthma medication. Better safe than sorry.

[Tonsilss]

I'm on regular prescribed medication. Have been under taking (which obviously worries me) and picking up a little early too, to build up a bit of a supply.
I don't trust this government as far as I can throw them. Do they care about our lives? No, not for a second.

[tierraJ]

I take high dose anti depressants, anti psychotics & anti epileptics.
I'm very concerned about medication shortages post Brexit.

My gp & Psychiatrist have been told not to prescribe extra meds for Brexit.

[GinandGingerBeer]

I have type 1 diabetes and I'm not stockpiling.
I think it's irresponsible and will in itself cause a shortage for the rest of the T1D community.

Stockpiling will cause shortages, not Brexit.

[tierraJ]

By the way I'm a Remainer.

[Bombardier25966]

Same here @tierraJ.

For thousands of people, meds are the difference between just about coping... and crisis. Mental health services are already overstretched and chronically underfunded, there's no capacity there to support those trying to cope without their meds.

[Missingthesea]

My eye drops to control the pressure in one of my eyes are made in Berlin. I'm only prescribed one month's supply at a time. I don't see any way people can "stockpile" prescribed medicines - GPs aren't suddenly going to start letting people have them earlier than usual.

[HelloJackieYouLookNice]

I’m very anxious and apart from ventolin no one in my household is on anything from the GP - I can’t even begin to imagine how people with chronic conditions are feeling right now. I am horrified that we are even having to discuss the possibility of people running out of life saving medications in 21st century Britain in peacetime

I have ordered an extra inhaler for dd2 just to make sure we have enough to keep us going, and I have bought in extra paracetamol, ibuprofen, vitamins, ranitidine and antihistamines to add to my food stash just in case. I flit between anxiety and anger over the self inflicted situation we have found ourselves in several times a day

[Littlespaces]

I don't think you can stockpile. I was just allowed the asthma med. which is due slightly early.

[AutumnCrow]

No-one is 'stockpiling' because no-one is allowed to, Gin.

People are however very worried about potential difficulties with normal supply occurring, where essential prescribed medicines are concerned.

[TheABC]

We are on asthma meds in this house I am ordering early, mostly to make sure we have enough to tide us until May.

My views on this mess are unprintable. I have friends with diabetes and relatives with cancer who simply cannot stockpile. A hard Brexit, for them, is literally life threatening.

[AndhowcouldIeverrefuse]

I have been stockpiling:

Over the counter meds - for my convenience, I'm not overly worried about being without say Strepsils.

Prescription medicines for DC1 - brown and blue inhalers for asthma and prescribed antihistamines as they occassionally get moderate allergic reactions. Without the inhalers DC1 could die - it would be ridiculous to sit back and do nothing and put DC1 in danger when I can do something about it.

[Meet0nTheledge]

A close family member has T1 diabetes, it is extremely worrying. It's not just the insulin we are worried about, it's the consumables that go with it, for blood glucose monitoring and injecting. We can't really stockpile, GPs will only prescribe what you need, but we are keeping an eye on our stocks carefully and will ask for repeat prescriptions at the early end of the allowed interval rather than leaving it till the last minute.

[boatyardblues]

DS1 has a regular prescription which is available to adults over the counter. We’ve bought a small back-up stash by pretending we are buying for me or DH. We are fortunate we have this option. I feel for anyone who has prescription only medicines, particularly life-saving medication.

My friend’s father is due to start a course of chemo in early March and I’ve wondered what happens to patients who need regularly space, life prolonging treatment like that. It beggars belief we are even having to consider this. What the fuck is our government playing at? Lives are at stake. For what? Ideology?

[thereinmadnesslies]

I’m worried by this. I need thyroid meds daily but my GP surgery will only give one month prescription at a time and they refuse to issue the prescription any earlier than 28 days after the last. And my attempts to build up a few days spare was messed up when the GP lost my last prescription request.
At the first report of disruption I’m planning to reduce the dosage, in the hope that a lower dosage will keep things ticking over even if I feel unwell.

[lljkk]

I'm not on meds.
I did wonder if emergency meds might be affected, say morphine or anesthetics or things people need if they are knocked over by a car or rushed into hospital with fierce infection. Stuff no one expects to need, but...

[Wait4nothing]

I’m stockpiling allergy formula (been getting the prescription a week early every time since November).
Haven’t yet stockpiled over the counter medicine but always keep a very well stocked medicine cupboard.

[AutumnCrow]

Well exactly. Patients can hardly 'stockpile' cancer treatments.

[Chimmychunga]

I take setraline for PND. I only get the prescription 1 month at a time so unable to stock pile.

Before I was diagnosed and put on medication. I wanted both me and my baby to die.

I'm terrified I will be left without medication and go back to that awful, dark period. I'm scared how I'd cope going cold turkey and how it would affect my mental health and in turn my safety and that of my baby.

My care plan means I'm supposed to stay on setraline for 18months and then slowly wean off. Not forced to prematurely stop because of Brexit.

[BerensteinBear]

DS is on various meds for autism/reflux/adhd/eczema. I'm not anticipating any problems, although I do have a 2 week buffer.
I'm on various meds but they're fairly standard so I'm expecting to be OK.

I have been buying lots of otc supplies - painkillers, ranitidine, cough mixture, cystitis & thrush treatments, diarrhoea tabs, dioralyte, antihistamines, vitamins, Gaviscon etc. Lots of first aid supplies in.

Not much else I can do. I voted Leave and the incompetence of the government is quite unnerving.

[borntobequite]

I rely on three prescription drugs and have been requesting prescriptions a few days early for the past 18 months, so I have some back up. I’m lucky in that my conditions aren’t life threatening, but I’d find it difficult to work effectively (in a socially useful role) without medication. It was obvious what could possibly happen to supplies of medicine as soon as Article 50 was triggered. Any journalist who doubts this should look at the Westminsterenders threads on this site where it was called it immediately.

[BlackeyedGruesome]

We had the great EpiPen debacle last year. DD needed them but they were out of stock. Pharmacies had to send the prescriptions off to be able to order them and we only got short date ones. Having something like that happen again will be a nightmare. We need brown inhalers for DD. We are short as illness has made the order late. She had several asthma attacks per day until she got the preventers.

[MrsMcGarry]

I am going into hospital tomorrow for an infusion of drugs that keeps my autoimmune conditions under control. I can’t stockpile as I get it at hospital.
My next appointment is 28/3. I don’t have the one after that yet.

I’ve already had times when I have had to wait a couple of hours for my drugs to arrive- the hospital orders in enough for only one week at a time. I have no idea if their supplier has sufficient stocks, and neither do the ward sisters or the consultants. They’ve been told “the govt have said they’ll ensure supplies”

Forgive me for not having confidence in them