GP changed medication that he shouldn't have. Serious repercussions.

Fake_Northerner

Poppie68 wrote: »

I really hate saying this but if your mum is'simple minded' is there a possibility the GP had mentioned it but your mum didn't understand while telling the GP shedid verbally or nodding?
Maybe she would be willing to allow the surgery to put a flag on her notes for either yourself or your dad to be informed of any medication change..

It could be a good idea especially if her meds are changed to generic brands as some patients do get confused with what they see as a dosage change when in fact the dose is the same it's just the amount of tablets can change for certain drugs...Off hand I remember Zocor is Simvastatin...10mg of Zocor is equivalent to 20 mg of Simvastatin..so therefore patients who previously took 1 tablet now have to take 2.

I hope your mum is feeling better.....

I really don't think so. Id say she's sinole minded where she just lives in her own little world. Doesn't read or watch the news.. Literally knows nothing outside what goes on in her or her familys lives. I remember when the Dr told her he changed her antidepressants before and she wouldn't stop worrying about whether they'd work as well, etc. So thats why I don't think she got told.

She is doing better in the unit, thank you

GwylimT

If you suggest she is simple minded and finds reading a challenger she shouldn't be attending appointments alone or taking any form of medication until it has been checked by a trusted adult.

There are very few medications a GP cannot change, a specialist can suggest a dose remains the same, but this is only enforced on a very small number of medications.

Floss

OP, how long ago is it that your mum was last seen by a psychiatrist and had her medications prescribed to her?

terra_ferma

Sometimes doctors change prescriptions when new research shows that changes are needed.
E.g. mine called me in for a meds review because something I take has been shown to have side effects, but the crafty so and so didn't actually tell me the whole story, only that for absolutely no reason, nothing has changed, but I shouldn't take it as often as I used to.
I then found out that it's no longer recommended as a long term therapy because of the side effects. But the doctor didn't tell me, and was still happy to prescribe after I said I don't take if very often. But if I decided to, I wouldn't have known about the risks.
In a nutshell: don't trust doctors to give the right information...

Fake_Northerner

GwylimT wrote: »

If you suggest she is simple minded and finds reading a challenger she shouldn't be attending appointments alone or taking any form of medication until it has been checked by a trusted adult.

There are very few medications a GP cannot change, a specialist can suggest a dose remains the same, but this is only enforced on a very small number of medications.

I meant simple minded as in living inside her own little bubble, not knowing about events outside her family and friends lives, anything current, etc. She's capable of going to appointments by herself.

Floss wrote: »

OP, how long ago is it that your mum was last seen by a psychiatrist and had her medications prescribed to her?

It has been a good few years. I don't know how long exactly.

jenniewb

OP I was trying to follow and just wanted to clarify something: did the medication totally change (eg to a totally different medication) or was it switched to a generic or different brand? I've noticed the latter happening to me without warning and wonder if some times it's the pharmacy having to source a different pill.


I'm on one pain killer which seems difficult to source; I know this because the pharmacy have told me this. It used to come in 500mg pills and I knew to take x a day and no more. However last week I went to get my medication and for some strange reason I took it out of the bag whilst at the till point and noticed it was not the same packaging. Not only was it not the same packaging but the amount was now 250mg. I had enough to cover me but the dosage still read the same: take 3 a day and no more. I am told that it is hard to source, the GP was unaware of this when I mentioned it -they just sign off the repeat prescriptions, the pharmacy knew all about it and just said to take two of the pills rather than one but if I weren't someone who took much notice of amounts and numbers I may not have noticed.


I was wondering if something similar had happened to your mum in which case the pharmacy would be where things went a bit wrong but I've never been pre-warned when the packaging or dosage has changed on other medication I have had (and I've had many this has happened with). Keeps you on your toes perhaps but unhelpful I agree.


Hope you get it sorted though, does seem like a worse case scenario for your mum for this to have happened.

Floss

Fake_Northerner wrote: »

....
It has been a good few years. I don't know how long exactly.

I think that your mum's mental health will be better for being treated as an inpatient, and that her medication may well have been overdue for a review for whatever reason.
Please remember that medications have changed & improved since your mum was first prescribed her regular tablets. It may be that advancing years have altered her illness or reduced the effectiveness of those drugs.
Before you make any decisions in relation to a complaint about her care, you may wish to consider having a discussion with your mother & father and also with the surgery Practice Manager to be sure that you have all the facts.