To expect to be able to get my epilepsy medication from ONE pharmacy in my whole TOWN??

[CardyMow]

I have to take a particular brand of my epilepsy medication. I have one weeks worth left, so have got my repeat prescription. OMFG!! There are 24 pharmacies in my town. I tried my usual one in person, to be told they haven't got any and can't order them in on time for me. I then went home and got my phone book and started ringing pharmacies, getting further and further away from me each time. Not one has them. My GP can't just prescribe a different brand as if I take a different brand, the percentage of active ingredient is slightly different and within 24 hrs it affects the level of my seizure control (i.e. from 5 absence szs a day to 25). WTF is someone without transport and only 1 weeks worth of meds meant to do when every pharmacy is saying they MIGHT be able to supply PART of my scrip in about 2 weeks? And if I part-fill it in one pharmacy, they cannot guarantee to get the rest of the pills in before I'll need them, and you can't fill part of a scrip at one pharmacy and part at another.

WTF??!! AIBU to think this is just plain WRONG? I NEED these meds. I can't get them.

Can I support you here with an AAAARGH!!!!

I've had problems with meds - but nothing so serious.

Is there any chance you could get half the script filled out in time and then get your GP to prescribe an emergency interim script so you could go somewhere else?

Maybe contact your local PALS - they may not be able to do anything about it this time round, but they could maybe help you plan for it not to happen in future.

It's really annoying.

An unfortuante truth is that pharmacies can't stock everything. If things are very expensive and/or not very commonly prescribed they tend to just order in when people need them. They then may not be aware of out of stock/ production line issues.

If no-one can get any, it might be an issue with the manufacturer/ wholesaler rather than the pharamcies themselves.

Not that this helps you at all. To avoid this happening again, can you give them more notice (i.e. call them a few weeks before you get your repeat)? Most pharmacies will order in advance of actual prescription for people who are on long term medication.

my sister has a child with epilepsy, and her meds have to be ordered a month in advance, as they are made for her.
if they are late , or cant get them on time, it always means a hospital trip.

cant order earlier than a month, due to docs prescription control, and the pharmasist has to case up the meds all the time.

its really scary when we know the meds are getting low...

Is it keppra by any chance? Maybe epilepsy action could give you some advice even if not that drug? Best luck
www.epilepsy.org.uk/news/drugwatch/keppra-update-0