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Original poster

GP fucked up my antidepressant prescription and now I have none

18 replies

Prettysureitsnotok · 07/09/2018 15:01

I've been on 30mg citalopram for 18 months. I feel like absolute shit when I miss a dose. I requested a new prescription on Monday, usually takes two working days to turn around. Went to collect on Wednesday - they'd lost my request. I submitted another one, having only one tablet left (I know this is my fault but I get anxious about requesting too far in advance in case they think I'm stockpiling or something). I've just called to see if it will be ready today - but no, the locum GP won't sign it off and the actual GP isn't back until Monday.

So I have no tablets for today... saturday, sunday, and maybe monday too. I'm already panicking about this, I just want to cry. Chances are I will feel suicidal by Monday. August has been a fucking shit show and I was considering asking to up my dose anyway as I'm not coping very well and they aren't numbing me the way they used to. I feel sick and wrong already as I usually take it in the mornings. Is there any way that a pharmacy would sell me a couple to tide me over the weekend? I have no idea what I'm going to do... I really don't want to go through the settling in period again when I restart them

OP posts:
rosie1959 · 07/09/2018 15:04

If you have a regular pharmacy you collect from they will probably let you have some to use till you get you prescription Our local one is very helpful and has done it on occasion

BerriesandLeaves · 07/09/2018 15:06

Is there a minor injuries/drop in type place that could do you a prescription? Or you could phone the GP and ask how you can get it. I had this happen to me because i didn't realise our local pharmacy where my prescription was delivered is now closed Saturdays as well as Sundays. Confused
I now use Pharmacy2U and get my prescription delivered to my door

Snoopychildminder · 07/09/2018 15:08

Hello 👋
Don’t panic, your local pharmacist should be able to put in an urgent prescription and give you some to tide you over. Call them and they will understand.
I too take Citalopram and this happened to me around the August bank holiday. Please don’t worry x

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Snoopychildminder · 07/09/2018 15:12

Also, I take 5HTP you can buy them from Holland and Barrets, they are a herbal tablet but they work by creating more serotonin.
I keep some in my cupboard and use them to supplement my Citalopram when needed. They take about 15mins to kick in and you can take as many as you need per day.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-Hydroxytryptophan

Original poster
Prettysureitsnotok · 07/09/2018 15:15

Thank you. I've had a pharmacy give me a few for a weekend before, but that was because they'd only received half of the prescription or something, so they couldn't give me the whole box. I don't have a regular pharmacy though as I'm in London and I tend to pick up wherever I am that day / sometimes they're out of stock so I go to various different places. I have some empty boxes though, so I'll try my most regular pharmacies after work and pray that they are forgiving!

OP posts:
Original poster
Prettysureitsnotok · 07/09/2018 15:15

Thank you, I can't take 5-HTP due to some slightly triggering circumstances, my body just rejects them now and they make me vomit

OP posts:
Almostthere15 · 07/09/2018 15:19

I would ring the doctors again and explain what you've said here and ask if they can do you a 4 day/7 day supply. Just to tide you over till the regular doctor is back. They could fax something to the local pharmacy.

If this doesn't work, then I'd try out of hours/walk in tomorrow.

Don't beat yourself up about ordering in advance, most gps won't let you anyway.

Whatsthisbear · 07/09/2018 15:32

Phone and ask for the duty dr to call you. Surely there isn't just one locum gp working there today? Maybe think about signing with a local chemist to do advanced repeat prescriptions for you going forward.

Livinglavidal0ca · 07/09/2018 15:36

In future request a batch prescription. They'll give the pharmacy 6 months worth in one go. Go to a pharmacy that's dispensed for you before and explain the situation, they may give you a few interim before you can get your next script. I work in a pharmacy and we'd probably pull up your medical records and check you don't abuse them etc and do usually get them and we would give them to you.

Noboozeforme · 07/09/2018 15:37

Where in London are you ?

ThirdChildFourthPile · 07/09/2018 15:42

This has happened to me on a Friday before as well.
I called my pharmacy in panic and they gave me some to tide me over.
I didnt even realise that was an option!

I wonder if it's just certain drugs they do it with.
Anyway, call them and ask.

Haworthia · 07/09/2018 15:45

Please talk to either the GP or pharmacy and I’m sure they’ll be able to help.

I’d also stop worrying about being seen to request repeat prescription too early or too often. I give my surgery/pharmacy at least a week to turn things around because they’re so slow Smile

Distancehelp · 07/09/2018 15:46

Go to the walk in Centre and get a prescription from them? If your surgery is still open/open tomorrow then get a prescription from them?

Doofas · 07/09/2018 15:50

Go to any pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist. They are able to access your medical records with your permission and give you some as they will se that you've been prescribed them before and that it was long enough ago for you to have run out by now. My DH has had to do this in similar circumstances.

Original poster
Prettysureitsnotok · 07/09/2018 15:54

There really is just one locum GP in - I'm pretty sure the surgery only has one permanent GP, they're a bit useless really.

Thanks all, feeling a lot calmer now. I've just checked the box that I have and they were dispensed from the pharmacy closest to my work on the 7th of August as a box of 28, so I'm going to go there after work and fall on their mercy as it should be pretty obvious that I'm legit.

I've tried having the prescription sent to a pharmacy automatically but I think this is beyond the technical skills of the receptionist. It only worked once and was sent to entirely the wrong pharmacy several miles away (the one who said they'd only received 1/2 of the required docs)

OP posts:
esk1mo · 07/09/2018 15:55

do not take 5HTP when you are taking antidepressants. you risk developing serotonin syndrome.

SpicePot · 07/09/2018 16:01

I’m a pharmacist. Go to your pharmacy and ask if they would be able to give you an emergency supply. There may be a charge for this. If you don’t have a regular pharmacy, you can go to any pharmacy to ask for an emergency supply but you would need proof you take the medication, for example the repeat slip from your GP or an empty box of the medication that has the label attached with your name on. Some pharmacies have access to medical records to check what you take, however I can’t comment on that as different parts of the country have different arrangements for this. Again there would be a charge for this. Nothing to be worried about, I regularly get patients asking me for this service on a Friday/Saturday when the GP is unable to turn the prescription around quick enough. We have the ability to do emergency supplies for cases like this where there is a concern over continuation of treatment.

CutesyUserName · 07/09/2018 19:40

Erm, pretty sure you shouldn't take 5-HTP with anti-depressants and that you can't just take as many as you need per day!

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