Doctors trying to save money - Yasmin

HannahIOW

Thanks, good idea. I'm getting quite nervous about the appointment now lol.

funguy

You can tell the doctor thats the one you would prefer but the doctor is under no obligation to prescribe something he/she doesnt wish to. At the end of the day, they are responsible for everything they prescribe so you cant force them to prescribe anything. Your only "right" is to request it. Also, if your local NHS trust doesnt want it prescribed, neither you nor the doctor can do anything about it.

moneysaving_pharmacist

funguy wrote: »

I read the above with interest - the cost of medication does not come out of the doctor's own pay packer nor that of the practice! It comes out of the NHS Primary Care Trust's budget. Therefore, it doesnt make any jot of difference to the individual GPs or nurses which medication is prescribed - however, doctors and prescribing nurses are forced, YES forced to change to cheaper medications by the NHS prescribing comittees. Most practices now also have an NHS Primary care trust employed pharmacist that goes through all prescribing in practices on a weekly basis with harsh consequences for anyone not complying with local prescribing protocols.

So, by all means complain and argue with your local GP or nurse - it wont make any difference! We live in an age where the NHS is expected to pay for anything and everything and the pot of money has run out! For every pound spent on a more expensive pill, another pound is taken away from a transplant patient, intensive care bed or useless NHS manager's pocket!......shocking but real!

Lots of PCTs have schemes where if practices underspend on their prescribing budget they get to keep a proportion of the savings. It's pretty hard to get GPs to do anything unless there is money in it for them.

I think prescribing committes would be delighted if they had the power you ascribe to them. It is impossible to force GPs to do something they don't want to. I am also somewhat amused at the thought of GPs hiding from their practice pharmacist to avoid the harsh consequences of not following protocols (which are designed to be guidelines, and not something to be followed slavishly all the time).

Prescribing committees and practice pharmacists are their to help GPs improve their prescribing, by doing things like highlighting the fact that a generic is now available at a fraction of the brand price. Price is not the sole consideration - effectiveness is important as well. Spending on more effective drugs can be justified if they keep patients out of hospital for example.

moneysaving_pharmacist

funguy wrote: »

You can tell the doctor thats the one you would prefer but the doctor is under no obligation to prescribe something he/she doesnt wish to. At the end of the day, they are responsible for everything they prescribe so you cant force them to prescribe anything. Your only "right" is to request it. Also, if your local NHS trust doesnt want it prescribed, neither you nor the doctor can do anything about it.

I'm guessing you don't work in the NHS? If you did you would know that GPs are contractors to the NHS, not NHS employees. Controlling contractors is a damn sight harder than controlling employees. If a GP feels that a drug is suitable for a patient they can prescribe it on the NHS, as long as it is not a blacklisted item. There may be locally agreed arrangements for expensive items, but these are the exception.

moneysaving_pharmacist

alias123 wrote: »

I agree with Cilest being a crap pill, I didnt get depressed, but it gave me a thumping migraine (with vomitting) twice a week for the whole year that I was on it!.


I agree that Dianette is/was a really good pill for women prone to acne, but I think the reason they discourage long term use is that if a woman was to fall pregnant whilst on it, it can be teratogenic.

Yasmin is the NEW Dianette, good for skin, with minimal side effects.:)

Dianette is not encouraged for long term use as it has a significantly higher risk of blood clots than other oral contraceptives. It will not harm a child if you get pregnant whilst taking it. No contraceptive will. As contraceptives are not 100% effective you would not be able to get one on the market if it harmed the baby.

dmg24

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Bah! Had the implant which led to constant bleeding (and subsequent aneamia) which led to me being put on a pill to regulate it anyway and the injection made me put on 4 stone and worsened my depression. Recently they are trying to get me to have the coil but the thought of it makes me feel sick i just hate the idea of putting a foreign object inside of me that only stops me getting pregnant because its irritating my insides (plus if it goes wrong its a life threatening medical emergency).

This is a myth. Whilst hormone based contraceptives can make you put on weight, this would be around half a stone per year (and usually less after the first year). It would not have made you put on four stone.

HannahIOW

Just an update, had my appointment and no problems at all, I was asked how I was getting on with it, I said "Great it's the best pill I've been on" he printed the prescription and that was it. Another doctor to add to my 'nice doctors' list lol.

melancholly

glad it worked out!

shays_mum

Sorry to jump on here!, but did anyone find they got really sore boobs using yasmin?!, i have been on it for the first time & seems to help my pcos & associated stuff, but aarrgghh its like i am pregnant again so sore

HannahIOW

It's a long time since I was first on it, but yes I think I did have quite sore boobs during the first few months... your body takes a while to settle down and get used to the pill so you may have some side effects for a while