AIBU to request double prescriptions due to Brexit?

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

I am on medication which is not life saving. It enables me to continue working and parenting though as without it I have allergy symptoms that are severe enough to mean I can't function.
I have just put my repeat prescription request in, and added in the notes I would like a 60 day supply (over 2 scripts) due to potential medication shortage.
Am I being dramatic? Has anyone else felt the need to do this? I have also had to come off the pill (Microgynon) as I couldn't obtain it. I was told by the pharmacist there were supply issues due to Brexit. I will go back and ask the GP for a different pill, but my daily antihistamine isn't swapable in the same way. I am now wondering if the GP will be all at my request.

I think that Brexit is an easy excuse tbh. I have no doubt that some drugs are potentially in short supply because of Brexit (although quite why this is the case when we haven’t left the EU yet is beyond me,)but there are regularly issues with supply of certain drugs at different times.

I take several life saving drugs and I had to go round three chemists for one of them this time. The upshot is that I need to be on the ball for next time.

Sometimes it is precisely because of this kind of fear-mongering that people stockpile/obtain more medication, which in turn leads to shortages which then plays into the hands of the Brexit scaremongerers.

I ranted so much I didn't even answer the question YANBU to ask about the possibility of having a reserve supply for a long term drug you rely upon.

It will be interesting (wrong word sorry) to see what transpires over the next few weeks.

I need a stronger antihistamine and my GP has always given me 90 days worth on prescription without me asking.

In Australia you can buy it in bulk, you just say you are going on holidays and they fill it. Sometimes there is a note on the prescription for the pharmacy to call the doctor if he prescription is to be filled before a certain date.

But not all prescriptions are covered by the government - some aren’t covered by the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.

I have been given additional insulin and glucose strips, which most diabetes clinics in the UK are doing as a large amount of our insulin comes from germany.

@DifficultSituation19

Here you go, £4.99 treatment. Not sure why you claim its £20+.

www.boots.com/health-pharmacy/womenshealth/thrush/boots-thrush-w-w-cream-20g-10115201

Imagine if we all did that? There would be precious little stock left for those who needed a prescription for an acute condition or new diagnosis. Of course YABU.

I get my medication 2 monthly, have done for years. I found that on monthly ordering, I had to order my prescription 2 weeks after picking up the last and then when I tried to collect it was often not ready, so had to make 2 trips. On two monthly there is an economy of scale, I just order when I start the last strip and only make one trip to collect every 2 months, saves work for the doctor and pharmacist too. I pay a prepayment certificate so no cost saving to me. I have found that things gp used to prescribe like vitamin D are often out of stock at the supermarket. Paracetamol in the supermarket has been hard to come by without caffeine in my supermarket, but maybe that is just people stockpiling?

You can ask but you won't get it. We wouldn't give you it. Government policies to only get 28 days supply of most meds in most circumstances.

I've been getting my ds's meds a few days early since January. I've got about a month's extra supply.

@DifficultSituation19 the NHS now has a list of medications that they shouldn't be prescribing for minor illness including Thrush treatments, paracetamol as you can access them in a pharmacy or even a supermarket. It costs the NHS more than what they charge for them on prescription and it's a waste of a hard to get doctors appointment in a lot of cases just to prescribe an over the counter or on the shelf drug.

@BeardedMum Wrong thread 😂

Teachermaths that is just cream, which relieves external thrush. Most people need the tablet or pessary for the internal thrush as the cream can't be used for that.

I’ve managed to stockpile 2 months worth. How I’m not quite sure 🤷‍♀️

It’s literally have a stock pile for die for me so I’d rather stockpile!!!

I’m going to see my gp next week to see if I can have some more...I suspect she will do as she knows how bad it is.

I was worried about my, adult, dd and her insulin. She’s type 1 and needs insulin to live.

I’d read that some diabetics have stockpiled insulin. It’s a long shelf life. Most U.K. insulin is made/sourced from Germany.

As she was recently diagnosed she was initially prescribed fairly large quantities. She is still prescribed more than she usually uses. That coupled with her low, calculated, dosage means that she’s a few months worth in her fridge.

Not sure about test strips though.

It is a worry and I’m sure some minister will say that so long as they ease off the sugar they won’t need any.

But I’d say to anyone on here - if you need something that may be difficult to get, that you absolutely need then look into building up a small stock. Trust yourself rather than Michael Gove.

Hi, thanks for the note about reminder on phone. Main problem is I live rurally and have to remember I need to blag a road worthy vehicle to go and collect. All our cars end up anywhere on the farm not always near the house. By the time I've found one the surgery is closed. Asked about the delivery service as seen on tv adverts but the docs aren't signed into that.

I have friends who work for the NHS and they have plans for Brexit but all those involved in the plans have been forced to sign NDAs (non disclosure agreements) which suggests the plans are quite dire.

Re medication, I have similar worries being asthmatic but can't get extra inhalers.
What I've done is bought them via private prescription from an online pharmacy (proper registered pharmacy not dodgy internet meds). I've had to pay about 3 times what my prescription costs but I now have 3 months worth in the medicine cabinet.
I need to be able to breathe!!!

We're hurtling towards a situation that the NHS have been stockpiling bodybags for.

Penelope it is fexofenadine.

I am struggling even to order Ds meds a few days early as they seem to be clamping down on dates that things are due. Thankfully I was already in a system where I ordered two weeks before needed so will at least have two weeks to get things sorted and his feeds I have 60 bottles of an old (but in date) feed thanks to a recent change

I have also had to come off the pill (Microgynon) as I couldn't obtain it. I was told by the pharmacist there were supply issues due to Brexit.

The manufacturer sent out this communication in May;

"Healthcare Professional Communication"

"Information regarding prolonged out-of-stock situation of Bayer product:"

"Dear Healthcare Professional,

Bayer is writing to inform you of the following:

• That there is a supply interruption of Microgynon 30, 3x21 tablets
(ethinylestradiol 30 mcg, levonorgestrel 150 mcg)

• This out-of-stock is anticipated to impact the UK market from the end of May 2019 with resupply to the UK market currently expected during July 2019..."

"The supply interruption is due to capacity constrains at our Supply Centre in Berlin, Germany. The measures are taken to ensure a sustainable product supply in the future."

psnc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Microgynon_HCP.pdf

Have a look on wowcher for thrush tablets/cream. They quite often have special offers

You can buy thrush tablets on amazon for about 4 quid

Does it matter how much thrush treatment costs when if you have free prescriptions, it is.....free?
Some people can not afford £4 when they may only have £73 a week to live on.

Most of the shortages of medicines are nothing to do with Brexit. I am a retired pharmacist and there have always been issues with medicines. Naproxen and Epi pens shortage has been going on for years- literally I have been retired for 2 years and was dealing with it for 3 years or so before then.
Medicines are an international business, and supplies are directed to the market when the most profit is made, usually via wholesalers. A few years back everyone was complaining abut Parralel Imported medicines, with greek and spanish labels. This was because is was more profitable for wholesalers in Europe to send medicines to GB and get them overlabelled due to the strength of the £. Now its better for them to supply to mainland Europe or the States etc.
The hormones problems are due to a raw material issue- I understand a plant producing them has been told to stop supply while some things are improved.
I think Brexit may make importing harded but Brexit is not the major issue. I speak as an ardent remainer.

Interesting. I've always wondered how people manage to stockpile their medications.

There is no way my GP practice would give me anything extra