Finding it difficult getting medication

are you sure you cant be titrated onto a modern medication?
I take it you have done all the other things i would ask-talking to the prescribing nurse/pharmacist etc

I'm surprised that there isn't one that can replace this med, what has your GP said?

Thanks JaneJudge,
Unfortunately not it would be too dangerous after being on the old lot for so long. A lot of new medication came on the market at the turn of the century which even then was too dangerous to change.
I have two gay chaps who take it in turns to occasionally come from their home to look after the house next to mine where one of their parents used to live. Fortunately, one chap is a pharmacist who arrived yesterday for a few days. He so kindly mentioned he would have a look for me.
With so many of us in the uk the days have passed when I remember often being told by a local pharmacist that they only keep what I take for myself.

I am having continuous trouble when needing replacement. Does this ring a bell to any one if so what do you do?

Do you know if the medication is on "amber" like mine is?

I will post something more, later.

Thanks all.
As I mentioned with my condition the GPs etc all say it would be too dangerous to change which now I do agree.
Since 19yrs of age I have practically been my own doctor to know how much medication to take etc. As one GP pointed out,
“It’s your body”.
Six years ago I started to get side effects from the version I was then taking that affected my sleep pattern. However, a local chemist offered me another variation of the same medication which I find so useful as I can cut it up if need be that was not possible with the previous version, some of the old version I still have and which I am now taking until hopefully tomorrow when my prescription will be ready to collect but I am not sure if they will have the variation that suits me (a Milpharm brand) as they didn’t have it on Saturday. While taking this older version my sleep pattern has again been affected. I will survive.

FancyThat I have just noticed your message asking if my medication is under Amber.
What is Amber?

Oh.
I was tol drecently at a pharmacist[after trying a different store in a different town] that what I need is on "amber".

That there are 3 levels. Green, amber and red.
Amber means supply is difficult to get hold of.

Thankfully for me, they said they would order it. And to return next day to see if it had arrived in. It had.
I only need it about every 6 months, which is another plus.

According to goo gle, the reason for my medication being on amber is,

"can occasionally be difficult to source due to intermittent manufacturing and distribution issues affecting coal tar-based dermatological products in the UK. It remains an active licensed medicine, but local pharmacies may run short"

Thanks Fancythat as I have never heard of that term.
I believe why I am finding it difficult is not only my age. The few who would be still taking the old-fashioned drug would still be taking the capsule that was the first to appear. then came a tablet in the 1960s. While the company I like only started in the 1970s so the oldies still taking the medication would not have heard about it which won’t be good for Milpharm’s market and pharmacists only buy drugs that they can sell so the firm that my local Boots buy off very seldom has the drug to sell.

I have been with the same pharmacy since 1988 and I leave it to them to find drugs. I have never trekked around to find prescription drugs.

I am used to it.
The doctor pharmacy says, if they dont have something in stock, "you cant take this prescription to x pharmacy or y pharmacy, to see if they have it in".

Cath9

Thanks Fancythat as I have never heard of that term.
I believe why I am finding it difficult is not only my age. The few who would be still taking the old-fashioned drug would still be taking the capsule that was the first to appear. then came a tablet in the 1960s. While the company I like only started in the 1970s so the oldies still taking the medication would not have heard about it which won’t be good for Milpharm’s market and pharmacists only buy drugs that they can sell so the firm that my local Boots buy off very seldom has the drug to sell.

pharmacists only buy drugs that they can sell

A good independent pharmacy will find a different supplier for any prescription drugs/brands that are not available from his main supplier.; and order them specially.

I am the only patient at my GP, and the only client at local independent pharmacy, who is prescribed my branded medication. It's extremely expensive. For 40 years every time I move house, every new GP and new pharmacy remark on the price (of this brand) and that it will have to be ordered in specially because nobody else on our books uses this brand.

The same prescription generic drug is common and available far cheaper but I can't tolerate any other.

<https://hightownpharmacy.co.uk/health-and-advice/generic-vs-branded-medications>

fancythat

I am used to it.
The doctor pharmacy says, if they dont have something in stock, "you cant take this prescription to x pharmacy or y pharmacy, to see if they have it in".

that should read can not cant

Mr C can only take a branded medication for one health issue. Thankfully we have a consultant letter confirming it, invariably when we’ve moved home both GP and pharmacist have queried the need.

When there have been shortages, it’s also an old medication which has not been newly prescribed for some years, I’ve contacted the manufacturer in Ireland and they have sent some urgently to our pharmacist until regular supplies settled again. If it’s possible try the manufacturer cath. They may be able to help. I do understand your worry.

Have you tried to Google it? There are plenty of online trusted pharmacies.

Certain brands of thyroid hormones are notoriously hard to source with no rhyme or reason reason .

sharon103

Have you tried to Google it? There are plenty of online trusted pharmacies.

Are there?

Which ones please.

Thanks all.
I do have some now so intend on putting packet away incase it happens for a third time.

I was prescribed a medication that my GP said he would issue an open prescription for as he knew the pharmacy attached to the Health Centre were unable to get it. I took it to every pharmacy in the 2 nearest towns and no luck. I looked it up online and there was one overseas supplier that I could by it from, it was around £70 per tube! And of course online medications are frequently not quite what they seem.

i have been using venlafaxine for Depression, panic disorder for the last 10 years, this week they could not get it and now have to give me a prolonged release tablet that is causing problems with my digestive system, i have no choice but to take it until they can source my own medication, the doctors pharmacist has warned me that i may have problems with some of my other tablets (17 morning- 8 at night).

Dear Cath9, I have the same problem. I ring lots of pharmacies in lots of towns until I can get it.

My problem is getting my medication in the first place as there are manufacturing problems constantly with it. Also having to sit down and ring endless pharmacies to check they have it before setting out (I travel up to 10 miles for a Pharmacy stocking it). Thirdly is getting my pharmacy connected to my GP Surgery to realise and remember that I take it 3 times a day and nog once as they usually complain I shouldn’t need it renewing when actually I do!!!!!

Many thanks all.
One hears about some drugs are difficult to find which must be so difficult. Thankfully I have them now
Many seem to live on drugs when there are alternatives. While I have had to live taking medication since 14yrs of age otherwise I wouldn’t be here today. I have decided to keep one packet safe incase it happens again

Warmglovesandsocks and for all those who find it difficult to get their medications
this morning I had a word with the dear pharmacist from my surgery
He mentioned that AAH is the larger Medical Provider. If you live in a city or near to a city have a look in their website to see if there is a chemist near you that uses AAH Medical Provider.