What would you do?? DSD's medication runs out before we see consultant and we may not get any til then!!

[buttons99]

I wondered if anyone else can offer advice.

My DSD takes eqyasym XL. She has dx for ADHD/Autism. Rang today to ask for repeat perscription (as have done many times in past) and was told "We have sent you an appt to bring her for reassesment in August and so do you have enough til then?" Counted up and no we don't. Need 27 got 21. So tells the lady this and she says "Well aren't there days you don't give her it and what about holiday days, don't you not give her them then?" I told her we give them every day as prescribed (which she seemed most surprised about!)

So she said she would see what she could do but because the way this particular medicine has now to be prescribed she couldn't promise to get them to us before we run out. Surely the fact they are so strong and a controlled drug means, to me anyway, that DSD should be taking it every day and not being messed about and taken hit and miss.

Firstly does anyone have experience of the effect taking a child off Equasym has and secondly would you accept this or take it further??

I am interested in the effects of her coming off the medication anyway as it has been mentioned before that would we be interested in trying her without it and to be honest it worries me greatly. Both for DSD's side but also for the rest of the family. Thanks for any advice.

[Claw3]

Found this on Equasym XL

Warning!

If there has been no improvement in the child's symptoms after one month of treatment with this medicine it should be stopped. Where symptoms have improved, the medicine should be stopped from time to time, usually at least once a year, so that the child's condition can be assessed, and to check if the medicine is still needed. However, in both cases, this medicine must not be stopped suddenly without your doctor's advice, as this could unmask symptoms such as depression and overactivity in the child. When stopping treatment, the medicine should be withdrawn gradually, following the instructions given by your doctor.

[keepingupwiththejoneses]

I was given the option of everyday or just weekdays for ds2. We decided to give everyday. We have never had a break in medication to assess, like in what is said in claws post. We have however had a break as ds wasn't putting on weight, this was only for a few weeks. Ds has been on meds for 5 years.

[WetAugust]

Claw id right. Any medicaction of this sort should not be stopped immediately - it has to be gradually reduced so if DSD is running out of meds before her next appointment she'll need another prescription.

Who is "this lady" who refused to help you?

I dount it was the Dr as they know meds need to be gradually reduced, so I presume it was the receptionist.

You need to get beyond this untrained phone answerer so ask to speak to the Secretary of the Consulatnt who origianlly prescribed the meds. If that fails then contact PALs.

This is bad.

[buttons99]

Thanks for the replies. Unfortun it was the Secretary I was speaking to!!!!! Had a chat with DH last night and we are going to see if we get anything in the next few days. Also going to check if DSD's Mum has any spares at her house that can boost the last few days supply. Think DH will have a "word" with consultant when we see her to see whats what so we know for next time if this happens again. Part of problem seems to be that since we moved into this authority the Consultant would prefer our GP to dispense the prescriptions but she is unhappy to do so as she feels its the Consultant that wants DSD on them and so GP doesn't feel comfortable prescribing them, when she doesn't really know DSD well. So Consultant does them but her Secr seems to be very off hand whenever we ring and ask for prescription.

[drivemecrazy63]

If this is so (and theres no reason the gp should refuse to px this ) ask the consultant to contact your GP and tell him/her that you need some extra tablets its worth a try, its stupid the GP should supply them as they should be checking your dcs health bp blood tests ect periodically when on this drug so stands to reason that and the fact you could get repeat px easily if the GP was supplying it.