They've done it again 😡

[MapsandLegends]

I posted recently about the doctors halving my prescription without consulting with me and now they've done it again with another medication. My fiancé collected it Friday afternoon and I just opened the package and there's now 15 tablets instead of 30. They are mirtazapine and I understand you can't just stop taking them? I didn't make the private GP appointment as I'm house bound and recently got worse and been bed bound, and the hot weather has been horrendous, making me feel so ill. I need to speak to a GP but am afraid they'll just fob me off. I have to pay for my prescriptions from my savings as I don't have an income. Don't know why I'm posting really, just feel so angry.

The meds reviews at ours are carried out by the chief pharmacist by telephone - she lives 200 miles away! Sounds mad but she is an expert on meds , interactions etc.

this. also well done on having all those savings.

as well as what Busy says above, you might benefit from financial advice too ie put something into a pension if you've lots of savings etc.

There’s your answer.

This, and likewise private gps are often available for remote appointments. If you are unable to leave the house you definitely need a review of your health and medication. Can you not go out even with fiance’s support?

My medication review is done with the pharmacist who phones me. Op if you are on life long medication you can get a forn from your GP and get it free.
Good luck 🍀

It could be an automated prescription thing -my medication was halved and I had to have review -saw GP, he seemed surprised it was reduced and agreed with me to continue the meds as I need them - perhaps you can have a telephone appointment with GP.

I had the shudders when I saw you are on mirtazapine. Basically, I wonder if some of your problems are side effects of the medicine.

although weight gain is a known side effect, it’s only through the forums that you find out that the two terrible issues I had at the time was from this medication. One was aching all over. I’d had this a bit before but never so severe, I started using the car for distances I’d always have walked before.

the other effect was much worse … rage! Things and people upset or annoyed me that I would previously taken in my stride. One person on forums said he was losing his family because of the anger and irritation.

i won’t go into details of the couple of friends I’ve lost, they were more like friendly acquaintances but I avoided people I did care for till the drug was out of my system because I didn’t want to lose them .. or be really annoyed with them.

all the best xx

And when you phoned them about this exact same issue last month @MapsandLegends they said what?

They're literally the only people who can answer your question, starting numerous threads isn't going to help.

To answer questions as Ive no idea how to multi quote.

Itsgettingweird - I think I had a letter from social prescribing several years ago but they said they couldnt help me. A friend was so concerned about me in 2023 that she contacted social services, they had a number of emails back and forth ending with an email saying they would write to me (by post). I never received a leter and they never contacted me. Its a physical severe health condition. Im not getting any benefits. My fiance pays mortgage (v.v. low) and bills and food. The only person I see is my fiance, no one visits (Im not a horrible person).

Andsofinally - I said I DIDNT see a private GP but am thinking I should as they may take me seriously unlike the NHS. Yes Im in the UK.

emmadoher - no they werent low on stock, if they didnt have enough tablets then they always put a slip of paper in your bag saying we owe you X amount.

Busybeemum - No support at all. Living off savings as fiance works full time so I dont qualify (so I was told). My relationship is fine, that has nothing to do with the doctor reducing my medication without telling me!!!

Sparrowandbudgies - my fiance pays the mortgage (extremely low), bills and foodso its only fair I pay for some things.

7238SM - Im in the UK. THINKING of paying for private GP as NHS arent taking my condition seriously.

Sereine - Ive been with my fiance since 2012. See earlier in this post re prescription costs.

fluffiphlox - so GPs dont have a responsibility of care for their house bound patients?

shellyleppard - Im not on life long medication, I certainly want to come off the mirtazapine as its done nothing for me, I wasnt told anything about it, ie, side effects and have read its a nightmare to come off.

Tumbler2121 - no Ive had the health condition before I went on mirtazapine. Ive put a stone on, just on my stomach, even though I barely eat.

I have sent a strongly worded complaint to the practice asking for an urgent phone call, if not then I can follow up elsewhere, thank you AI !

The side effects you mention are listed on the patient leaflet that comes in every box. People should take some responsibility for reading these leaflets. All medicines have side effects and no doctor or pharmacist can possibly mention every side effect of every medication to every patient. If you experience a side effect you should report it to the prescriber. It baffles me how passive people can be when it comes to their own health. And then go whinging on forums about it.

I would contact CAB.

For a start if you have a physical disability so bad you cannot leave the house you should have a referral to wheelchair services.

You should be entitled to PIP and also have a Limited capacity to work assessment. if you’ve not already had these you need to get a fit note from the GP stating you cannot work and contact the job centre.

You might not be entitled to UC as a couple but you are entitled to help as an individual if you have a disability so bad you are housebound or require constant care.

You can contact social services adult assessment yourself.

Im really worried you’ve “accepted your fate” and become accustomed to a lack of support and the fight has gone from you?

Sorry if I am wrong and again you don’t need to disclose any medical info online you aren’t happy to share.

You will qualify for pip for your conditions regardless of your fiancées income.
Call your gp and try to get things sorted with your medication. If it’s a question of giving you more tablets you can find out why they’ve only given you 15 and take it from there.

That may be true, but no-one would ever take any medication ever if they worried about all the potential side effects listed!!

Why have you not called them? Going through social care and emailing the GP asking for a phone call isn’t you simply picking up the phone

… you don’t worry about the side effects. You wait until you get them and then go “oh this is likely because of that medication. I should speak to my doctor and decide if I should continue taking it or not”.

PP suggested they didn’t know until they looked on forums. If that’s the case they should be making disclosures under the Yellowcard scheme.

A strongly worded complaint rather than picking up the phone for a telephone review they’ve probably asked you for for months? That’s baffling.

Such a severe physical condition that you're housebound but you haven't seen your GP since 2022? Come on, OP, you need to be more proactive about this.

THEY HAVEN'T ASKED FOR A REVIEW AT ALL, HOW MANY MORE TIMES, FFS. THIS IS MY LAST POST

What’s stopping you from picking up the phone and saying “can I book a telephone medication review please?”

It appears the OP has posted about this before - the prescription is for sleeping tablets..... No surgery will continue to prescribe sleeping tablets month after month, it would be completely irresponsible.

It is possible that the nurse is the specially trained person to assess housebound patients and access appropriate help for them. They may well be able to organise home visits where necessary. I very much doubt you are being fobbed off.

You mention being bedbound and housebound due to your condition. That sounds well beyond the sleeping tablet issue. Some of your symptoms maybe aggravated by your physical restriction. Were you assessed and treated for the condition/s since 2015, do you also have medication for that? Medical science moves on and what may not have been available or useful then might now. It feels from your posts as if you are resigned to pain and struggling and have refused to engage with hcp or therapists in recent years as you felt dismissed. Perhaps that comes across in your communications so you get a less sympathetic response. What does your fiance think is a way forward?

They are legally not allowed to keep giving you anything addictive on auto repeat- you may find you can't get them at all next time, you will have to attend and discuss it.

Have you applied for PIP?

OP you have had some good advice on this and your previous thread. People are trying to help and it is clear that you don't want to disclose your condition or explain who you have spoken to or who has told you that you don't qualify for financial or practical help. That is absolutely your prerogative, but the consequence is that it is very difficult to offer specific suggestions.
I recall that an econsult or a written letter to the practice manager have been suggested previously. Did you manage to do either of those things with or without the help of your fiance?
Has your fiance asked for a carer's assessment via social services in order to assist you get the help and support you need?
Have you applied for a prepayment certificate for your medication so that the number of prescriptions will no longer affect costs?
Are you aware that you can give permission for your fiance to advocate with your gp on your behalf if you wish?
There is support available.