Watch out - PCT are putting special medications like melatonin on a cut back list

[cansu]

I posted recently about my GP wanting to stop my ds liquid melatonin. I have since found out that our PCT is trying to move people off these medicines which are reagrded as 'specials' and are more expensive. For my ds, who can't take tablets, this liquid stuff is essential - I just wanted to warn others to stand their ground, if this happens to their dcs.

oh god ! just seen this .

I had a phone call from my gp last week to ask if i would agree to my sons melatonin tablets being changed to longer acting tablets to save £500 per child per year. I didnt know what to say so they said they would ring his paed. I havent heard anything so i presume they are staying the same, seems these cutbacks are going to affect too many people now including our kids

it won't be a cheaper option when parents are banging on their door looking for medications as they are so sleep deprived they cannot cope.

i agree anonandlikeit

Yes, I did make that point to my GP when i said 'if ds doesn't have melatonin, he won't sleep, if ds doesn't sleep, dp and I will go insane'. We now have a presription for liquid melatonin. Thank god. I think it's a bloody cheek brandy for doctor to ring you up and ask you to save the NHS 500.00. If your dc needs the liquid then there's not really much you can do about that.

my son is on tablets cansu, apparently they wanted to switch to long acting ones to save the £500 a year.I think my gp was actually quite embarassed asking, she said she had been asked by the powers above. How longer acting ones can work is beyond me, surely he would be dopey during the day! i havent heard anything so im presuming his paed didnt want the change

They probably mean the slow release ones. I think they are supposed to release the melatonin throughout the night. I don't think these would work with my ds as it is goingt to sleep at a normal time that is one of the main problems. Yes, we were also told that the request was due to orders from above. My feeling is that it is now down to the GP's to stick up for their patients, particularly vulnerable children and their parents. I must admit it makes me concerned about what might happen when the government's plans to make GP's responsible for services in their area goes ahead.

bloody hell, I would kill my GP if he said I couldn't have it.
dd can't take tablets at all so we have to have the liquid.

is the liquid dearer then 2shoes? i hadnt heard of the liquid till i read it on here. im lucky my son is fine with taking tabs, he has to take another with it and ive finally taught him to swallow them whole rather than the palava of grinding them up

no idea, we don't use much as she only has 4ml a night, my only indulgence is always to have one full bottle in stock un opened, just in case of flood/famine/snow
I am not too worried as out GP is good and understands so hopefully he won't stop it.

Kidnaps is about £90 per bottle. Or at least, that is what I saw scrawled on the side of one carton I was given. They are specials which means that the company manufactures it on receipt of the order from the pharmacy, and that makes it very expensive.

According to this the liquid is £90 per bottle from Penn, and £25 from Special Products Ltd.

DS's psychiatrist has been trying to persuade us to change from slow release to regular tablets. She claims there is no evidence that sr work any better than the ordinary tablets. I presumed this was code for 'the PCT won't pay for them anymore' as they DO work better. We open the capsules up and mix in a pudding