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Original poster

urgent advice needed re wrong medication

67 replies

EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/10/2019 09:59

posting here for advice as the health board doesn't get visited that often.

I have a regular repeat prescription for an anti-depressant (Citalopram). I always order this electronically via the dispensary at my GP surgery. I live rurally, the GP surgery is in the village and it works well.

I collected my next prescription a few days ago, and opened it last night when my pack of tablets ran out, only to find that the dispensary has issued the wrong medication, and given me a medication which I don't take instead. I know it's partly my fault for not checking inside the bag but I've never had an issue before, and I only have two medications on repeat prescription (the other one was correct).

Anyway, I now need advice from someone about what I should do. There is a paper form inside the meds bag. I've never used this anywhere except in the dispensary, Can I take it into any chemist/pharmacy today and get it dispensed? Excuse my ignorance but I have always used the dispensary at the GP for all medication I've ever taken so don't know the protocol/rules. If I can, then I'll go into town and get it done so hopefully will have only missed one day. If that's not possible, then I will have to wait until Monday at the earliest to get the Citalopram reissued to me from the GP dispensary. They state that they won't dispense with less than 2 working days notice but hopefully will waive this given that it's their mistake.

So, in brief, can I use the paper prescription form to get my medication in a high street chemist today?

Many thanks for any advice

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 10:02

That's the repeat prescription slip to order more from your GP, not an actual prescription so no I think it's unlikely they will dispense for you.

Its not your fault at all as the drugs dispensed should be made up and then double checked by someone else so 2 people have made an error. Is your gp closed today?

FrenchFancie · 26/10/2019 10:03

Is the paper form your prescription (signed by the doctor)? It’s unlikely as that’s usually kept after dispensing. It’s probably the repeat form, which can’t be used by another pharmacist.
Is your gp open today? Can you speak to them and ask them to reissue the prescription ASAP?

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/10/2019 10:10

Hi
no, not signed by the GP so I think just the dispensing form for the dispensary at GP. The GP isn't open at the weekend so I think I will have to wait until Monday and hope they dispense it as an urgent request then.

Does anyone know what side effects |(if any) there might be from missing 3 days of 20mg Citalopram? I always read stuff about not suddenly stopping antidepressants. Will just have to warn DH if I'm about to relapse.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 10:13

Maybe phone 111 and see what they suggest. I'm sure it shouldn't be stopped suddenly

dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 10:14

Do you have out of hours services?

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/10/2019 10:17

There is a walk-in centre in a nearby town, but I've never been and don't know how it works. I don't know if they can issue a prescription for me. I can try to ring them and find out, I don't want to waste a GPs time by having an appointment when I just need the prrescription dispensed.

OP posts:
ChipInTheSugar · 26/10/2019 10:17

If you go to your usual chemist they should be able to give you a couple of days' worth of meds.

dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 10:19

Go to the walk in centre. Take the slip and the wrong meds and see if they can do a prescription for the correct ones. You shouldn't stop citalopram abruptly

dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 10:20

OP dats she uses a dispensary at the gp and its closed today

dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 10:20

Says*

cultkid · 26/10/2019 10:21

Is the chemist that got it wrong open?

InflagranteDelicto · 26/10/2019 10:21

What does the label say compared to the box? You need to take it back to the pharmacy and get them to fix their mistake. They should record it as a patient incident.

Crawley65 · 26/10/2019 10:22

I once forgot my medication whilst on holiday. The local pharmacist gave me a few days worth of pills. He must have checked somehow. I had to pay about £5.

dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 10:22

Some GPs have a dispensary on the premises so I think her usual place she gets it from is closed today as the GP is closed

MrsMaiselsMuff · 26/10/2019 10:23

Is it definitely not citalopram under a branded name? If not, take everything to another pharmacy and they'll usually give you sufficient to cover you until Monday.

Didicat · 26/10/2019 10:25

I have once thought I’d been given the wrong medication but it was just a different brand so the box looked different but the active ingredients were the same.

dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 10:26

What were you given?

TequilaPilates · 26/10/2019 10:28

What is the name of the medication that they have given you? It might be citalopram under a different name?

Other than that phone 111 and ask them what you should do.

gilchrist168 · 26/10/2019 10:30

What is the medication that you have been given? It could be the same med, different brand name.

Agent13 · 26/10/2019 10:32

I forgot to collect my epilepsy medication once - it was Friday evening so I rang a different pharmacy that was open as an out of hours one. They allowed me to take in everything I had that showed I had previously been prescribed the medication ie packet and label with my name. They then issued me with enough to last until I could collect my usual prescription ie about 5 tablets.

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/10/2019 10:37

If you go to your usual chemist they should be able to give you a couple of days' worth of meds

I don|'t have a chemist, I always get my medication from the surgery which is closed.

OP posts:
Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/10/2019 10:38

What is the name of the medication that they have given you? It might be citalopram under a different name?

Thanks, that was my first thought but it's called "Provera", I've Googled it and it's not an antidepressant

OP posts:
SteeperThanHell · 26/10/2019 10:38

Guessing the OP lives rurally and uses a dispensing doctor not a pharmacy for her medication.

Phone NHS111 (assuming you are in England) and they will arrange a referral to a pharmacy that is open to supply a small quantity of meds for you - If the pharmacist thinks it is clinically appropriate.

Depending where you are you may need to travel and you will need to pay a prescription charge unless you are exempt.

Difficultcustomer · 26/10/2019 10:40

It is the pharmacy responsibility to ensure that the medication dispensed matches the one on the prescription. Something has gone wrong somewhere. Just in case Nhs website states

Citalopram is called by the brand name Cipramil.

Go to a pharmacy or call 111 to see what they suggest.

SteeperThanHell · 26/10/2019 10:42

The OP doesn’t use a pharmacy she uses a dispensing doctor @Difficultcustomer