Do all online pharmacies/prescribers contact your GP?

[SABM10]

Hi,

I'm interested in starting Mounjaro (have a BMI of 33 and have tried so hard to diet/exercise but also have a very stressful sedentary job with long hours which doesn't help...). However the handful of online prescribers I've looked at all seem to share information with and consult with your GP - is this the case for them all?

To be clear, I have nothing to hide medically, but my GP is very traditional in his outlook, very reluctant to prescribe anything not completely necessary to keep me alive and also very opinionated/involved. I am 100% sure that if he was contacted regarding this he would be on the phone to me straight away to discuss it and would block it if he could.

As an example of his attitude, I have very bad insomnia and once asked him for a short term prescription of zopiclone (3 or 4 doses) to help me through a really bad patch. This was always fine with my previous GP but this GP basically said to exercise more, go to bed early and use a lavender spray on my pillow?! At this point I'd been awake for over 48 hours straight and was on my knees, a lavender spray was not going to cut it! But it was an absolute 'no' to the zopiclone.

So, does anyone know of any prescribers that just go on the info provided and don't consult with GPs? Unfortunately changing GP is not an option due to location or I would!

In my experience, of ordering with 4 different pharmacies, they don't consult with your GP they just send a letter that advises what they have prescribed for you.
This is scanned onto your record (most likely by admin rather than your actual GP).
I think it's good to have it noted on your record personally, just in case the info is needed if I get ill

In my experience of ordering with 4 providers, not one has notified my gp. Voy gave me an opt out box, the family chemist, Oushk and Pharmulous have all given me the option of notifying them myself with a letter available to download to do so.

Thanks both! This is reassuring! @IReallyNeedThisToWork the one I'm looking at is Oushk so it's good to know they have this option 🙂

Yes, they'll inform your GP, but it's not a consultation. It's also not your GPs decision.
My GP would be highly unlikely to see this, they don't even read important tests results at my practice without being prompted.

OK thank you - I suppose I'm just dreading the unsolicited 'advice' that may be forthcoming if he does read it! He's notorious for that kind of thing (I should maybe be happy to have a GP who cares but it can get a bit much 😬)

They would need a medical reason to block it such as a history of gallstones, thyroid cancer, lied about BMI etc. They cannot block because they are "reluctant to prescribe anything not completely necessary to keep me alive"

Thanks @WeAllHaveWings, I just wasn't sure how it worked and how much influence the GP would have!

He will read it at some point. My doctors don’t miss a thing which is great in most cases.

Sounds like you need to switch GP.

Medexpress send a letter.
Voy don't.

As others said, they notify the gp surgery, they don’t consult. And your surgery will be getting loads of these notifications, many are struggling to cope with keeping records updated with them.

your gp can’t block unless there is a medical reason. Ie eating disorder, drug contraindications, lying about starting weight (ie very thin) They are not the prescriber so it isn’t their decision. All they can do is inform the prescriber if there is a strong medical reason the patient shouldn’t take it.

they may call you to discuss. But that also is rare.

the key is, so many people now on them, the gps are really not able to spend their days calling everyone about it,

Mine must have notified my GP,

I was recently in hospital and the pharmacy team asked me if I was still on the insulin pen from last year! They must have had this info from my GP record. My friend was there and I thought she might ask me about it but didn't. To be honest I would just tell her if she did, no shame about it.

I was med express.

I found that IQ doctor had sent an email to my gp telling them they were supplying me.
Bolt did not do this.

Medino have a tick box thing asking if you want them to inform the GP, or if you want to do it yourself.

I ticked do it myself, and they haven't sent a letter out to them, so that's good.

Also very cheap for the 2.5mg dose and free postage and packing.

I believe Med Express has sent mine a letter. However Cloud sent the letter to me to pass on if I wish. Numan I ticked the box to say I didn’t want to let my GP know and they still issued the prescription.

Why gallstones?

I used Voy who give you the option. I’ve sent you a DM 😊

Many prescribers will not prescribe if there is previous history of gallstones

I think it’s because sudden/extreme weight loss can cause gallstones. On xenical at the moment & that states not to take xenical if you have gallstones- need to check with my GP.