Chemists who f*ck about with your meds 🤬

[LittleeJuann]

Currently sitting on my doorstep covered in sore itching hives and trying keep my airways open in the fresh air, because I've been without my correct tablets since the weekend.

I take fexofenadine 180mg tablets up to 3 x daily to manage an assortment of auto-immune conditions

I've learned by trial and error over time what brands work best for me.
Problem is my chemists try to give me a different brand every time.

Went to collect my latest supply last week and they gave me a brand that doesnt work and gives me heartburn, I could take a whole sheet and they'd wreck my stomach but not touch my symptoms. So I politely declined and asked for different ones. They said I'd have to come back in a few days as that was all they had.
I always keep a few days supply aside, so not a prob.

Went back, and they gave me yet another different brand I've never tried before. I was a bit annoyed but took them as I'd totally run out by that point so didnt have much choice.

Took a tablet of this new brand before a walk in park with DD 16 months, DP came along, and thank god he did because I suddenly came over like I'd drunk a whole bottle of wine. I could barely even walk straight, I was absolutely off my face. If I'd been alone with DD and passed out, I dont even want to think what could have happened.

Staggered back to the chemist, gave them back these new tablets and stated very clearly how badly they affect me and insisted on my proper brand, that I know works and doesnt knock me out cold.
Again it was "You'll have to come back in a few days" -leaving me with absolutely no tablets at all.

I went in yesterday and it was just /shrug/ "Dont call us, we'll call you"

So I've now gone 4 days without the tablets I should be taking every day, and my asthma and immune problems are kicking up. I'm absolutely wrecked.

I work full time and have a toddler to take care of, ffs! I'm just so fuming

Does anyone else have this issue getting their correct meds?

Why do chemists think its ok to do this to people, mixing and matching tablets like fucking pick n mix!?!!

Yes the ingredients might be the same but the quality is different in different brands, and we all absorb them at different rates.
Its like asking for Chanel No 5 and getting Impulse -yes they might both have sandalwood, but one is top quality sandalwood, the other is shite. Meds are no different.

Rant over. Thanks for reading!

I agree. I haven't RTFT, but most chemists order by drug name from wholesalers. The wholesaler then sends whichever brand they happen to have in stock.

As I recall, they initially said they'd check other filler free alternative brands, then would organise another prescription via GP, so I thought they'd have it in hand. They couldn't order the branded med in (head office sends them what they send them! Eg generic), they couldnt find an alternative. I had to keep badgering them over 2 or 3 days, until they said to speak to the GP again to see if the surgery pharmacist had any suggestions (a pharmacist that works for the surgery and deals with this sort of problem and others - cant remember what their job title is now). They didn't. They had to reissue the original prescription from the GP (24 - 48 hours) and then I had to ring around pharmacies in the area..... all of that took some time! I then moved to a different pharmacy who have no issues in prescribing the brand and have never wrongly issued medication that i am allergic to.

@MagratsDanglyCharms21 so, really, it was a supply issue if you had to (eventually) call multiple pharmacies to source the brand?

I'd have been on that, calling other pharmacies, when I was down to 3/4 days of my own supply left. Then I'd retrieve the original prescription (form) for the branded drug from the pharmacy and take it where the branded drug was in stock.

But, then again, I'm resourceful/pro-active and not really one to blame others for issues outwith their control e.g. supply issues.

Just as well we're all different, eh?

There is also Telfast, Treathay, Cilpa, Almerg, Histallay. Most companies use a brand name.

They serve hundreds of people a day, why on earth would they remember you?

Just say you’re exempt, job done. It’s a total non-issue.

We need one bottle for school and one for after school club - asc is a separate company. Both places insist on prescription, labelled bottles. For home and out and about we just buy otc antihistamine.

Exactly. Just last year I was given an off-brand version of a diabetic drug which didn't even have the same formulation - same key ingredient, but made with a different base 'inactive' carrier.. Nor is it an official generic. My doctor now prescribes the drug by manufacturer. I was lucky, I only had a severe stomach ache and muscle weakness. My mum has gone into anaphylactic shock with a 'substitute' formulation. Very scary.

But of an odd response. Not many people do!

@LittleeJuann -so are you going to acknowledge that it's not your pharmacist's fault?

@NamelessGhoul has anyone ever mentioned a 'pill bob'to you to help with that?

If you want a certain brand your script needs to specify this or you will be given whatever they have, usually the generic brand as that’s all they’ll be able to claim for when they claim for the prescription.

I used to get 180mg on prescription. I now buy 120mg over the counter and take 1.5 tablets

Ring round pharmacies to find your brand and ask your registered pharmacy to print off the script for you so you can use it anywhere.

@LittleeJuann I've had this happen to me with a different drug and it wreaked havoc. I was told by three different chemists they don't have a choice in the brand it's just what's supplied to them I suspected I was being fobbed off and tried a fourth really had to fight for it as they said it was a really expensive brand to get it in but I finally got it. I told the chemist it's specified on the prescription so I don't care if it's 'expensive'. I still don't understand as far as I'm aware they don't pay for it? It was a very very stressful time I'm now on a different drug with a combination of something else after a lot trial and error and it seems to be stabilising at last.

So angry though of all the stress it causes to get the medicines that are specified. It's there on the prescription and it should be administered end of no going back and forth with a chemist about having a cheaper brand.

Yes they do pay for it - the government will only reimburse a certain amount so it’s likely they made a loss supplying it to you. Hence why so many pharmacies are shutting as they cannot afford to run their businesses in this way.

Wow hadnt expected all these replies, this is clearly an issue for a lot of people, just trying to catch up!

Managed to collect my right tablets yesterday pm. Woohooo. Must have been obvious the state I was in when I got back to the chemists, all sweaty and erupted in hives, because they let me sit down and take 5 in their consultation area 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Had a chat with the chemist about all this, we've been using his pharmacy for over 20 years so I really didnt want to fall out, despite my rant yesterday..
He said even if my consultant puts a specific brand/manufacturer on my prescription, they cant guarantee thats what their suppliers will deliver. As far as they're concerned its all generic. He also explained a bit about the supply chain issues, which has also been mentioned a lot here, he was very diplomatic and didnt lay blame on anything in particular, but I now understand its a bit of a shitshow behind the scenes.

To answer questions, it was the Dr Reddy tablets that made me feel like a drunken fool (they'd be awesome as a sleeping tablet though! 😜)
I also know any yellow tablets by any brand/manufacturer will give me heartburn and sweating (allergy to food colouring maybe).
Its weird I know. Immune illnesses are just weird. And so much fun...

I agree the reaction I had is probably down to an allergy to one of the fillers. I seem to be allergic to life itself the last few years. So I will definitely tell my GP and / or consultant.

I also agree I need to find more sources other than my local chemist. I know you can buy fexofenadine otc, but always thought 180mg strength was prescription only. Will be doing some online drug shopping today!

Thanks for all the replies I'm still going through them all

Also to those commenting that any reaction or side effect to a particular brand / manufacturer is just silly or a placebo effect; in the nicest possible way, please stop it.

Just look at all the comments from people here, taking everything from ADHD meds to painkillers, we cant all be mental can we.

In my case my immune system is a complete troll and flares up for the slightest reason. Sometimes it doesnt even need a reason. Auto-immune conditions are like that. All you can do is learn your triggers by trial and error.

We all have different levels of tolerance for everything we put in / on our bodies. Food, medications, everything. What agrees with most people, may not agree with some people.

@NC03 no idea! Its constantly there hovering in the background, if I dont keep up with the fexofenadine it just erupts. Yesterday I looked like I'd rolled around in stinging nettles. Been under dermatology nearly five years and no closer to an answer. Not heard of Xolair, will ask at my next appt. Thank you!

@LittleeJuann definitely worth asking
It's approved for spontaneous urticaria
I inject it once a month and that's it and I've had urticaria 28 years with no relief before that

The only thing with that is if OP is allergic to it it will take ages to leave their system. But yes worth a try I suppose in a controlled manner.

Good luck OP - this can't be fun for you

@vanillawaffle the first few injections are done in hospital with 2hr monitoring so definitely saffer

Ah great!

Wow this sounds scary so sorry to see this! Hope you are ok now. Its a total mess of a situation when people who've had life-threatening reactions still get messed about. We can all debate the reasons or where the blame lies until the end of time, but the bottom line is you still need them meds. I hope it all gets sorted for you x

@SlebBB Do you check your medicines before you leave the pharmacy? They can't take anything back once you've left, as they don't know how it's been handled or stored; but if it's only been handed over the counter they can take it back into stock. I had to do that once, when they dispensed the wrong formulation of one of my husband's medicines.( they dispensed ordinary tablets instead of slow-release)

The chemist pays for it and the NHS reimburses them for the cost of the generic if that is what is prescribed. The GP obviously didn't prescribe the brand but prescribed the generic. Writing the generic name and then a note stating what you want would not be prescribing by brand so they made a loss.