Has anyone else been told they can't have the contraceptive pill they need any more due to cuts?

[perceptionreality]

I've been on Yasmin for nearly 3 years and have been told the doctor isn't allowed to prescribe it for me any more due to cuts.

I have been on many different pills before and they all give bad side effects - even on Yasmin I get headaches. I've tried clieste, microgynon, dianette and trinovum and can't take any of those. I have got pregnant using condoms and also even had a contraception failure with the coil. The pill is the only thing that works.

Anyone else in this situation? Is there a way to pay for the pill yourself?? I can understand they don't have an unlimited budget but an abortion would surely cost more than keeping someone on contraception that suits them?

[Maiflower]

Hi,

I would challenge this with your doctor. My mum was advised her colesterol (cant spell it) tablets needed to be changed for the very same reason. However like you previous tablets didnt agree with her. She challenged and is still on her more expensive brand.

Unless these tablets have adverse side effects and are withdrawn from prescription on these grounds, then your GP should not be taking you off them. Avoid paying unless absolutley neccesary as the government should not be playing lottery with people's health.

You can prove tried and tested alternatives have failed, so stand by what you know is right. Only you know your body

Hope this helps :o)

[perceptionreality]

Thanks Maiflower - the problem is that it's the family planning clinic - does that make a difference?

[olivo]

I am not in the UK, but my contraceptive pills (mercillon) are on a private prescription. They cost less than £5 a month. It may be worth asking if you really can't get them as usual.

[tb]

One thing to try would be to go and see your gp, or a nurse at the surgery, and ask for the same pill on prescription.

Back in the days before free contraception, the pill was only available on a private prescription, cost 50p, and then when you went to the pharmacist you paid for the cost of the pill, plus a small mark-up. Think that was about 50p, too. However, I expect in the last 30-odd years it will have gone up a little.

[Viperidae]

You are not completely correct Maiflower. The NHS has to control its budgets and, in recent years, prescribing guidance has become much better. In the past patients were often given any product for their condition that sprang to the GPs mind, whether it was the best, most cost-effective, etc.

What often happens now is that surgeries, clinics, etc will set a prescribing protocol of first, second, third, etc choice drugs for certain conditions and will change prescriptions for patients who are on different drugs with no good reason. If you change 100 patients from drug A at £25 per month to drug B at £5 per month it is a substantial saving. Of course every patient is different and we never lose sight of the fact that some patients may need the more expensive or less common options and will need to change back but, even if that happens with 1 in 10 patients switched the change is still worthwhile in cost terms.

Changing patients onto a proper protocol also means there is equity (we are treating everybody the same, not randomly giving some more expensive drugs than others) and we are using the drugs with the largest evidence base.

It would be irresponsible of the NHS not to try to prescribe more logically and efficiently and is irresponsible to suggest that individual patients are entitled to more expensive drugs for no good reason and that prescribers should not change medications.

In this case though OP it sounds like you have tried other options and found them unsuitable so I would visit your GP and explain that, they may be happy to take on prescribing for you.

[perceptionreality]

I agree, Viper - I think it would be fair enough to say they can't prescribe that drug if I hadn't tried any of the cheaper ones first. I've tried microgynon, trinovum, cileste and dianette. The difference with yasmin as I understand it is the ingredients. I've had significant mental health issues in the past and hospital admission (for bipolar disorder) and this pill is the only one that doesn't seem to bring on depression. I am 32 so I suspect in a number of years I will be told the pill isn't suitable for me any more anyway. I would go back to using the coil if only I hadn't got pregnant using it!

It's difficult but perhaps I will be able to make a reasonable case to the GP.

[perceptionreality]

Update: I went to see another GP at my practice and she said it's very reasonable for me to want to continue on Yasmin given my circumstances and said she can't see any reason why she won't be able to continue to prescribe it for as long as I need.

So it looks as though you can still get Yasmin if you need it.