If I make a complaint about my GP refusing to prescribe medication

OP, what would the GP’s motivation for not prescribing it be?

Could it be because there’s a medical reason? Or is the GP just being difficult, for fun?

And also, I’m not sure if you’re aware, but sometimes married people have sex with someone other than their spouse. You might not choose to, but your GP can’t be sure of it. Over the years I’ve prescribed plenty of contraceptive pills (at the woman’s request) to women whose husbands have had vasectomies.

I believe your old enough to understand the risks and your G.P is being a little heavy handed here.

Arrange to see the G.P, explain your circumstances. I too have been on medication where getting pregnant would be horrendous. I’m a grown up, I understood the complexities and practised safe sex, I was never coerced into having to take contraception.

Or you could accept the contraceptive pill and then don’t take it, just get your repeat prescriptions periodically, that’s if they’re going to be an arse about it, 🤷‍♀️

I've been under neurology for 9 years, not once have I had a prescription provided to me by the consultant. Always passed to the GP to manage.

My CGRP injections are at least prescribed by the nurse and she sends it to a private company to be delivered to my home. That bypasses the GP completely.

tell gp you'll take the pill-then dont

noone will know

Is it fexofenadine? That used to be prescription only but you can now buy lower doses over the counter.

A dr spends 6 years at uni spending min 9 grand a year and still has courses after this to become a dr and you want to be a Karen and complain. Complain Iver something stupid.
Make an appointment with your gp like a normal person person no the pharmacy. Also...I'm under neurology and they would have prescribed you something to collect at the hospital pharmacy otherwise would have told you they would write to your dr with results and if your dr hasn't got the results or letter yet then your word means nothing. He also knows better than you and has ti make sure and cover is back so YOU don't go and sue him for something.

Highly effective contraception is defined as either the copper coil, hormonal coil or implant - assuming this is valproate your specialist will need to complete the appropriate paperwork to state you have exceptional circumstances which mean you are exempt from the pregnancy prevention programme (which seems unlikely in your case)

Approach with query not all guns blazing. Tbh I understand the gp. They ha e a strict warning to follow if its the drug I assume ur talking about. They can't take the risk of someone accidentally getting pregnant even if their husband is infertile women could still seek elsewhere so to speak (i am in no way inclining you would this is just an example). So just ring and discuss with him i understand why u don't want to go starting contraception because there is side effects to some of those too but I dont think it warrants a complaint just have a chat make an appointment to discuss options

@Sconesandgravy Can you afford to speak to the National Migraine Centre?

https://www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk/migraine-clinic/funding-your-appointment/

I'm on CGRP injections (long story, technically off them at the moment due to a mammoth fuck up by neurology but awaiting my next appointment) which have been life changing. At one point I was down to a max of 4 migraines a month (from 28 a month on topiramate) and zero hemiplegic attacks in 8 months. I was no longer in bed most days, I was back to myself and only taking to bed maybe one day every three months for a blinder of an attack.

Things are not so great now so I want to discuss alternatives. I'm also running out of triptan options, so want to see whether they'll prescribe me the new gepants.

They will probably make me try one more CGRP (I've had Ajovy and Aimovig).

My hemiplegic attacks also cause cyclical vomiting, so I have scopolamine patches prescribed for that and I flit between frovatriptan tablets and zolmitriptan nasal sprays depending on how vomity I am.

All the sympathies in the world. Just lie to the GP :-D

You can still buy OTC and just increase the dose?

Hi OP, I was on topiramate, prescribed for me by the GP for a long time before I ever got to see a neurologist. TBH it did fuck all except give me appalling side effects, but I am aware it works for other people.

My DH is also infertile (bugger all sperm in the samples, absolutely nothing capable of swimming - what was in the sample was either dead or so mutated it couldn't actually move in any direction) due to being a premature baby and subsequent issues with undescended testes so everything was literally cooked.

If I recall correctly, I also lied and said we'd use condoms and a diaphragm with spermicide :-) Then used nothing as usual.

I do actually have the Mirena coil now to deal with perimenopausal symptoms, and to try to see if it helps with my chronic migraine (nope, but I'll try anything!).

So my advice is lie to the GP. The BNF guidance on women of childbearing age and topiramate states "Manufacturer advises perform pregnancy test before the initiation of treatment—a highly effective contraceptive method is advised in women of child-bearing potential; patients should be fully informed of the risks related to the use of topiramate during pregnancy."

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/topiramate/

I'd go back to the surgery with that link, the quote and your description of your (imaginary) contraceptive plans.

Whatever happens, please please check the list of side effects and be aware of them - I was an absolute zombie after 2yrs, it nearly cost me my job and my marriage because I was such a mess. The GP was worried I had blood cancer or something but we finally worked it out..... I'm not allowed it again!

For hemiplegic attacks, it was actually Botox (via neurology) that got on top o those for me. I'm down to a couple a year from two a week....

*Oh believe me I am angry with the neurologist. For many many reasons.

I did ask him to prescribe the first month of medication. He refused and said it's the GPs responsibility.

In fact, the neurologist has been an absolute nightmare from day one. Last year he didn't tell me about an abnormal brain MRI nor that I needed an urgent lumbar puncture within 4-6 weeks. I found out about both four months after my MRI when my husband told me there's a new app where you can access hospital records. There was a half written report stating all of this. When the lumbar puncture came back clear, he refused all requests from the GP to expedite my next follow up claiming it was trapped nerves and that lots of women get them. It took me emailing videos and threatening PALs to get him to see me.

He saw the videos I sent and said I needed to be seen the next day because he was concerned. I had other episodes and the GP requested he do a spine MRI. Neuro rejected it. I was rushed to hospital last week due to a medical episode and a registrar contacted him to request a spine and neck MRI as he's in charge of those and she figured he'd accept from her. He's also refused those because he disagrees with both the registrar and the GP about the cause of the issues, even though they both agree it's the same thing despite not having communicated with each other and having seen me weeks apart.*

To be fair, you can see why the GP is reluctant to take his prescribing advice....!

Not read everything. However I think you are right to be angry, they have advised you if the risks and you wish to take the medication.

The thing is, a GP can’t force someone to take medication, but neither can a patient force a GP to prescribe them medication.

This

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I had the same issue with topiramate for migraines. I just told them my husband had a vasectomy and they prescribed - no problem. He hadn’t actually had the vasectomy at the point I said it, but I knew he was going to soon and I was confident I could avoid an accidental pregnancy and didn’t feel the need to tell the GP all the details.

I'm not assuming anything! I'm pointing out that men and their drug exposed sperm are not necessarily equal to women and their drug exposed eggs.

It’s hard to tell now but the post wasn’t targeted at you. It was a response to another poster who was ranting on about GPs refusing prescriptions because they are on some sort of power trip or trying to save money, neither of which are the case.

I still stand by the fact the neurologist is entirely at fault here. It is not usual to request for a GP to initiate specialist drugs - guidance states the specialist should initiate, stabilise and then the GP take over prescribing when at a stable dose. I can see why you’re annoyed but it’s directed at the wrong person

Thank you. I have to be honest this doesn't sit well with me, but it is good to understand that (for once) men aren't being treated differently.

Of course, I'd still like to know if a man would be treated any differently if explained his partner was infertile.

I wouldn’t. Just ring them up and ask again explaining why. GP’s are having a shit time at the moment

@Sconesandgravy
by ‘they’ I didn’t mean you specifically I meant patients in general as I’d seen your post re your husband.

I fully appreciate this is a very stressful experience for you and incredibly frustrating.
It’s unfortunate you’ve had such a bad experience with the specialist who should be responsible for this prescription, especially one with such high risks. And the GP is perfectly in their rights to be cautious and not rely on indirect information from you and wait to see you face to face.

maybe worth asking the surgery to make a note that if any patient cancels an appt to ring you to fill the spot if it’s closer than 3 weeks?