To not want to have to go to the doctors each time I need more of the pill

[Hippopotas]

Apparently according to my doctors in no longer able to request a repeat prescription of the contraceptive they prescribed me without attending a medication review appointment each time!

This seems excessive and like a waste of time. Why it can’t be done over the phone or just reissued with a meds’ review once a year.

So AIBU to be annoyed I have to take time of work for this.

They have to check your blood pressure and you are at a higher risk of blood clots.

Ah ok. That’s not what I why they advised me I needed the appointment though and I have to have regular blood tests and pressure checks for other meds so you would think that’d be enough.

Mine will give a year in advance if you ask them. I’ve been on it 20 years nearly and they said they can give me a years prescription now

How often is it prescribed?

Mine used to give me six months at a time - not a repeat prescription though.

I feel your frustrations.

I had finished my mini pill after 3 months. A fortnight beforehand I called for a repeat prescription and was told i had to make am appointment with nurse to check blood pressure before they'd give me more.

Its stupid and I never went back in, changed gps because it was the last straw regarding long standing practice's shitty attitudes to me.

We're on condoms for the mean time but I really want to be sterilised.

You can buy it online, I very nearly had to for my dd who is on her last pack and the surgery couldn't see her till next year. Fortunately they found an earlier appointment. I think it's best to go and get checked for your blood pressure etc.

The pill is quite dangerous. The change in policy would either be down to a) a change in management, b) more knowledge about the particular pill you are prescribed which necessitates regular check ups on users or c) you have reached an age where the risks are greater/gained weight/taken up smoking.

I got 6 months at a time before being reviewed.

At my last review they asked if I had any migraines with aura which I'd actually been getting almost daily and didn't think it would be anything to do with the pill.
Found out it's really dangerous and could be a sign of a clot coming as the pill makes you more at risk, so I now can't have that particular type of pill at all.
At soon as I stopped taking it they went away and I've not had any since

There's good reasons for the reviews

I feel your pain. I’m on the mini-pill and can only get 2 months at a time.

My thinking is they make it as difficult as possible so you’ll cave and get the fucking Mirena.

You can just buy it from Superdrug’s online pharmacy.

BTW I’m not for a second saying that’s right and you should ever have to pay, just that it’s an option.

I find it annoying too but understand why they do.

Is it possible for your DP to get the snip?

I had to change contraception at the beginning of the year because of my mums breast cancer diagnosis. It would have been missed if I hadn’t gone in and they hadn’t asked me. I do see a nurse though not a doctor.
You’d think they can just use other blood tests and obs but having been to a few different hospitals with my mum I’ve realised how poor the communication is between departments, hospitals and trusts. Not critiquing just observing. So it’s not as simple as that.

You're right, OP. We should be able to get all prescription meds at the supermarket without the supervision of a medical professional.

This will become more and more common in this age of litigation. I'm speaking as a GP here! Unfortunately the patients who have gone before you and tried to/succesfully sued doctors on the basis of inappropriate prescribing or prescribing errors have made life more difficult for current patients. So don't blame the doctors every time, the worse the litigation and complaints get, the fewer GPs there will be.

Oh my GP doesn’t actually require me to attend a review anything other than annually.

They just won’t put it on anything other than a 2 monthly repeat.

Which is utterly bonkers.

JacquesHammer I was horrified reading the Mirena thread. My heart sank with each post.
I recently had a termination and the first thing that the (really lovely) nurse suggested by way of alternative contraception was to look into the mirena. Perhaps coincidence but

...im not so sure now.

(Pressed post by accident, sorry!)

DunkandEggAgain

It’s hideous. I can’t access further treatment until I’ve tried the Mirena. Yet my GP doesn’t believe it’s suitable.

I’ve reached peak frustration with the way anything to do with female reproductive health is summarily dismissed

I agree.

Review it bi-annually. I dont have a problem with that. Every 12 weeks or in your case every 8? Too inconvenient.

You can't access further treatment? I'm speechless. What on earth?

I used to get a years worth at a time. Specifically 4 green prescription sheets, and every 3 months I would go to the pharmacy to collect 3 months worth. I don't see why they would need to review you more regularly unless you have had previous issues with the medication or existing problems

My thinking is they make it as difficult as possible so you’ll cave and get the fucking Mirena.

^ ^
This

Everytime I go back for my contraceptive pill which is also for acne they try and persuade me to have the Mirena. I point out that it says that it is bad for your skin if you have adult acne and they then give me my usual contraception. But we have to have the same damn chat everytime. .

And I can only get 3 months at a time!

‘Unfortunately the patients who have gone before you and tried to/succesfully sued doctors on the basis of inappropriate prescribing or prescribing errors have made life more difficult for current patients. So don't blame the doctors every time, the worse the litigation and complaints get, the fewer GPs there will be’

@Lisaturtle not really fair to blame the patients who take issue with prescribing errors and inappropriate prescribing surely?