Have you ever challenged a Doctor's prescription?

[Legacy]

Difficult one this.

Went with my elderly father to his Dr's appt as he needed a new prescription, and I was concerned that some of the tablets he was taking weren't really right.

The Dr agreed and has chanegd his prescription. However have come home and looked up Dad's new tablets and found that they are still not really what is recommended for his condition at his age. My suspicion is that the Dr has opted for a cheaper alternative, rather than the newer (more expensive?) medicine which has been shown to be more effective.

Dad has 2 weeks on this medicine before going back, but I don't know what to do. Should I let him start new, or try to go to see Dr ASAP or what?

I'd give the GP a ring ASAP and ask him (nicely) why he didn't prescribe the other type.

Challenge him. I challenged my doc when he prescribed the combined pill after I had DD despite me breastfeeding. It says on the instructions that it's an absolute no-no if you are breastfeeding and I had also been told this in the hospital. Doc had been completely absent minded and insisted I would be fine on it as I'd been taking it for years.

Tough one.

If he's being reviewed again in two weeks, I'd probably start him on the new tablets then perhaps discuss again with the GP at the next appointment if you feel they're not the most appropriate choice for his condition (or if they appear not to be working).

It might well be though that they are effective so may be worth giving it a chance before going back to the GP?

Difficult one. What is "recommended" on t'internet, isn't always what is suitable for the individual. It may clash with some medication they are already taking, oer have side-effects that could worsen another condition, or be thought to be ineffective in patients of certain ages etc.
The doc might be trying him out on the first drug to see if it lessens his condition to a degree where the more effective drug would be even more beneficial.
If you're worried you can ask doc WHY he didn't prescribe drug X first

It's not just about whether they work or not - it's what some of the studies have shown to be the longer term impact i.e. higher risk of heart attack/ stroke with these meds relative to the ones I thought she'd recommend.

It not even as if it's an unknown study - it's now used to base national hypertension guidance on for the NHS!

Iklboo - I know what you're saying about internet info in general, but this is the latest specific NICE guidance for the management of hypertension (high blood pressure).

Dad seems to have been prescribed something which is deemed recommended in the first instance for those under 55 (he's 74).

Ah - anti-hypertensives. Blimmin' minefield.
GP could be weaning your dad down from the usual drugs onto the the newer ones. Some of the older drugs can be bloody awful to come off (IME) with palpitations, dizziness etc.
When I decided to get pregnant I went to GP as I knew the drug I was on wasn't suitable for pregnant women. She put me on an interim one for a couple of weeks before changing me to one that was OK.
I wonder if your dad's doc is doing something like that?

Yes - could be 'weaning him off' as he is going to gradually stop taking his betablocker over the next 2 weeks.

Perhaps I'll let him start the new ones and then ask her when we go back in January. Problem is, I don't really want to have a "these ones are more likely to cause a heart attack" discussion in front of him

Any doctors out there who can advise?