Prescription qiestion

rotoguys

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I don't agree, GPs would far rather not waste their drug budget than waste it, and you'll find concern about this is going to increase as we approach April 2013.

The reason you were prescribed clopidogrel and rosuvastatin was to prevent a heart attack or stroke. People die of both, neither are particularly nice to experience if you do survive (as many do), and the costs to the NHS of treating both - particularly the long-term costs of stroke - are huge. Yet you wear your willfull self-neglect and abuse of the NHS like a badge of honour.

Of course I know the risks. My other conditions pose an even more serious risk.

So you religously take every pill & potion that the GP prescribes?

I am only interested in what I can cope with. I can't cope with some of my medication so I don't take it - simple.

VfM4meplse

rotoguys wrote: »

My searches say approx £500. You may be right but the cost, no matter what it is, is really of no concern to me.

As for taking it for a year - rubbish!! It's for life!! And that comes right from the horses mouth - the GP! Do you actually know what that drug is for and why it is prescribed?

I don't consider what I waste, I am only interested in me and my family like the vast majority in this country.

You're not only technically incorrect, you're entirely ignorant of both medicines and ethics, and quite possibly beyond help. Try looking at the product licence and generic list price.

seven-day-weekend

rotoguys wrote: »

Of course I know the risks. My other conditions pose an even more serious risk.

So you religously take every pill & potion that the GP prescribes?

I am only interested in what I can cope with. I can't cope with some of my medication so I don't take it - simple.

Yes, actually. I asked if I could come off my blood pressure pillls because I lost weight and my BP became normal. I would not have just stopped taking them without medical advice.

seven-day-weekend

rotoguys wrote: »

Because I don't like the side effects.

I have never asked for them. I was TOLD to take the drugs.

Yes you have, every time you request a repeat prescription! If you're not going to take them, don't waste money and resources by ordering them!:wall:

Mrs_Arcanum

rotoguys wrote: »

Yes and Clopidogrel is in the region of about £500 a year! Yes I know the sums.

Hey don't hold just me out to be the one that is causing the waste within the NHS. There are other posters on here that have experience of the same thing happening.

Would I pay for the drugs if they weren't free? Yes I would. I have done in the past when I had other drugs that I didn't like the side effects they gave me and taste of them.
Creon for example. I was prescribed the loose powder that tasted like sick but you are supposed to sprinkle it on the food you eat. It was disgusting. That worked out to be in the region of £80 at cost to the NHS for a months supply which I had on prescription monthly.
I was prescribed that for 8 years until I found that you could get it in capsule form. I then asked the Consultant to change the prescription.
Whatever. I have given you what I do and why.
As for having a conscience about the wastage, no not really, there are bigger fish in the NHS that need sorting out first before having a go a little old Joe.

And not applying for the drugs from the GP - don't you think that that sort of action would jeopardise the patient/doctor relationship?

What is more important to me is having a GP that I know, the extended family know and have known for 23 years.

If you have known your Dr for this long you should have no problems telling them you do not like or take certain medication

rotoguys wrote: »

Because I don't like the side effects.

I have never asked for them. I was TOLD to take the drugs.

You cannot have things both ways.

Wasted-prescriptions-cost-300m :mad:

Multiple scrips do cause problems I know. A friend has a regular one he must get to take every month but others only every 2 or 3 months yet they are all on the same list. However, in this day and age many Surgeries offer an on-line service where you can choose which of the medications you need to repeat and have this made up ready for you to collect at your chosen chemist. Easy.

Humphrey10

rotoguys wrote: »

Because I don't like the side effects.

I have never asked for them. I was TOLD to take the drugs.

You keep asking for them again and again, by getting the repeat prescription and then by taking the prescription to a chemist and getting the drugs.

You seem to be fundamentally misunderstanding the relationship between yourself and the GP. You are the customer, the GP is the service provider. The GP is there to provide you with a service, and provide advice, not to tell you what to do. You wouldn't walk into a shop and buy something just because the shop assistant told you to, would you?

The GP cannot force you to take any medication or course of treatment.

Tell the GP that you will not take the medication in question because of the side effects. This is your choice, not the GP's. You never know, there may be alternate medication available that will not have the same side effects.

I have had to stop taking medication because of side effects multiple times before.

Humphrey10

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Multiple scrips do cause problems I know.

They don't need to cause problems.
More than once, I have taken a presciption with multiple items on into a chemist and just crossed off the ones I don't need, it's never caused any problems. (there were too many things on the prescription due to me forgetting I had some left or finding boxes I didn't know I had (eg test strips))

Mrs_Arcanum

Humphrey10 wrote: »

They don't need to cause problems.
More than once, I have taken a presciption with multiple items on into a chemist and just crossed off the ones I don't need, it's never caused any problems. (there were too many things on the prescription due to me forgetting I had some left or finding boxes I didn't know I had (eg test strips))

Not so easy for a competent but slightly scatty 70 year old I know. He does try - bless him.

Why the on-line service is so brilliant.

Torry_Quine

rotoguys wrote: »

So using your argument - tell the doctor. Of course you are right, but if the doctor gets to a point where the patient refuses to take drugs that he prescribes and is not willing to co-operate, what do you think the doctor will say, do and think?

I think that it is important to discuss any issues you have with the medication. A good doctor will work with you. Of course there may come a point when you are seriously damaging your health by not taking medication and the doctor may wish you to leave.

rotoguys wrote: »

Of course I know the risks. My other conditions pose an even more serious risk.

So you religously take every pill & potion that the GP prescribes?

I am only interested in what I can cope with. I can't cope with some of my medication so I don't take it - simple.

I always take any medication prescribed and am shocked that someone would do otherwise.

If there was a problem I would let them know, how can they do their best for me if they don't know that I'm refusing to take prescribed medication?

bungle4by4

i wonder how many expensive, but life extending cancer drugs like herceptin would be available if people didn't waste money pointlessly, and in some cases, quite proudly..

i know herceptin is a debate in itself, but its the principle im thinking of