Adverse effects of missing vital medication due to non-delivery from Pharmacy.

[IanDH1965]

Hello all, I just wanted to mention a really bad experience I had a week ago when my usual meds were not delivered from my Pharmacy and I was left with almost all of my usual medication.

I developed agonising pain in my thighs, arms, headache and the neuropathy in my feet went into overdrive. I could not sleep due to the pain and not being able to get comfortable.

In the end it got so bad I called for an ambulance to take me to A&E, unfortunately they said they did not stock any medication that could help with the pain, so I had to get a taxi home.

I did eventually get all my diabetic and other meds on the Monday and things have settled down now, apart from my diabetic neuropathy in both feet still being very much active. I hope it is ok to mention this on here and if there is anyone else who has had a similar experience, would they mind sharing it with me.

I think this fully brings home the danger of being without your usual meds, even for just 2 days and the bad side-effects that this kind of "withdrawal" can bring. Thanks for listening and for accepting me into this group.

Take care and best wishes, Ian.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Perhaps it would be a good idea to order your medication a bit sooner so you don't run out? Also pay a visit to your GP and ask for an extra weeks supply so you don't need to worry if there's a delay for any reason. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[trophywench]

Ian - sorry to hear your tale of woe. What reason did the pharmacy give for non delivery?

Are you on 'controlled' drugs which prevents you ordering more whilst you still have (eg) a weeks' supply? If not can you not just order them a bit sooner or (assuming you can't get there yourself hence why you're having them delivered) can you not get someone else to collect your prescription from the pharmacy?

As I have gone onto all my different meds at different dates - none of my drugs actually run out at the same time hence when I'm getting low on any one thing, I order another one of everything and so always have more spares than I actually need but not excessively - I mean I'm not stock piling. Just careful.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Yikes! Sorry to hear about your rough time Ian.

Yes I learned the hard way about leaving supplies a little low before re-ordering, but fortunately that was just test strips so only a minor inconvenience.

Lesson learned though... I try to get my new supplies collected/delivered when I’ve still got at least a few day’s worth in stock, preferably a week or more.

 

[IanDH1965]

Thanks for your replies and the kind messages. Normally I get my meds in blister packs with a 4 week supply each time, there then should be a delivery made automatically when I have nearly finished the last blister pack. Unfortunately there seems to have been a communication breakdown somewhere in the system, this has happened to me 3 times now, with the same results.

I have taken on board your advice and will definitely be contacting the Pharmacy at my GP's before I run out, because unfortunately it seems that I cannot rely on them being delivered as they should be. Thanks again, Ian.

 

[SB2015]

Sorry to hear how awful your weekend was.

As others have suggested it is worth having a weeks buffer to avoid problems if there is a delay in delivery. I am aware of others who have had problems where their meds are ordered automatically, but they have got an extra week prescribed by their GP after a problem similar to yours.

I hope that your neuropathy settles down quickly.

 

[IanDH1965]

Thank you, I have an appointment with the Diabetic Podiatry team this coming Thursday, so will mention the neuropathy to them then. I do take Quinine Sulfate at night before going to bed to help ease the symptoms and they do seem to help. It is when I start being more mobile lately that the pain starts and I have a Border Collie called Charlie, who is a great friend and of course need to walk him twice a day. How are you all doing at the moment? Ian.

 

[grovesy]

I order my medication myself when I need it. I have noticed mine can now be ordered a few days earlier than used to be the case.

 

[KARNAK]

Hello IanDH1965 welcome to the forum, I always order my Meds/Insulin a week before online and can track them online throughout the journey from DR to Pharmacist to home delivery. So sorry with grief you went through, I used too use the system you use and found it very unreliable. I also have very painful Neuropathy 24/7 but take a lot of capsules that does calm it slightly. I hope your Neuropathy disappears and the Podiatrist is able to help you, I`m there tomorrow as soon as you go into a room with your Podiatrist mention the Neuropathy straight away.

 

[MikeyBikey]

I let my local pharmacist handle my repeats and it works well in general. The only time it hasn't was when some administrator put it on hold and sent me a snail mail saying one of my meds had to be reviewed. Que emergency appointment and a slightly puzzled doctor as it would have been signed off and a letter sent if it fel necessary.

A friend uses one of the internet services but ran out when there were issues with the post. They tried to get some off the pharmacist they used previously whose reply was "give me back the business". They did not so did not get any emergency meds! I believe in supporting your local pharmacist and establishing a good relationship with them.