Bigger quantity of meds from GP?!
Has anyone figured out how to get their GP to give them larger quantities of medication when getting a prescription to reduce the number of times you have to pay prescription charges?
My neuro suggested baclofen about 6-8 months ago to help with muscle spasms. I didn't suffer from this at the time so never took it up.
Cut to now and - GIVE ME BACLOFEN!! Called GP and asked for prescription only to be told that it's not now frequently given as some people can abuse it for "feelings of euphoria". I explained that, although a bit of euphoria would be great, I wanted it for the excruciating muscle spasms/cramps I'd had on/off for a month but consistently the last 4 nights resulting in very little sleep and calves so sore I've been hobbling around in pain! Plus my neuro had recommended it, moreover I'd had it 5 yrs ago for a slipped disc and managed not to abuse it. She agreed I could have it, somewhat reluctantly, then condescendingly told me to becareful to keep it locked away from others. Yeah, cos I live in a drug den where my boyf steals my MS drugs or I'll leave them in a sweet bowl on the coffee table offering them to guests. WTF?!
Too late to cut this long story short so when I collected the prescription from the pharmacy it was only for 84 tablets which at 3x a day is 28 days' worth! I hadn't specifically asked for a large quantity but I'd expected a bit more than that for £8.20!
I'm working full time but I'm on three different meds, so at £8.20 a pop really begins to add up!
You can see why MS isn't added to the list of conditions exempt from charges. They'd lose too much money from us! 😒
@poptart1977 , that was pretty condescending of your GP. Obviously, they're not that familiar with dealin with someone having a chronic, degenerative condition. Consider using your MS Nurse as a "go-between" to liaise between your Neuro and GP. They can make suggestions/recommendations that your GP should follow. As for prescription charges, this is a major frustration. Especially when GPs limit the meds, so that you begin paying excessive Prescription charges. Perhaps it's their strategy for managing the NHS budget deficits! Have a read through of this webpage, for ideas on how to cut costs:- http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx If you have an obliging GP, which is questionable for you, they may even support a claim for a Medical Exemption Certificate. It would have to fall under this reason in the eligibility criteria:- "a continuing physical disability which means the person cannot go out without the help of another person. Temporary disabilities do not count even if they last for several months" Hope this helps.
Probably worth getting the 'season ticket' which is a one-off payment for a year's worth of prescriptions. From the point of view of saving hassle, it would also be a good idea to get your meds on a repeat prescription - I would say it's worth asking the GP to agree to this. Then, if you use Lloyds chemists, they do a collection service: you take the scrip in to them the first time, then they renew it with the surgery and you collect it made up on an agreed date the following month. I find this much easier than continually visiting the GP's.