urgent advice needed re wrong medication

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

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

Call 111, there is an option for people who only need medication not an appointment.

I've missed a few days here and there of AD and it's been fine, 20mg is a very low dose. Maybe you can chop the pills in half so that at least it stays in your system?

That's progesterone. I expect there's another patient in your area area needing her HRT and instead she's got your AD!

Any pharmacy will help you, it doesn't have to be where you always go. Just take everything with you, showing you have it on the repeat and that you've been given the wrong thing. They do this all the time, especially at weekends.

20mg of citalopram is not a very low dose @IScreamForIceCreams

I've missed a few days here and there of AD and it's been fine, 20mg is a very low dose. Maybe you can chop the pills in half so that at least it stays in your system?

I don't have any tablets left. I took the last one on Thursday night, and opened the new pack last night only to find that it wasn't the correct medication. I'm always really good about picking up my repeat script at least a week before i run out, but it didn't occur to me to look in the bag to double check as I've never had a problem before.

I'm now going to ring 111 for advice.

Either ring 111 or go to your nearest pharmacy. They should be able to get you a new prescription. Your dispensary will have to report their mistake.

Provera definitely isn’t an AD, it is uses to stop menstrual bleeding.

Hopefully 111 can help you with this.

Go to any pharmacist with everything and explain. They will help.

A pharmacist is likely to issue an emergency supply to get you through to next week, so it should all be ok.

If, however, they don’t, you can expect some side effects after 3 days with no Citalopram but it shouldn’t be the end of the world. I’ve done it a few times and get ‘head shocks’, and feel a bit dizzy, but it’s manageable. Obviously it does without saying that if you found yourself in emotional distress, you should get help.

And you should definitely complain. This is a really awful error.

What's more worrying is if the person was meant to get the provers has got your citalopram instead and doesn't realise and takes it without checking.

@TequilaPilates that won’t necessarily have happened. Most errors are picking errors. The OP hasn’t said that it isn’t her name on the label on the box label or on the bag label.

Thanks everyone for the advice, it is much appreciated.

I rang 111 and explained, they were really helpful and said that they will get their Pharmacist to issue me a prescription. I'm waiting for the pharmacist to phone back. I'm not sure how it will work, but the cal handler did say I would definitely be able to get some medication today. It all got complicated when she asked for a phone number for the pharmacist to ring me on, I explained I'm here for the next hour on my landline number, then have to take DH into the City so will be on my mobile after that. She said "I'll get the pharmacist to phone your mobile" and I had to explain I have no mobile signal at home. I do like living rurally but there are drawbacks!

Hopefully the pharmacist will ring back soon. I am lucky in that I have a car and can travel to wherever I will need to pick up my prescription. I'd be buggered if I was reliant on public transport. I have a pre-payment certificate but have no idea where it is - my GP surgery has a record of it so I never have to produce it. I don't care if I have to pay for the prescription though, I just want my meds.

I always, always check what is in the bag before leaving the pharmacy. I know it is too late this time OP, but it is a lesson for the future.
I have been given the wrong meds, insufficient meds, wrong dose many times. I order via email to the pharmacy and have never managed to establish where the errors occur. They all blame each other.

SteeperThanHell

I know it won't necessarily have happened but it could have done.

Op - you don't get issued with a pre payment card anymore so I'm no longer asked to show mine. You just tick the appropriate box on the prescription form. I guess it must be checked centrally.

You don’t need to have your pre-payment with you - just tick the box as long as are sure it hasn’t expired.

20mg is a small dose but as an SSRI it’s enough to cause nasty withdrawals. So glad 111 has sorted you out OP

Only 1 of my 4 medications was sent via e-script to my local pharmacy last week. It was an absolute nightmare to get the other 3, all 4 are psych meds and all 4 are crucial to my daily functioning.

And you can check if you have a valid certificate here:

services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-my-nhs-exemption/start

@HigherFurtherFasterBaby no it isn’t a small dose of citalopram - it is a standard dose of citalopram.

Go straight back to the dispensary where you collected with both the meds you picked up.
Explain.
They are used to dispensing to you and will be able to give you the correct pills.
Alternatively,
To tide you over until Monday, walkinto any pharmacy, speak to the pharmacist, explain that due to a dispensing error at your usual pharmacy which is closed? You are out of pills. Ask for an emergency supply. You will have to pay for them but you will not risk the effects of coming off them.

What does are you on and where are you?

@EmmaGrundyForPM, I also take Citalopram and I wouldn’t want to miss 3 days, even if it didn’t make me relapse I’d be worried about nasty side effects from the withdrawals and/or going back on them when you have the medication. I’m using ok for a day but definitely wouldn’t want to try over that.

I think your best bet is calling 111 as you have done and getting an OOH GP to sign a prescription or using the local walk in.

Ah just seen your update. That’s great. Definitely go to the GP dispensary on Monday and hand back the wrong medication. The’ll need to raise an incident I imagine

Can you take a pic of the box please. So I can check it's not citalopram in disguise?
Seeing a lot of strange new brands over the last few weeks as Brexit looms closer

@GlamGiraffe Read the thread! It's not citalopram, and she has already arranged an emergency supply.

The OP has said that she had been given Provera @GlamGiraffe