No wonder the GPs are overloaded, just make more medicines available at pharmacies!

[Decisionsdecisions1]

Currently ten days in suffering from canker sore and now oral thrush - minor illnesses but bad enough to severely effect ability to eat and sleep (and both at risk of spreading if not treated).

Both were previously treatable by over the counter medicines from pharmacies. Now it requires a GP appointment which they’ve refused to give me once, and instead said ‘come back if it’s still there in three weeks’.

No wonder the UK has a high sickness record - I could have been treated and well by now. Feel for people who are frequently unwell (lucky for me I’m not usually), don’t know how they cope.

There are several otc treatments available for both of these conditions. What is it you are trying to buy?

You don't even need a GP for Nystatin.

For example: https://www.chemist-4-u.com/nystatin-oral-suspension-30ml

Have you got a conflicting medication or condition that contra-indicates the treatments OP? Because when I worked in a pharmacy, that's when we'd send people back to the GP for seemingly straightforward conditions, i.e. because treating them OTC could cause interactions or worsening of other conditions and it needed that extra layer of checking/clinical judgement. We very often had to bear the brunt of people's frustrations on this.

You can get the anti virals for shingles at the pharmacy now which is good as you have to start them as quickly as possible.

If you are over 60 send someone else in younger to get the treatment, that's what I did I sent my daughter, I have had thrush several times over the decades I knew it wasn't anything sinister but was refused when I asked because I was over 60

I’ve tried Chemist 4 U (as well as other online pharmacies) - I get all the way through the questions then a page saying no treatment is available for them.

I’ve no underlying conditions or other medication,

The pharmacists all said there is a shortage of certain medications used to treat both these ailments - with some medications permanently out of stock. This may be driving it.
Even a private AXA GP could no longer prescribe the oral steroid treatment for the canker sore - their guidance had changed.

All the over the counter treatments for the canker sore haven’t helped it heal, only temporarily help with the pain. No over the counter treatment is available for oral thrush (only vaginal thrush) - I’ve been told this by three different pharmacists today.

Be kind, nope not over 60!

Darragon- nope no meds. I’m usually v healthy!

Pickachew- you can only get Nystatin if you’ve used the Daktarin oral gel first- and that’s out of stock everywhere.

I went to my pharmacy Saturday to get antibiotics for suspected UTI, which they gave easily enough, but at 64 I am just under the age limit that they can prescribe these to me. Pharmacist explained what I should do and what to look out for, he prescribed 3 days antibiotics, he was not in any rush with me. I saw my GP today as symptoms continued and I had finished antibiotics, she was the complete opposite, hardly wanted to examine me, took my pulse, but not blood pressure, didn’t want to test my urine, said it was a waste whilst I was antibiotics, didn’t think there was a need to, but when I said I was told to bring sample, she did test it and said there were markers and to book a blood test, she gave me a longer course of antibiotics and then virtually signalled the door. I appreciate they are busy, but you leave thinking you are wasting their precious time.

Corsodyl mouthwash (not the daily one), or generic with the same active ingredient, will treat oral thrush. I've used it many times as prone due to inhalers. Google says it can also help with a canker sore.

I've been on prescription pain meds for 10 months now, same ones, with only 28 days in a pack, I have to ring up every 3 weeks to reorder them, so I sit in then queues to get through to reception, then they send to go to authorise and it takes about 7 days from me ringing to it being ready at the pharmacy. They refuse to give me more than 28 days, for no reason, just because.

There's currently a problem with both daktarin gel and nystatin. Theres been a few threads on the infant feeding board about it. I heard the nystatin issues are supposed to be resolved by the end of the month? But appreciate that it doesn't help you now, OP. Maybe head to one of the infant feeding threads and see if there are recommendations for pharmacies that have some leftover stock.

I had oral thrush when I got back from holiday last year. I went to the pharmacy and they told me the treatment wasn't currently available over the counter and I needed a prescription. They said there was no alternative they could suggest. It was Christmas Eve but luckily 111 got me a GP telephone appointment and they prescribed nystatin.

GPs tend to be quite targeted and often a BP isn't going to change the treatment plan for them so wouldn't undertake it - where as pulse is more important/likely to influence treatment plan.

Urine dips aren't really much good in older people, once you're over 65 then the advice is definitely don't dip (essentially older people will often have harmless bacteria present so will always dip test positive for infection - this influences treatment plans/building on a broken foundation and can result in a more sinister cause of urinary symptoms is missed.

If your symptoms persist following completion of the extended abx don't be put off going back to GP for further tests.

Thank you, yes GP told me to drop in urine sample once AB are finished and I’ve got an appointment next week for blood tests.

It's supposedly to prevent waste. DH needs medication every day to stay alive, and he can only get a month at a time, so not preventing waste, just increasing admin costs.

We do get three months worth of melatonin for DS, presumably because that's through the paediatrician rather than the GP.