buffie Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I just wanted to let you know about our very recent experience with 'blanket prescription changing'. Yesterday my dad was diagnosed with drug related hepatitis, caused through his recently changed medication. There was no reason for his medication change but the drug he was on had gone up in price so all patients on that medication were changed Dad didn't know this at the time. Fortunately he mentioned his medication to me on saturday, he thought he had flu but I visited and saw he looked jaundiced. We put 2 and 2 together, checked his medication leaflet and looked online! Several hours waiting to see the emergency GP confirmed this was a possibility. Hopefully we caught it early and he already looks and feels much better, with the drug out of his system. He has to have a scan to check for liver damage but we feel, with his quick improvement ,he's been very lucky and hope he will be fine:D Just thought I should let you know that this is a common practice and my parents are now going to ask more questions and not change medication without good reason. The drugs companies routinely put up the price of 'popular' medication, forcing NHS surgeries to find alternatives...The emergency GP gave us this information. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 It's unbelievable that they can just change medication without giving any reason or even discussing it. I do hope you've caught it in time Buff. Medication I was taking was recently changed from the brand name version to a generic - with no discussion - I ended up with problems with my sense of taste, everything I eat tastes horrible and metallic. I haven't eaten chocolate now for 4 weeks - so I know there is a problem I had to read the very small print on the leaflets for 3 medications to sort out what was happening. Whether the change from a brand name version was the cause, I don't know, I hadn't thought about it Luckily it is a medication I was able to stop taking a month early. Thanks for alerting us all Buffie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Crikey Buffie.....how dreadful for your Dad (and you!) I think I assumed that generic medicines were just the same as the brand named items, but cheper, and that the big drug companies were just out for profit. Obviously I was wrong! Well done for spotting where the problem lay. Hope your Dad recovers quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I think it was just me musing out loud on the difference between generic and brand Egluntine - I thought they were the same as well and probably nothing to do with my problem. I think Buff's Dad may have been changed to a different medication - sorry for going off topic Buff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Oh I see! Must pay more attention!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 So must I - and I must engage brain before opening mouth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Surely you mean "before using fingers", Lesley . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted January 30, 2007 Author Share Posted January 30, 2007 Don't worry Lesley. You muse away. Yes dad was changed to a new medication in the same group (ace inhibitors) Mum often asks about medication and has the 'brush off' with 'don't worry it's perfectly safe' she'll have something to say if she hears that on her visit to the doctors today! dad goes to see the doctor too, armed with his letter. I think they will feel uncomfortable although obviously they had no intention of hurting him. It may make them think twice now. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Well let's hope they do think twice from now onwards, Buffs. It's horrible that your Dad has been made to feel so ill to save a bit of money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 What bad luck, I hope he recovers quickly and completely. And how many other patients are there I wonder suffering similarly, maybe with no knowledgeable and caring daughter to alert them? Doctors should routinely monitor patients when they change their medication, just to make sure there are no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted January 30, 2007 Author Share Posted January 30, 2007 (edited) He was only on it for 3 weeks Ginette and they don't give you any idea there are signs to look out for either. If I'd have seen dad on sunday I wouldn't have seen the colour change as it faded. I got really troubled by 'routine' medication when our boxer katie started to have blood in her urine and be unwell, years ago. I kept questioning her vet about anti inflams and they told me she was fine on them. They looked for cancer and we spent so much money and had so much worry and so I desperately contacted the the drug manufacturer in the US. They said she shouldn't be on the drug with those symptom. Removed the drug and she lived a happy, long limp free life on alternative treatment. She even had a ligament replaced without anti inflammatory drugs. Since that day I've asked questions and researched. BBx Edited January 30, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Truly shocking. Heres hoping for a quick recovery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Any drug change with possible serious side effects should be followed vwry carefull by the prescribing doctor How great for you to have spotted it Buffie and come to the right conclusion, not many "ordinary" people would have been able to do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 You're so right LJ. I'm not sure I would have questioned it so quickly either. I generally tend to put my whole trust in Doctors/Medics etc because you do think they know better than you and will make the best decision for your best of health. Being pregnant and being seen by both midwives and doctors opened my eyes a little to the various opinions of what was 'best' for me. I think this is a valuable posting Buffie. I'm just sorry your Dad has had to go through all this for it to be discovered. It's the same old same old isn't it. Something dreadful has to happen to make a change. Squeezes for your Dad.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Will try not to offend ... but for what its worth here goes ..... All drugs have "nasties" associated, and even though another ace inhibitor was used, hence keeping within the same class of drugs, there are still some side-effects that will dominate the individual drug. One clear picture would be to use Seroxat .... even though its an SSRI type drug, along with others including Prozac, the individual Side-effect profiles can still differ, and affect individuals sometimes in very specific ways. Cost of drugs is a massive issue ... and NO generics and Parallel imports are NOT equivalent to branded drugs. They do not have the same rigorous testing and manufacuring processes as they are merely copies. Sometimes there are "additives" in generics and these alone even though relatively harmless, can increase upset tummies, incidence of rash etc. As a rule if I ever, or my children ever need antibiotics I always have the cheek to ask for a branded product, as generics have lead to the runs in the past (whether this is true or not). Having said that I have 6 yrs pharmaceutical knowledge, so the Gps generally oblige to avoid a debate on cost effective prescribing . Another example of brands vs generic. The adopted flock farmers wife, has a spray for angina, which she uses under the tongue. She has had the one I promoted (brand) and is fine with it, the Gp then gave her a generic and it burned her mouth and was not at all pleasant to use, she has since switched back to the brand. Anyway .. there are diferences between brands/generics/parallel imports, and more importantly there can be discrepancies between medicines within the same class. I'm sorry your Dad suffered Buffie, and it just emphasises the state of the NHS and drug prescribing in this country, and as usual, sadly the patient suffers. Hope he recovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Being a complete non medical person, or a user of any prescribed medicine...is a Branded drug sort of easily/obvioulsy recognisable Sarah, or do you have to have to be in the profession to generally know the difference. I don't think I'd have a clue what was generic and what wasn't. It has made me think about what I'd give to Stefan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted January 30, 2007 Author Share Posted January 30, 2007 Any drug change with possible serious side effects should be followed vwry carefull by the prescribing doctor How great for you to have spotted it Buffie and come to the right conclusion, not many "ordinary" people would have been able to do that That made me smile LJ, exactly right I am ordinary, life just exposes us to experience and we learn, hopefully Sometimes you think, oh better not say and well I now think say it, be nice but still say. I have to say owning the hens has also played a big part because I looked more deeply into so many things. I used to be so shy I wouldn''t say boo to a goose. You'll see alot of geese looking spooked now Trust is a good thing but it must be earned, I treat the GP/doctors with respect but no longer feel it's right just to say nothing BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Gina ... as a rule of thumb, all prescriptions are written generically. For example ... amoxycillin, will be given by whatever form the chemist has on his shelf, but AMOXIL is the original brand. Co-Amoxiclav is another ... where this is the generic, and the brand is Augmentin. The only way you would get a brand is if that drug has no other generic formulations, and is still under "patent", hence no other generic house can copy and sell this until the patent has expired. Usually these products are the ones you hear N.I.C.E causing trouble over on the news, as they govern use/non-use of such medicines now ..... rightly or wrongly . I am lucky as I know ... you can always check on-line there are loads of websites, the publication MIMS used to be the GPs dictionary/bible of all proprietry drugs. Now they tend to just follow guidelines and get brownie points for prescribing a choice of say 4 drugs in each therapeutic area. Its a bit of a cost/effective rational (in their eyes), prescribing minefield.In my opinion, the only losers are the ones taking the medication. I don't blame Drs or Pharmaceutical companies, its just to much interference from big bosses and trying to save money at any turn. Normal common sense has left this area unfortunately, and good quality preventative medicine, and appropriate prescribing without incurring secondary costs through initial mis-treatment has gone totally out the window. .. sorry ... went off on one then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted January 30, 2007 Author Share Posted January 30, 2007 Sarahjo really interesting stuff, thanks. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Great reply SarahJo - thanks! Even after 20 years of nursing, I always thought that generics were the same as branded drugs without the price tag. (this reply is classed as work by the way as that is where I am and just in case the boss asks ) Buffie - well spotted, good to hear your Dad is now much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted January 30, 2007 Author Share Posted January 30, 2007 You are working, as I am BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 That's great Sarah - thank you. Can't say I understand it all first off, will have to go back and have another read for it all to sink in, but it's so great to have information like this. Whether it will make a difference to my non medical mind is another thing. I do know that if I am ever prescribed a drug, and the name changes for any reason, but is still for the same ailment, I will ask why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted January 30, 2007 Author Share Posted January 30, 2007 That's the way Gina, that's how we become informed. Don't we learn alot on this lovely forum BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 There can be a flip side too though. Often the changes genuinely are in the best interests of the client, and no GP wants to endanger any patient's health. I feel very, very strongly that changes should be for a reason, that the client should understand why the change is being made, what the potential side effects could be, and that they should be closely monitored, more so in the first days after a change, but that sometimes a change may be indicated, and it's not always for the simple cost argument. Ace inhibitors do have a side effect profile..... but honestly every single drug in the world has. Nothing is entirely safe . Drug induced hepatitis is uncommon, horrendous for your Dad Buffie, but not a common experience nonetheless, and whilst everyone taking this class of drugs needs to know about potential side effects and to be alert thousands of people do take them with no problems. Well, except for the most common tickly cough thing Actually no-one's expected to tolerate even that, well, not by us anyway. Kate, at work, having just changed somebody's diabetic medication and spent ages going through the side effect profile of Metformin (I'll be speaking to that lady on the phone on thursday and she's in again next week- but she could get diarrhoea in the meantime ). Just please don't get me started on budgets and NICE Oh and if you do get prescribed any new medication, do read the patient information leaflet, you'd be amazed how many people don't bother And check things out www.BNF.org (I think that's right) is a great site about all drugs and I'm pretty certain it's public access . Please don't lose too much faith in your health professionals though, keep an enquiring mind, ask questions, if you don't have faith in your GP..... find another, but we're all trying to do our best in an often difficult climate. All the same Buffie, good on you for spotting that all wasn't well with your Dad and acting on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 This is an interesting thread. Shocking for your dad buffie , and its something for us all to be aware of. I always read the leaflet in the tablet boxes for the side effects. At the moment im on Erythomycin (for celluilitis of leg) and have been on this for 4 weeks Every time I get it from the chemists it comes in a different "brand" box and the tablets are different colours/shapes even though they are the same tablets....should I be worried?? They put me on these as I was previously on a course of flucloxacillin for 2 weeks and they thought they'd try the other ones too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
