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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:

EmmaC78 · 26/10/2019 11:38

Glamgiraffe the OP has said a couple of times that she collects meds from her GP which is not open.

GlamGiraffe · 26/10/2019 11:43

@EmmaGrundyForPM
That's my point,
Any pharmacy will give you an emergency supply of an essential drug. As I explained tell them your usual dispenser is closed and explain you dont have any, they will grant an emergency supply, you will have to pay but you wont go without meds.
This can be at any pharmacy.

gilchrist168 · 26/10/2019 11:55

Good to read that it s getting sorted out for you Emma. What a mix up!
Let us know when you have the right meds.

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dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 12:28

@GlamGiraffe, did you read any of the updates at all?? She was given provera, her usual dispenser is closed, she has called 111 and they are going to sort out a prescription for her.

GlamGiraffe · 26/10/2019 13:01

@Dementedpixie

Oh for heavens sake, yes i have read all of it. Sadly missed the provera part. (Disability sucks sometimes when it comes to taking in every detail.)
My point was more for information AND if 111 dont come through, which in my area they rarely do for stuff like that .
So if anyone runs out of pills, goes on holiday in the UK without them etc, go to the local pharmacy and they'll give you some, an emergency supply. It's useful for everyone to know.

Original poster

EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/10/2019 13:05

Hi everyone
Just to.update you, I had a phone call.back from the 111 Pharmacist who has sorted me out with an emergency supply until Tuesday. I have to pick it up from a specific chemist in a. hours time. The pharmacist is faxing it through so fingers crossed it will be there. I'll let you know!

This will be a lesson to me to always check m medication when I collect it not when I need to use it.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 26/10/2019 13:18

That's great. Glad to hear you're getting it sorted. Make sure you make a complaint about the wrong item being dispensed when you go back to your gp

MoreSchnitzelPlease · 26/10/2019 14:06

Really glad to hear you've been able to get an emergency supply, OP.

fantasmasgoria1 · 26/10/2019 14:22

Usually the first side effects are sort of head shocks as I call them. They disappear after a week or so. Withdraw effects can be nausea, headache, diarrhoea etc. When I have ran out of antidepressants in the past just for a couple of days all I got was head shocks which disappeared after a few hours after I took a tablet. One of the medications I am on now if I miss a couple of days I vomit badly. I have heard of people getting a small amount of medication from a walk in centre.

CottonSock · 26/10/2019 14:27

Glad you got it sorted. I get the dizzy feeling headshocks too. Not awful but rather avoid them.

Original poster

EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/10/2019 14:38

hi everyone.

I've picked up 4 days supply from the chemist, th prescription was faxed through by 111. I've ordered my regular prescription from my GP surgery
The NHS is wonderful.

OP posts:

gilchrist168 · 26/10/2019 15:42

Oh that's good to hear Emma!

MintyMabel · 26/10/2019 16:05

So if anyone runs out of pills, goes on holiday in the UK without them etc, go to the local pharmacy and they'll give you some, an emergency supply. It's useful for everyone to know.

It’s not that simple. We couldn’t get my daughter’s medication when my sister dropped a bottle. I ended up putting a call out on a FB group. They needed a GP faxed prescription and couldn’t get one on a weekend.

Original poster

EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/10/2019 17:21

yes, @MintyMabel, I thinik you're right. The 111 advisor didn't say I could walk into any pharmacy without a prescription, she said I had to speak to the 111 Pharmacist. When the Pharmacist called, she verified my name, dob etc and then accessed my medical records. She could see what my usual prescription was an when it had last been (supposedly) dispensed. She then faxed an emergency prescription to a specific pharmacy, she read out a choice of pharmacies but only about 6 within 12 miles whereas there must be loads within a 12 mile radius of me. I did ask about the city centre Boots as I was going to be near there anyway, but that wasn't one of the 6 specified pharmacies. So I didn't get the impression I could just walk into any chemist and get an emergency supply of medication.

I was really impressed with the service though.

OP posts:

MintyMabel · 26/10/2019 17:26

I was really impressed with the service though.

That was our impression. The service is there, but it is limited. Otherwise anyone could just go in to several pharmacies and pick up anything. Will remember 111 suggestion if it happens again.

SteeperThanHell · 26/10/2019 18:33

Glad you got sorted OP.

Any pharmacy can do an emergency supply but there are restrictions. For an emergency supply the patients has to pay the full cost of the drug plus any fees on top and this can be very expensive.

Going via 111 it sounds like you were issued an emergency script, but they can also refer you for an urgent supply service to some pharmacies.

For an emergency supply or the urgent supply service it isn’t just as simple as walking in to a pharmacy and the pharmacist will give it - we need to be assured that it is an emergency and that it is a regular repeat medication (SCR can be checked) and that the patient may come to harm if they were to go without - for example a patient needs insulin, but could miss a statin for a day or two.

We also cannot supply any schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs. I would also be reluctant to supply any medication liable to abuse or medication that required extra monitoring - in this case I would probably speak to the OOHs and arrange for the patient to be seen there.

IScreamForIceCreams · 26/10/2019 21:51

@SteeperThanHell sorry, I'm obvs mixing up Citalopram and Sertraline, 20mg sertraline (I am on) is a low dose, not so in citalopram's ( I was on) case. Anyhow, glad OP is sorted!

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