Big price increases thread 2

[LifeOfAShowGirl]

Lots of very useful discussions going on on the old thread, so I thought I would continue it!

Anyone heard anything from BOLT?

Sorry, I'm confused - so you would need to order every 4 to 6 weeks or have to start again at 2.5mg? So how would @MyHeartyCoralSnail 's plan to leave longer between orders work? Sorry if I've misunderstood.

Speak to your pharmacy in early September once the flurry is over and explain that you have extra pens and show them the evidence, ask them to allow bigger gaps in ordering without moving you down a dose. Many will agree and update your record to reflect this. Get their agreement in writing.

If your pharmacy doesn't agree move to one that does. They should all allow 6 weeks between orders anyhow, but that will only enable a slow work through of a stockpile.

No that’s not what I meant. Ordering 2.5mg would be the only option after a break of that length as that would be the strength you need to restart.

Sorry @Gertiebluei think I misread you - you are not looking to take a break from the MJ? The other ouster had spoken of a break. It doesn’t matter how long you go between orders now as you would have the medication to show you haven’t had a break in the MJ

Thank you, I think I confused everyone, sorry 😂.

The poster I was originally replying to said that she maybe planned to make two pens last three months going forwards - I think she suggested four weeks on, two weeks off and then four weeks on. I wondered how this would work with reordering, because you wouldn't have evidence of a 'stockpile' to show - you'd just have been stretching out what you . But if you can order every six weeks rather than 4, maybe that would work 🤷🏻‍♀️.

I'm not trying to scaremonger but that doesn't always work. Some providers will still bump you back if you leave a gap of more than 6 weeks even if you have evidence. It is best to speak to your pharmacy before creating of more than 6 weeks to get their agreement. That way you have the piece of mind that it won't be an issue.

I ordered from ZAVA late last Thursday evening. Still not been approved. I have run out and need to inject this Thursday. Really frustrating. I had left the ordering until the last week as I was away on holiday and need to be home when it arrives.

Many pharmacies have confirmed that a gap in ordering will be fine as long as you can show no gap in treatment.

Sure some have (Oushk for example) but many (if not most) have not made any formal statement about this. Oushk have always been flexible with ordering providing there was evidence but other pharmacies less so, IQ dr (for example) have previously bumped people down for gaps over 6 weeks even with evidence. Again, I would simply advise people to check with their provider in advance so they don't get caught out.

I know it's not quite the same, but on Reddit I keep seeing people recommending micro-dosing from higher dose pens to save money. Apart from the risk of using over 30 days, I'm confused as to how they will reorder then, as they will be having much longer gaps between treatment. I do wonder if people are hoping for the best, but it might be more complicated than that.

Just wanted to say that in case it helps anyone, I got a reminder off Superdrug to order again soon about the day the increases were announced. Normally I wouldn't order for another two weeks but ordered the next day at their usual price for 15mg which I've now received. They were never the cheapest but £220 was better than £300+ or whatever it might be next time.😫They still seem to be doing 30% off for new patients and 10% off for repeat orders and just say that orders are taking longer than usual. They didn't take particularly long though, it was about two days!

Also IIRC with Superdrug they ask if you have taken it in the last five weeks rather than base things on your order history.

Yeah, microdosing will only work if pharmacies are okay with off label use, not all of them will be. Honestly, who knows though, it will be a completely different landscape after the 01/09. Pharmacies may come out and say this is all fine. We'll just have to wait and see.

When I ordered from P2U and MMP they both asked what the last date of my last injection was. Not sure how you prove this either way to be honest but with so many companies allowing multiple pen ordering they can’t expect people re-order in 4 weeks and prescription date could be quite old.

My plan is to microdose from a bigger pen.

I'm currently on Jab 2 of my 5gm and have ordered 7.5mg and got the dispatch notification today. When that comes I'm going to see if I can order a 10mg before Sept, using the 7.5mg box.

But then in going to carry on doing 5mg doses. So with a 10mg pen, I work out I will get 10 (maybe 11) weeks of 5gm. So 2 1/2 months for around £200 for the pen. That makes it as cost effective as the 5mg pen I bought before all this hoohar started.

Before any pearl cluching starts, I know this is a risk. I'm not risk adverse. I know some people are but I'm OK with it. My rationale (and this is just for me, I'm not looking to convince anyone else) is:

• I'll keep the pens in the fridge all the time.
• thinking back to my days of storing pre-made formula in the fridge, I'll keep it in the back of the fridge not the door, because that's cooler
• I also have a sealed box that I'm keeping my pens in, in the fridge. So it's away from food.
• I have bought 100 medical wipes. Every use I am cleaning the seal before and again after.
• I have bought individually wrapped sterile insulin needles. I also have a big box of the pen tip needles.
• there's a risk the medication could be less active. I'm willing to stand that risk. They have long use-by dates on them after all. A risk though, I'll have to see
• there's an infection risk even with all the above. But then I ask myself, a risk from what? And how big? The infection can only come from me, back to me. If there is an infection, the transference would be tiny. I'm alert to watching out for signs of infection and will see my GP if noticed. I dont think its life-threatening or anything, just a small possibility of a smsll inconvenience. I don't really think the infection risk is any bigger than picking a spot whichI have been known to do, and survived.
• Risk of prescription gaps. I think this is manageable. I think, with swapping suppliers (which I do) I'll be able to keep at least 8 weeks between orders. But thats another suck-it-and-see. I defo expect it to be solvable this side of Christmas. The market is going to have to manage all these people stockpiling in some way.

So, my strategy initially was "I can't afford this price increase so I'm swapping to wygovy". And its now "I can't afford this price increase so I'm microdosing from a bigger pen"

Yes, although no idea why as I’m sure it was exactly the same questions I’d answered online???

(Wrong thread.)

A delaying tactic?

I did wonder. It’s this kind of thing that fuels panic buying, if they were just honest on a delivery date I could work with that, it’s the confusion that makes me worry.

Me too. I have already used one pen beyound 30 days due to a holiday abroad. I ever get my next pen that is

Yes I've been dosing myself 10mg from a 15 pen for months. As long as you're sensible around hygiene and keep the pen in the fridge I don't see it as much of a risk.

So with MedExpress, I was able to reorder (in my "normal" time frame) on Monday, which I would have done anyway. I was then able to order again today (Wednesday). Both are still in clinical review, but my ordering timeline has now reset to the 3rd of September.

I only ordered 2.5mg pens as that's what I'm aiming to stick with for as along as humanly possibly. I guess it was a way of allowing a "little bit" of stockpiling without it being too mad?

They are saying 7-10 days though, and were really pushing the Wegovy switch. In fact, that table they've put up almost makes MJ look "bad".

I'm sure it'll all calm down soon though. I'm away next week though between Monday and Wednesday so a little worried about when they are dispatched.

I’m with Boots and did not order last week during the panic but ordered on Monday, when I got the automated email / prompt about the next otder. I’m on maintenance at 2.5. Approved yesterday but just got a call from the pharmacy I collect my order from
and they have told me they have no stock atm but are confident will be able to fulfill the order before the end of the month.

I received my 5mg new one yesterday and used last dose of old one today
SheMed sent an email this morning - just saying don’t panic we are looking at what we can do!