Unused prescription medication

Yes- but if the patient tells the GP that they are taking their meds- even if results don't seem to indicate that the do- do you think the GP has the right to go and investigate patient's house or send police to do so

You seem to be the first person to raise this hare of “sending the police round”
If you don’t have a genuine argument don’t go inventing one and then attributing it to others!
Twisting peoples words then arguing against them is not only disingenuous but totally misleading.

“Ridiculous “ doesn’t come close

All this talk about 'old people', as if they were a human sub-species. We are talking about ourselves.

I do not think not taking drugs is a particularly age related problem. I have come across young and middle aged people who collect medication but do not take it, even though it seriously endangers their health.

My GP only prescribes a month at a time and you can only order 10 days before you run out. I like to keep a weeks tablets in supply as when I have a pain flare need to take extra of my painkillers. But if I need to order my pain relief earlier I have never had any trouble getting because my GP knows about the flares .

Foxygloves

^Yes- but if the patient tells the GP that they are taking their meds- even if results don't seem to indicate that the do- do you think the GP has the right to go and investigate patient's house or send police to do so^

You seem to be the first person to raise this hare of “sending the police round”
If you don’t have a genuine argument don’t go inventing one and then attributing it to others!
Twisting peoples words then arguing against them is not only disingenuous but totally misleading.

Foxyglove, I have not been twisting your words at all. If some of you insist that the GP should do something about it, if they suspect, due to test results or other reason, that the patient is not taking meds- they can ask, and ask again- but beyond that, they can't do anything. They can't insist that the patient is not telling the truth, if they assure her/him that they are taking them. Nor can they go and inspect the patient's home and open all cupboards.

So, and I don't know about any doctor who has done this- unless the drugs are ClassA perhaps, like morphine or some pain killers, that could be sold on to black market - would be to ask Social Services + Police.

GPs won't do that (unless ClassA- suspicion of drug dealing), will they? My point entirely.

FP, I am prescribed a Class A drug and I can assure you that they are rigorously controlled. Before you can even be prescribed them, there are processes to be followed and criteria to be fulfilled.
I have personal experience, do you?
There is so much second hand, anecdotal evidence here, but no hard evidence from clinicians.
Of course there will be people, who store medicine, that's human nature, it doesn't mean everyone does it.
Anyone, who does is extremely foolish, as it will impact on their health.

Of course on rare occasions, ClassA drugs may be sold, but I can assure you, that if I miss even one dose, my pain levels soar, the withdrawal symptoms are extremely unpleasant and I feel very unwell. I suspect very few people would put themselves through that.
Secondly, the amounts prescribed are rigorously controlled and monitored, including an inquisition at the pharmacy,when it is collected.

It looks like that you are now clutching at straws to support your argument, If I remember correctly, the original discussion talked about all prescription medicine and it was you who initially brought up the police being involved.
Class A drugs were not mentioned, until you mentioned them..

I am becoming quite irritated by posters starting threads about prescription medications, when they have only anecdotal evidence. Just because someone you know had for example a reaction to say statins, it doesn't mean everyone will.
I had a severe allergic reaction to a drug called Lefludimide and ended up in coronary care, seriously ill.
I didn't start a thread, saying it is dangerous and people should avoid it! That would be totally irresponsible.

If posters fail to provide medical or statistical evidence, then I am not interested.

Ooer - one of my medications is Class A. The possibilities are endless - but it would quickly be apparent in my state of health if I stopped taking and started dealing.

Seriously, everyone on regular medication should have a review with the GP at least once a year. This has always been my experience. And it should be apparent at a review if the patient hasn’t been taking their medication. One of the tests at my review is a blood test to check levels of medication. I know that won’t be everyone’s experience but GP have the means to know if patients are taking the medication they keep dishing out - and I don’t mean calling the police or rifling through their cupboards (ridiculous suggestions).

Meds reviews are always done on a regular basis for myself and DH. A lab report would highlight if certain meds are not being taken. Should we request any meds too soon, we are told, request denied and have to wait until our GP sanctions the request.

M0nica

All this talk about 'old people', as if they were a human sub-species. We are talking about ourselves.

I do not think not taking drugs is a particularly age related problem. I have come across young and middle aged people who collect medication but do not take it, even though it seriously endangers their health.

Personally, I used the term “oldER people” because from my observations it is mainly them who are poorly and need medication and often have a big stash of unused medication.

I order my dads meds (12 items)

I tick off what he needs normally about 8 of them.

Does the person who orders the repeat look at it? "no"!

They just put the whole lot through as thy cannot be bothered to look through it, easier to just click "repeat, repeat ,repeat" every month.

So thought right! will go into the docs and order over the counter (you can only do this after 1.00pm

Did they get it right this time? Noooooooo.

Hence my dad has his own little shop of Laxido,paracetomol,gtn spray,and several other medications. I have now given up and just accept what arrives.

I order my own meds on line at my own surgery and it flows perfectly .

But trying to get on the app/online with my dad's is like MI5.

I have even been in the surgery to ask/explain. The answer I got was "oh because your dad is capable he can order his own on line"! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Nor can they go and inspect the patient's home and open all cupboards

Nobody is suggesting this.

Oh the catastrophising