WWYD? - GP response to Mounjaro

[wanttoimprovemyhealth]

I have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and am overweight. Life has been stressful over the past few years and i have let my health slide (all my fault- focusing on other things). I know I need to get a grip.

Since January I have been watching what I eat and am trying to sort out my medication. I am also interested in trying Mounjaro, paying privately (I can't afford to take time off work to attend lots of NHS appointments). As a diabetic I thought I should check with my GP first. Have been trying to get an appointment for weeks- finally got one today and she said she doesn't know anything about Mounjaro, the side effects and as such said I should not try it. She said she would normally advise me to speak to the pharmacist to find out about counter indications etc but they are on maternity leave.

I feel quite deflated my her response. I have read lots of reviews and it seems that it could potentially be very beneficial for someone in my circumstances. Unfortunately there are no other GPs available to speak to in the practice for another opinion and she also runs the other local NHS practice. Just not sure where to go from here. Wondered if anyone else had experienced anything similar with their GP and what they did? Thank you.

I’m not surprised anymore, I feel like I know more about new medication than most GPs, I’ve often asked about trying a new drug I’ve read about only for the GP to say they’ve never heard of it. I despair with the NHS these days (and I work for them ☹️).

@PolkaDotsLikeALadyBug

The GP doesn't do cardiac bypasses, or hip surgery but they still give advice about them

Not if you are having them done as a private patient they don't.

of course they do! just had a relative go private for a knee op, the referral was from the GP. I have had private health insurance and you have to be referred from the GP. For most things you can't just walk into a private clinic and say you want whatever you want.

also new guidance that came out a couple of weeks ago is that all GPs need to be informed of patients on weight loss injections & history checked so yes the GP should know what Mounjaro is.

I have never been referred through my GP for my private healthcare, also, that's not the case here anyway. The GP isn't referring people you just source your provider off your own back.

That said, even if the GO is referring someone to a private healthcare setting, that would be the end of their involvement. Whoever is prescribing is the person with responsibility, every single time.

@PolkaDotsLikeALadyBug at this time, and up until now, patients do not even have to consent to tell their GP they are taking this medication so this sort of ruins your argument. Even when it changes, it still does not make it the GP’s responsibility. They will just alert if there is a clear contradiction.

I had a similar response from my GP, I was hoping that if they didn't know they could point me in the right direction, but no, didn't seem bothered.
I joined the mounjarouk groups on Reddit for advice before I started Mounjaro because I too have high blood pressure, prediabetes etc. Got pointed in the best direction to pharmacys who do in depth questionnaire, pics, medical history, ask for GP address etc..its easy as pie.

perhaps some private healthcare plans are different. I had mine through work - I had to get a letter several times from the GP to see a foot surgeon, when I fancied a MRI for my back and my sons allergy. Anyway my point was that GPs should know what's going on I'm the world of new treatments. simple...

the point in this was that the GP should have an awareness of treatment available...they are GPs and should have a broad knowledge...if not I'd be concerned and move GPs.

@PolkaDotsLikeALadyBug

perhaps some private healthcare plans are different. I had mine through work - I had to get a letter several times from the GP to see a foot surgeon, when I fancied a MRI for my back and my sons allergy. Anyway my point was that GPs should know what's going on I'm the world of new treatments. simple...

The GPs do know what's going on, they just won't bear responsibility for someone else prescribing,

GP's don't want to prescribe anything anyway - budgets/forumularies. The struggle to get secondary care meds prescribed by primary care GPs is ridiculous. They want take minimal responsibility - regardless if it's private or nhs.

If you’re looking advice on actual medicines and interactions, a pharmacist is who you want. Call to your local dispensing pharmacist that normally handles your prescriptions and ask them.