Does the NHS have any obligation to offer me vegetarian versions of prescription drugs?

[BroccoliSpears]

Anyone know?

I hope not, if you don't like what you are getting for practically free, then pay the full price for it.

The NHS is on its knees.

Er...I don't think so,

sorry with LGJ on this one..

Are there necessarily vegetarian alternatives of all drugs?

what meds have meat products or by products in them? genuine question

Many (all?) are tested on animals - so if you're a vegan you might face a conflict.

Agree with LGJ.

I don't think that there is an obligation but dh always asks if there is a vegetarian alternative to drugs that are in gelatine capsules and our GPs have so far been very helpful. He has had liquid antibiotics instead of capsules, and he uses a nasal spray in place of decongestant capsules.

I am guessing that some drugs that are encapsulated to protect the drug until it's in the right place in the digestive tract would not be available in other forms though.

One little problem, unless the NHS has suddenly become a charity and I missed the announcement, we are paying full price for it, just not at the 'point of sale'. If enough of a demand is there by the taxpayers PAYING for the meds then I don't see why they shouldn't if a veggie version is available. However, all you can do is ask and if they decide to refuse then its their decision, if the veggie ones are far more expensive its not a good use of their stretched resources.

Lol @ face for asking a question!

I've always assumed not and it's never occured to me to ask, but an earlier conversation made me wonder about people who are vegetarian for religious or cultural reasons. I wonder how it works is all.

Not sure FallenMadonna.

Lulu - Gelatine is the main one I think. In capsules and tablets.

no

i will check at the chemist... is it pig or cow gelatine?

Agreed WK to a point, that is taxation is taken and gone.

Still think society as a whole is getting too precious for words, with all due respects to BS>

( - does everyone instantly know I'm WK? Has everyone got flashing lights on their laptops/pcs that are now going off and screaming "oh god, she's back")

who is/was WK?? no sirens here!

I'll expand that. It is vastly expensive to get a drug to market (around £1000 million)

Excipients have to be used to give the drugs a reasonable self like and make them palitable and possible to take.

Most have no vegetarian alternatives. All will have been tested on animals (and 9/10 drugs fail to get to market as they have serious side effects detected at the animal testing phase ,and the penicillin/ guinea pigs story is deeply misleading> )

Gelatin is a common additive to capsules/ caplets. The Chief rabbi has cleared them for Jewish patients (I've seen the letter ) ditto the presence of starches round the time of passover!

I could tease you mercilessly.............

In fact I may for a while.........

Before your time Lulumama.

Well.............................there this discussion about a swimming costume.

There, you can relax now.

Haha - feel free LGJ, it's all weird here, trying to settle back in without getting addicted again (is that actually possible?) - trying the 'launch into any argument asap' tactic

The one major exception to this is the production of pig and bovine Insulin to meet the needs of both Muslim/Jewish and Hindu diabetics.

Sort of passe now give the easy availability of GM Human insulin (mind you I dare say there are people who object o that! )

Ahhhh, I'm being watched - it IS the same MN!!!!

I would be, rest assured, if I knew anything about rabbi letters and how rare they are