What do you do if a doctor writes you a prescription you can’t get?

[Soubriquet]

I’ve been written a prescription for a medication that is out of stock everywhere locally.

Asked the pharmacist where I got could it, and even she doesn’t know. It’s out of stock in my town, the nearest large town and the nearest city.

So what do I do? Go back to the doctor?

It doesn't matter if you've been prescribed it for something other than period pains or IBS, Buscopan is the same drug for lots of different issues and is available from Home Bargain, Wilko and B&M.

Lots of stock in all Boots stores by us using their online stock checker. I saw it in the supermarket a few days ago too so you’ll get some if you buy over the counter.

I'd been taking talwin nx for back pain for many years. It's non-addictive. Well, it's not available because the manufacturer can't get the naloxone which makes it non-addictive. It's backed up over a year. I did some research on line to find another pain killer that wasn't additive. Hard to find, but I did. Talked to Dr about not being able to get script filled. She asked what other script I had in mind. I told her and she wrote the script.

Why do you even need a script for it? It's an OTC item.

Ask the Pharmacy what is alternative and most importantly do they have the alternative in stock. Doing it this way makes it easier and quicker. A Receptionist can then advise the GP what the Pharmacist has suggested and script signed. Going to the surgery to ask the GP for an alternative could cause a delay.

I had to get atropine repeat my consultant said. My pharmacist said they couldn't get it noone stocks it anymore outside a hospital setting. Boots ordered it in for me

Had this today with buscopan OP (well the posh medical name for it, but buacopan!)
Called, the GP & have been told by the GP that an alternative will be sent to the chemist by tomorrow morning 🤞 it is.
Appreciate it can be bought OTC, but I have a pre payment cert for my prescriptions to cover them and could do without extra expense.
Hope u get sorted.

Have you tried an online pharmacy? For example Mymeds Pharmacy (based in Blackburn) will accept NHS prescriptions and delivery all over the UK, as will Pharmacy2U

It’s what the doctor gave me. I didn’t ask for it specifically

It's probably half the price OTC!

Yep! Cheaper here, in stock and no need for a prescription.

https://www.travelpharm.com/medicines-c143/stomach-and-bowel-remedies-c158/buscopan-cramps-x-20-p14552/s30954?utmmedium=ppc&utmmterm=buscopan-cramps-x-20-3531738&utmcampaign=froogle&cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB#fooc=3926&fok=abff6063e83fb2bc20899f9388df0d0e&foos=gsuruk&fooid=14555

@PissedOffNeighbour22 what a spectacularly unhelpful pharmacist.

You have my sympathies. I'm having a nightmare with aripiprazole, which is a mood stabiliser. Without being ŕeferred back to the psychiatrist there is no alternative for me as I have exhausted many of them already. I go on holiday abroad on 1st October and we are panicking that we won't be able to get enough meds to take with me. Last time my meds were changed, I was admitted to a psychiatric unit for a week. It's a nightmare.

Available on Amazon

It’s in stock on the Boots and Lloyds websites. They were just the first 2 I looked at so there’ll be loads of others.

If you have one locally, try an independent pharmacist (i.e. one that's not part of a chain like Lloyds or Boots). They can sometimes be better with hard-to-find drugs because they're often more willing to contact several suppliers in search of them. I've had Lloyds branches just turn me away because they knew their supplier didn't have that drug 🙄 whereas independents have tended to go the extra mile.

Ask the GP for Mebeverine (Colofac) it works the same.

Just buy it , strange you were even given a prescription tbh.

Technically, the stuff you can buy is only licensed for IBS, and OP is taking it for muscle spasms. That means the leaflet in the one you can buy will only be talking about IBS, whereas the leaflet in the prescription version will have more relevant info. Plus, perhaps her GP wants it on her medical records that she's been taking this stuff.

Also, it's possible to be prescribed medication that is technically available to buy, but in amounts that would mean you'd be needing to buy ridiculous quantities, because the boxes you can buy are assuming occasional use only, and might be a lower dose. OP might be prescribed a 20mg tablet four times a day — that's eight of the 10mg tablets you can buy yourself, so even the big box would only last five days.

I've got it in Poundland in the past

Depending on the dose OP is taking, she could end up spending £50 a month (or more, if she can't get the big boxes) on buying vast quantities of non-prescription Buscopan. Would be a bit unfair if, out of all people with a particular condition, those who do well with drug A get to go to the pharmacy once a month and pay only the prescription charge for a month's drugs, while those who do well with drug B have to buy 6–12 boxes a month just because it's technically possible for them to do that due to its use in another condition.

It's a bit like how people with ongoing pain management strategies that involve taking a lot of doses of paracetamol can be given it on prescription, because it would be an utter pain in the arse supplying your paracetamol needs two 30p boxes at a time

It's maybe worth buying Buscopan for now as a stop-gap, but if it would be difficult to buy it herself, I wouldn't begrudge OP getting it on prescription just because it happens to be possible to buy it (inconveniently, and expensively by many budgets).

Or yeah if it's really not available, asking the doctor if a different drug might work would be a good option.

(I know you can buy paracetamol OTC in bigger boxes too, but sometimes people need more than 200 tablets a month, and it's just easier for admin if it comes in with the person's prescription meds)

Seems to be an increasingly common problem with lots of drugs unfortunately. A while ago there was a shortage of adrenaline autoinjectors - you couldn't get them anywhere for love nor money. My DS's were nearly 6 months out of date before we eventually got some and even then it was a different brand which work slightly differently so it was a bit anxiety provoking. I've got family members who are having difficulties getting other regular medication at the moment too. It's a worry.
Really all you can do is go back to the doctor and let them know, and hopefully they can suggest an alternative. Hope you get sorted out soon.

It's a weird choice for muscle spasms unless it's bowel spasms. It's basically only indicated for period pain and stomach cramps. Plus there's a whole argument that oral absorption is poor although some people still swear by it.

I'd go back to your GP to let them know and ask for an alternative.

Hey you're right, I thought otherwise for some reason but on checking the BNF, yeah…