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 can’t tell you how many boxes and boxes of medication I’ve handed back to the Chemist because it’s not the brand I need.

Me returning alternative options must cost them more money than if they just ordered the ones I need.

I went down a rabbit hole late last night reading the policies and minutes of meetings of my area Integrated Care Board (ICB - used to be known as CCGs).

I'd suggest more patients have a look at the rules in their area around prescribing generic vs branded medications. Generic medication is the default, to save money, as many pp have said.

The expectation in my area is that it's the GP's responsibility to work with the patient to identify any issue with generic medication and prescribe branded accordingly, when there are reasons to do so, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable.

I've already tried to do this, but it is stressful and time-consuming; and the GP surgery keeps saying it is the pharmacy's responsibility. <sigh>

Which part? I spoke about my personal experience of trying to get tablets that work best for me, given my allergies and immune issues. I fail to understand how you could know the facts of my health better than I do so please do elaborate?

Since you have been going to that specific Chemist for 20 yrs, can they hold back the correct tablets for you in bulk whenever they get a shipment of the correct ones to tide you over the months when they get the other brands? So not dispensing them to you early, but stockpiling them in their storage area specifically for you?

Also if you cant find the fexofenadine you need otc in the UK, look at the US. I would be happy to help by looking at specific brands for you in person if it would help. CVS.com is one of the big Chemists here. I am pretty sure Amazon US would ship allergy otc pills internationally once you have worked out which ones would work for you and you can buy bottles of hundreds at a time

I suspect that the receptionists and even the GP don't always understand how things work unfortunately. It is no use prescribing the generic and then adding a note to say what brand the patient wants/needs as the pharmacist will just be given the money for the cheapest generic and then be potentially very out of pocket. They need to actually prescribe the brand.
Does the practice have a pharmacist? They will get it and know what needs to be don.

Honestly cant keep up with all the replies, was not expecting this to blow up the way it has

Thank you to all for the helpful tips and helping me understand the behind the scenes issues with suppliers / supply chains etc, its definitely been an eye-opener.

And so sorry to read of the stressful situations others have been through with this issue; its clearly something that affects a lot of people

And to those in good health who have never experienced this problem and just jump on the thread to make silly unhelpful comments that bring nothing to the table; I wish you all the best and hope your robust health lasts forever 😁

No troll here my love, you were posting about your airways closing up. That's a classic sign of anaphylaxis and an absolute medical emergency. As in 999 and an ambulance may still not get to you in time to save your life.

If you're exaggerating for dramatic effect when you describe your symptoms your GP won't take you seriously either.

You are the master of your own destiny on this one.

@Wildro and @wombat15 I didn't know this. One chemist had supplied it for ages with no issues then suddenly stopped it not clearly explaining, the other two were confusing as they would get it in one month but not the other it was potluck so would have to phone/drive around various chemists. I would have happily paid for it whatever the price to keep me alive (I pay for my prescriptions monthly) as it's a heart medication.

The system is very messed up for all involved unfortunately

😂😂😂😂 bore off.

If I called 999 every time I got wheezy, THEN I'd be a drama queen who exaggerates and doesnt deserve to be taken seriously. You clearly have never experienced asthma.

You are the master of making yourself look clueless

I don't agree that it is a messed up system. It has been in place for decades and has probably saved the NHS billions. The generic drugs don't get a license unless the manufacturers have demonstrated to the regulators that it is equivalent to the original brand so it should be okay to give whatever available brand is cheapest. If certain brands are not suitable the GP should prescribe a brand rather than a generic.

@wombat15 I don't know then all I know I had a drug that worked very well with my system the other brand that was given to me didn't and made me quite ill because of the coating they used on the tablet. It caused a lot of stress on my body and a lot of time still to this finding the right combination.

I'm not sure what the solution is. If a drug is making you worse and not better and there is a better version out there that doesn't you shouldn't have to compromise.

Who knows what's gonna happen with the future of drugs and the NHS and costings. The system in place is not fit for purpose at the moment and certainly shouldn't be a lottery on what you can and can't get. I have friends who themselves or their children can't get a certain drug because it is not available in their area or it is but not as effective for whatever reason hence why I say the system is messy and needs overhauling.

The system has not suddenly become unfit for purpose. As I said, the active ingredients in the brands are the same so should be interchangeable. I am not questioning whether you personally were ill on a generic but that is rare and presumably due to an allergy to the coating. The GP could have prescribed a brand though to avoid this (once you reported it) and the fact that they didn't is not the fault of the system. It's either the fault of your GP for not knowing a system which has been around for decades or the fact that there are supply problems at the moment.

Either way is is not a good reason for the NHS to spend billions on drugs when there is a much equivalent available.

@Purplebiscuitwithsprinkles be careful what you wish for as it's likely you'll soon enough be able to demand whatever brand you want as you'll be paying rather than the NHS/the pharmacy subsidising it. Take a look at some online fora for your particular condition, and read how Americans have to. battle their insurance companies even to have the cost of generic drugs covered far less branded versions.

I cant see which country you are in but there is a national problem with drugs in UK at the moment. Its not pharmacy fault that they can't get a specific brand of medication but the medication is the same. Ie paracetamol is exactly same as panadol, ibuprofen is neurofen.
I am not sure why you can only have the one brand of fenofexadine, as others have said you need to speak with GP. They should be able to put an electronic prescription out, then you can phone round pharmacies and get the right medication for you.

Going off topic slightly. I take Loratadine for itchy eyes but it doesn't help much - does anyone know if Fexofenadine is better?

Controversial opinion incoming… Sounds like it’s a sign to look into the cause of your autoimmune disease.. usually stress related.. meds help the symptoms but don’t get to the root cause of the problem. Otherwise your whole life you will be under the control of Doctors & pharmacies.
Look at your diet first.. preferably go to a nutritionist. If you can’t afford one then follow a book with a food plan for autoimmune diseases which will remove all toxins & reduce symptoms.
Good luck x

Apart from the fact your post is irrelevant to this topic it's hilarious you think you know more about autoimmune diseases than the scientists and doctors that have spent years researching them and the people that have lived with the diseases for years.😂

Patronising opinion incoming..

I take fexofenadine on prescription too and regularly receive different brands but thankfully I don’t seem to react badly to them. However my best friend who has epilepsy has to have the same brands for her meds as the slightest difference will send her into seizures. It really makes a difference to some people and you would think that a pharmacist would appreciate that.

I had similar issues with my daughter's Levetiracetam (the brand Keppra works best for her) then my Salbutamol inhaler (I always had Ventolin) and like you, both were constantly being changed.
So a phone call (or a econsult?) to the GP explaining the problem and they sorted it out for us.
It's all down to costs, whichever brand of medicine is cheaper at the point of purchase is what they buy in.
Not helpful in a lot of cases (but needed given the current state of the NHS I guess?) hope it's sorted soon for you.

No, some epilepsy drugs need to be prescribed by brand for all patients but very few other drugs. Pharmacists know which ones do have to be. For most drugs the generic is prescribed which means the pharmacist should dispense the cheapest available as the NHS will only reimburse them on that basis.

I was put on meds and just accepted the side effect. Got branded ones- no side effects. I rang my GP expecting excuses about PCT etc. Nope - they said if it meant I actually took it, of course they'd put a named brand on it. So now I have the Pfizer originals.

I also found out once that my preferred meds (a different one) were actually cheaper than the generic ones I kept getting.

This isn't the fault of your pharmacist - you need to discuss this with your GP. And you are clearly allergic to the version that gives you hives. Formulas do vary and you need meds you're not allergic to! (my DS can't have certain meds because of the dyes used in them).

Hope they listen.

If not - my DH always get his meds from Boots. He finds they often give you the branded version as standard (which is how I ended up with my posh Pfizer ones in the first place. And some independents do listen if you explain why you can't use certain generic meds.

This is what my doctor does OP and my pharmacist is quite good about only giving me those ones so maybe it will work for you

Yes I'm sure stress age 11 is why I developed it
If it could be cured by diet then I'm pretty sure my consultant would rather that than my thousands of pounds of injections...