WWYD - Penicillin Shortage

[incognitodorrito]

I’m in NW and have tried since Weds eve to get Penicillin from countless chemists with no luck so far. My 3 year old DS has an ear infection, diagnosed at the walk in centre who provided the prescription. Hospital chemist has some but don’t give me any as I need a hospital prescription. I’ve been told by the walk in center that they cannot change prescription. So my only option is to take DS to A&E with ear infection in order to get prescription. I have breast cancer and will be operated on Tuesday to ensure my margins are clear before chemo. I have no one else that can take DS to a&e so we will need to go and I’m concerned that not only will I be risking a pre op infection for me (and further infection of DS) but taking up space at a&e reserved normally for emergencies. I don’t know what to do, can anyone help with advice ??

Ring 111. They deal with prescriptions .

As you say, you’re only option is A&E if the GP won’t change it.
Or you could try 111 if you want to avoid A&E.

Have you just been going to a few chemists or have you had the chemist phone around for you? They can order things in too was that not mentioned?

How is DS? Are they getting worse or beginning to get over it?

If you do need to go anywhere I’d wear a mask to try and reduce your chances of infection.

Try independent chemists plus the chains, they can order it if needed

Also I agree 111 will most likely do you a new prescription, I really don’t see why A&E would have to be the only option for you!

111 can fax a changed prescription to a chemist near you after a quick assessment over the phone. Must be OOH though as you can ring GP/practice nurse in working hours.

The walk in Center advised that the only way to get a hospital prescription was to visit A&E.
Not one chemist has offered to ring around !! That’s even after me telling them what I’ve just typed here.
DS is poorly but not getting worse. However without prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection, I’m worried he will worsen and don’t want it to get that far.

Go back to GP and explain. Ask if in this circumstance they can prescribe the penicillin allergy option. It's not ideal but neither is your situation

1- google all chemists in the area ring each one and ask - I’ve done this before - agree with above small family led pharmacies more likely to find it

2- why aren’t they offering to order it in?

3- go back to GP explain situation ask for alternative ( there will be a standard alternative for penicillin allergy patients). There are numerous antibiotic options this will just be first line they’ve prescribed you.

Go back to the GP this morning and ask for the tablet form .... not ideal but currently it might be the best option.
The tablets can be crushed and mixed with food or liquid.( they take about 10 minutes to dissolve and have a bitter taste so probably best to mix with a small amount of strongly flavoured liquid like blackcurrant or food)

I had this problem on Wednesday. DC had a prescription for a sinus infection. She was in agony and I was quite stressed out when local Boots didn’t have any, told me no other Boots in town did either. I phoned the GP back for an alternative and while waiting called an independent pharmacist who had it in stock. Have you phoned around all pharmacies local to you to see if they have it?

All the best for you surgery x

I have nothing helpful to suggest, but just want to commiserate with you. That's properly shit, really bad luck. I hope a chemist comes through for you, and that all goes well next week.

I had this issue Tuesday evening. The pharmacy told me which penicillin they had in stock (wrote it down as a long name) and told me to go back to go reception and get the go to amend the prescription. He then wrote a prescription for another one they didn't have and on the third go actually prescribed the one they had in stock.

I'd phone a few chemists, explain the situation and see if they have any type of penicillin in stock then go back to gp surgery and tell them what you have been advised, the gp should be able to rewrite the prescription quite quickly

Sounds very stressful. As above I would phone around some independent chemists and find out what they do actually have in stock.
Can you then contact your own GP and explain the situation? Walk in to the reception and speak to them? Better if you know in advance what the chemist actually has available otherwise you could end up in the same situation again.
There are shortages of many liquid form antibiotics now but there will be a way around
it.

Hope you can get it sorted

Just called GP & explained situation again. Very sympathetic receptionist has advised I’ll hear back by 11 with a new prescription hopefully so fingers crossed. Thank you everyone ❤️

I'm allergic to penicillin and have never had an issue with an alternative antibiotic sorting me out just as well.

Hopefully the GP will just prescribe one of those and he'll be good. Ridiculous to say go to A&E where you'd be waiting hours.

Good luck.

In this situation you would always contact the place you got the original prescription from. You tried that and for some reason they won't do it, more than likely they are swamped seeing patients. Your next bet is then to ring your gp they should be able to see you accessed out of hours and what for, they can then give an alternative. Its always great if you can ring a local chemist to see what they do acrially have in stock.

If the drug is out of stock pharmacies will try the suppliers they normally use but if its out of stock in one boots each will eventually have the same issue. I always advise patients to try an independent chemist in this case as they often have access to multiple suppliers.

Hope you get the new prescription sorted soon.