UK Prescription medicines

[billybags]

For the last 4 months we have had trouble getting Renagel phos binder. The reason Boots  "our pharmacy" give is "It is a manufacturing shortage. We had to wait for 3 weeks the last time to get these, as luck had it we had a small supply that took us through. To-day he put his script in and told them he only had enough for 1 day, She gave him 4 tablets and said she would try and get in touch with the manufacturer.It is Friday, he takes 6 tablets daily any way. There are lots of other medications that are getting hard to get. I feel like we are getting like a third world country.Are these pharmaceutical manufactures getting more money for selling these abroad.  Is any one else having problems getting drugs in the UK?

[rocker]

I've heard this is beginning to happen in the US.  It's hard to get information from the pharmaceutical industry, but there is speculation that this is due to the companies switching production facilities over from low-profit drugs to high-profit drugs.

[greg10]

Perhaps FDA crack down on the pharmaceutical companies, perhaps more whistle blowers in a recession:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/29/60minutes/main7195247.shtml

"All the systems were broken, the facility was broken, the equipment was broken, the processes were broken. It was the worst thing I had run across in my career," she told "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley.

The worst, because so many things behind the walls of the plant were going wrong at once: Eckard says water used to make tablets was tainted with bacteria; failures on production lines made some drugs too strong, some not strong enough; and the employees were contaminating products, including the anti-bacterial ointment Bactroban, which was made in a sealed tank to prevent contamination.

"They were opening up the lid and then they were sticking their body into the tank and scraping it with like a paddle," Eckard said.

"But this product is supposed to be free of bacteria. Why would they do that?" Pelley asked.

"It saved money," Eckard replied.

[KICKSTART]

Billybags if this happens again tell your D unit , they will get you a supply from the hospital pharmacy. My g.p. wont provide me with Cinacalcet because of its cost , i have to get it via the hospital.

[RichardMEL]

Isn't Renagel being dumped in favour of Renvela? That could have something to do with it. Never had probs getting it here (but i'm off it now - I donated my ~100 tabs to the renal ward who were happy to take them!).

I could get Sensipar through my local pharmacy (they did have to order it in, but with the right authorisations they could) but they refused with my transplant meds saying they were just too restricted so have to go to the hospital pharmacy for those also.

I'm thinking "Who the hell would WANT to get this stuff illegally? It's not a class of drugs you WANT to take!!" lol Of course they did tell me the "real" cost for a month's supply was between $4,000 and $5,000 so that probably has a lot to do with ie (ie: get drugs here under our system, then go sell them elsewhere.. say 3rd world...)

[jeannea]

Before being on disability I worked in pharmaceuticals as a chemist. There are a lot of things that can go wrong and affect the supply chain. The raw materials used to make the drugs come from all over the world. Sometimes there's a problem with making the active ingredient (the part of the drug that does the important stuff). We had been having problems with some raw materials getting stuck in customs because of anti-terrorism and it would take the government months to release the material for use. The way companies work these days with just-in-time inventory that can really screw up timelines and supply. Then if they test a batch (every batch is tested for quality before being sent out the door) and a problem if found, they have to start an investigation and find the cause before making more. It's more complicated than some manufacturing. The article someone posted about GSK, well these things can happen but most companies will try to do it right because it means less trouble in the end. They do want to make money but it's hard to make money when no one trusts your products.

[Poppylicious]

We've had that happen twice, but I can't remember if it was the Renagel that was the problem or some other medication/s. I know that once they were unable to get hold of a particular make of anti-coag due to manufacturing issues, but she asked me if it was okay to give him another make (which he'd been prescribed before.)  Blokey tends to put his script in well before he needs stuff (which has never been a problem until just before Christmas when the doctor had refused to fulfil it, which was daft because by the time I went to pick it up he was almost out of most of it anyway, ho-hum) and that's useful if this sort of thing happens.  If it's only the Renagel that's causing an issue can your doctor prescribe another phos. binder, or can the prescription be increased so that you have more in stock and it lasts longer?

[billybags]

Thanks every one for your replies. We did have a good supply in last time but because we had to wait 3 weeks for the renagel we used it up and like you the docs don't want to give you a script before the time. We will probably have to get it from the hospital pharmacy, but that means trip to unit, to get a script, that's if they give it to you.

greg10 interesting site you marked. In UK we have got a problem with dialysis fluid. Apparently ours come from Ireland and the vats that it is mixed in have been found to have hair line cracks in them, thus letting in bacteria.  All patients have been told and we are not to use 2000 green, yellow bags until notified. It could take up to 3 months before things are sorted out. It will cost Baxter's a fortune. Ireland also delivers to Europe so it is a massive problem.   

[KICKSTART]

Isn't Renagel being dumped in favour of Renvela? That could have something to do with it. Never had probs getting it here (but i'm off it now - I donated my ~100 tabs to the renal ward who were happy to take them!).

I could get Sensipar through my local pharmacy (they did have to order it in, but with the right authorisations they could) but they refused with my transplant meds saying they were just too restricted so have to go to the hospital pharmacy for those also.

I'm thinking "Who the hell would WANT to get this stuff illegally? It's not a class of drugs you WANT to take!!" lol Of course they did tell me the "real" cost for a month's supply was between $4,000 and $5,000 so that probably has a lot to do with ie (ie: get drugs here under our system, then go sell them elsewhere.. say 3rd world...)

RM i am amazed that they took the tablets off you ?  The amount of tablets ive had to bin , mostly due to changes in meds in unbelievable. They will not even take them with a seal still intact ! Also the amount of unused , unopened stock i had to throw away when i changed from pd to hemo was crazy , it must have been hundreds of pounds worth and then they wonder why they run out of funds. Yes opened products , i can understand them not taking , but sealed doesnt make sense !

[RichardMEL]

Hey guess what - mine was OPENED too!!

Look I agree - I was quite surprised that they accepepted them, but both the transplant co-ordinator AND one of the senior docs told me to do it. He was like "I'm taking you off Renagel. You don't need a binder anymore. Give what you've got left to the ward - they can always use them!" so.. I did!! I thought they'd tell me to go take it to the pharm for appropriate disposal, but they were rapt and took them off my hands with a smile. Maybe it's the nature of the drug (like they wouldn't do it for just anything?) I don't know but I for one was SO happy because I hate throwing stuff out like that when people can use it - specially given how expensive it is to the govt (I think a 180 tablet bottle of Renagel cost taxpayers like $350). I've got some sensipar here about 20 tablets in the blister pack untouched. I'd offer to send it to KS but it's actually a federal offence to send subsidised meds out of Australia, so I wouldn't do that (however when I travel to the UK I might accidently leave it behind....  ).

[KICKSTART]

Why RM thankyou but a bunch of flowers would be much more appreciated . Isnt it sad when we think of meds in the terms of useful gifts ! Im one of the lucky ones my Cinacalcet costs me nothing.

[RichardMEL]

btw KS this is for you to prove they are the same thing