Drs are now telling people to buy their own meds!

Shastus

Has anyone else been told by GPs etc. to buy over the counter meds in the past couple weeks I’ve been told to bug things like Vitamin D, Gaviscon and Iron by different medical practitioners. I have short bowel from many bowel resections due to Crohn’s disease I’ve been on Omeprazole for over 12 years I asked my Gastro nurse about them not working any more she said stop the omeprazole and buy gaviscon over the counter then I’ve been told my iron and vitamin D are low and to buy them over the counter I will be on these for rest of my life, we’re already struggling and now I need to buy over the counter meds have you seen the price of some of these meds. Oh I forgot I also struggle with dehydration and been on Dioralyte for over 12 years since my last resection now nobody can get hold of Dioralyte any more and was told to buy St. Marks Solution hydration it's another expense at £25 a time to buy the ingredients.
now it’s a decision between eating, heating or meds.

poppy123456

This changed quite sometime ago where a GP won't write a prescription for certain OTC medication. However, there are exceptions for some long term health conditions. See link. https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/why-cant-i-get-prescription-over-counter-medicine/

durhamjaide2001

Do you get your prescriptions free on the NHS @Shastus?

Sandy_123

I buy some meds over the counter like folic acid and some others

CATP

hi @Shastus i think it depends on the surgery we are all in as i know my mums one (as bad as it is) give her easily sourced medications like that.

i remember when i lived in an institution and then residential care,one guy who moved across with me got his general factor sun cream from them on prescription.

i still get iron aand a big bottel of gaviscon and a biggish bottel of lactulose, they tend not to argue over meds when your in care but i understand why theyre doing it to save the NHS money?, but some of us woudnt be able to just buy it over the counter as it has to be signed from our dr and chemist.

Shastus

Thank you all for your help someone asked do I get prescriptions on NHS I normally do I have Crohn’s disease, short bowel, Ileostomy, diabetes, angina and compressed discs in my spine, when I worked I paid for all my meds except the stoma bags etc. but since my last surgery 2015 where a lot more of my intestines were removed left with only 4ft of small intestine no colon life has become very difficult plus I’m now a pensioner. Finding money for anything other than every day needs is difficult, so now I have to buy OTC meds some at £10 for 30. Now I need to find £10 for Vitamin D, £10 for iron and £20 for the ingredients for St.Marks Solution to stay hydrated per month £40 per month for OTC meds I just can’t afford them and pay all monthly bills and food etc. the meds lose out I’ll just not have them, hopefully I’ll pop my clogs sooner and save the NHS probably thousands a year. 

woodbine

Many OTC meds are very inexpensive but if you explained to your GP that as a pensioner you are struggling to buy them then hopefully they will put them back on prescription for you, so I would suggest talking to your GP as opposed to the internet.

cheekylittlekoala

I've been taking Omeprazole for GERD Acid Reflux. I was told to take Vitamin B12, Magnesium and Calcium as Omeprazole can alter these vitamin's in your body. I had to buy my vitamins as well but make sure you get good quality and good absorption with your vitamins.

2oldcodgers

One of the main reasons why GP's are now making patients buy their own OTC is because of cost. The NHS pays an absolute fortune for simple day to day medication. As an example the NHS pay on average 58p for a pack of 16 Paracetamol whereas you can buy the same from a supermarket/discount store for approx 14p.
My wife for years has had her 100 pack Paracetamol on prescription costing the NHS upwards of £36. I now do not tick her repeat prescription and buy in 6 packs of 16 which cost me £1.26.
Every month I am saving the NHS over £34 just for the Paracetamol.
I also buy in her vitamins from the same provider.
  

Lou67

@2oldcodgers

Can I ask where you buy paracetamol for 14p I have never saw them anywhere for that price. 

2oldcodgers

Lou67 said:

@2oldcodgers

Can I ask where you buy paracetamol for 14p I have never saw them anywhere for that price. 

Various discount stores in the local area.
  

woodbine

The only thing with paracetamol is that any one retailer can only by law sell you 2 packs at anyone time, the cheapest I have seen recently were about 50p a pack of 16

Lou67

@woodbine
Yes that’s about as cheap as I have saw them.

sunshine23

Hello. I get my paracetamols from Savers for 29p for a pack of 16 or B&M for 37p.

sunshine23

Forgot to add Tesco also sell them for 39p for 16

Jimm_Scope

I've often been told by doctors to buy cheap painkillers because it's cheaper, even when I lived in Scotland where prescriptions were free. 

Though, going back to the original topic. There are meant to be exceptions for chronic conditions, such as the Crohn's you have. So surely, despite it being an Over-The-Counter medication you should still get the prescription? 

Edit: Unless it comes under "Vitamins/minerals" section, but even then it says the reason is because you can get said vitamins from a varied diet. However, there's again chronic condition exemption there. Otherwise I wouldn't get my quarterly B12 injections.

bg844

I don’t see a problem and would pay £1 or 2 if needed for paracetamol, not a whole lot nowadays!

Jimm_Scope

£1 to £2 for paracetamol is fine yeah. But I see @Shastus's concern, there are medications they need to take for their chronic conditions that cost a sum that is not insignificant each month. It seems an unfair ask when we already know how disabled people are usually more financially strained in the first place.

Popcorn26

@Shastus
i also take a few things over the counter, like vitamin d and vitamin b’s that I need . 

Regarding ur rehydration powders,mi used to take diorlryte and had serious issues obtaining it last year and I found a great alternative it’s called SOS on Amazon, either comes in indivudal sachets or a bad of powder and a scoop, the sachets can be added into a small 500ml water bottle so it’s quite convinent. I often take this regular to help my health condition. Good luck

2oldcodgers

Jimm_Scope said:

£1 to £2 for paracetamol is fine yeah. But I see @Shastus's concern, there are medications they need to take for their chronic conditions that cost a sum that is not insignificant each month. It seems an unfair ask when we already know how disabled people are usually more financially strained in the first place.

  Not everyone that is sick or suffering some level of illness is disabled.
I know of many that continue to work whilst being sick or ill and many more that are wealthy in their own right.
It is not right to lump all those that are sick, ill or disabled as being 'financially strained'.

Jimm_Scope

I don't believe I said that everyone who needs a prescription is financially strained, or that everyone who needs a prescription is disabled. I think you've read something in my words that was not intended. Sorry if my words were unclear.

I was just remarking that those who are disabled are more likely to be financially strained than those who are not, paying for extra medication is just an extra source for expenses that many who are not disabled do not have to be concerned about. They have a chronic condition, which is a disability, which needs these products for them to live without becoming more ill.

It is a well-established fact that being disabled often comes with extra costs, Scope actually has a good information section about this Disability Price Tag 2023: the extra cost of disability | Disability charity Scope UK