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GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hi guys,
I just wondered if anyone has been refused a pregabalin prescription as I am rather confused as to why my GP wouldn't prescribe me it.
I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for 4 years now. Although the anxiety is something I have suffered for the majority of my life. I have managed to get over the depression through lifestyle changes thankfully. But the anxiety is still well and truly there and it is severely restricting my life.
I am currently on trazodone 100mg per night and have been on them for about 2 years. I tried citalopram but after 2 days I had to stop taking them as they made me feel like I was on some illegal drugs and I couldn't poweer through the side effects, they were way too much in my case. I have been prescribed propranolol a few times which seems to help with the symptoms but only on a temporary basis. I was prescribed ten 2mg diazepam once because I was in a total state, and the doctor wasn't happy about it. I had a 5 day script of zopiclone for sleep once as I suffer badly from insomnia at times. And again the doctor was not happy about me asking for this and said never to ask for them again. Then it turned out they had given me the recommended dose for an elderly person! Needless to say they didn't work.
So recently I have been in touch with an old friend and he suffers from similar issues to me and he has been on pregabalin 300mg and trazodone 50mg which he says works wonders for him. I had never heard of it so I psent weeks researching it and it seemed ideal for me. I have tried CBT, exercise, aromatherapy bath salts, self help books and so on but none of it has helped me. And I am SICK and TIRED of being controlled by this ridiculous anxiety. I have read of soooo many people from the UK being on this drug so I thought I would ask my doctor to give me a script. I even found an NHS document that says if you have tried at least 2 other medications for anxiety then doctors must prescribe this is the patient asks for it.
I went to the GP yesterday morning with so much hope. But I was shot down the second I mentioned the pregabalin. He said it wasn't really licenced for anxiety and said he would prove it with his medication book. He found it in the book and then evidently found that it is prescribed for anxiety so he wouldn't show me. He just said "look at all these side effects". I'm sorry but the side effects of the citalopram and fluoxetine he wanted me to go on were SO BAD! I thought I was going to die. I understna dpregabalin is expensive to the NHS when compared to SSRI's etc so I tried to negotiate and said I would come off the trazodone gradually. He still said no even when I calmly told him about the comparison reviews I read online. I left the GP crying. I am so tired of being the way I am. He gave me the same list of websites for CBT talk and counsellors. But on the NHS it takes so bloody long to get anything and as I have said, I tried it already and paid for it myself.
What are other peoples experiences in this? Pregabalin seemed like a way out for me, a way to be free. I am devastated and just want to live my life and be able to leave my flat and enjoy my life without worrying. I am fed up.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hi i also got refused pregabalin my my physc, she said it's not common practise to prescribe this for anxiety and also said about the side effects? I was gutted as have read so much good reviews on it for anxiety, im struggling majorly at the min with severe anxiety and panic and having to rely on Diazepam to help me through the day XX
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Go back to your doctor with exactly the same request (doctors hate that). Print out the NHS guidelines on the treatment of anxiety (which includes pregabalin) and show them to your doctor.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anxiety...Treatment.aspx
You could also point to all the side effects of SSRIs etc. Every drug has a list of side effects - that was a petty power play on the part of your doctor.
If your doctor still says no, say you want a second opinion, and ask for a referral.
Eventually, someone will relent - pregabalin has been an NHS approved medication for anxiety since 2006, but some doctors are still unaware of this (as your GP seemed to be), and just want to keep on prescribing the old familiar drugs.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hanshan
Go back to your doctor with exactly the same request (doctors hate that). Print out the NHS guidelines on the treatment of anxiety (which includes pregabalin) and show them to your doctor.
You could also point to all the side effects of SSRIs etc. Every drug has a list of side effects - that was a petty power play on the part of your doctor.
If your doctor still says no, say you want a second opinion, and ask for a referral.
Eventually, someone will relent - pregabalin has been an NHS approved medication for anxiety since 2006, but some doctors are still unaware of this (as your GP seemed to be), and just want to keep on prescribing the old familiar drugs.
Thank you. I actually felt like I was losing my mind in that appointment. No matter what I said he just did not agree. He said it wasn't licenced for GAD and I couldn't bring myself to tell him otherwise as he is the doctor who has been doing this for 20 years, and he is the nicest doctor at the practice which is why I always try to see him.
I have actually just sent an enquiry to a private surgery as I am getting to the point where I feel I could go back into a depression at the thought that I may have to suffer this for the rest of my life.
Should I go back to see the same doctor? I feel as though I'd be cheeky doing that. Do you think he just doesn't have experience with the drug for anxiety? Or it is a money issue? Or maybe a bit of both? I would bloody well pay for it if there was the option. I could do that through a private doctor but consultations with them cost a fortune too.
---------- Post added at 04:17 ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nicola1980
Hi i also got refused pregabalin my my physc, she said it's not common practise to prescribe this for anxiety and also said about the side effects? I was gutted as have read so much good reviews on it for anxiety, im struggling majorly at the min with severe anxiety and panic and having to rely on Diazepam to help me through the day XX
Have you tried for a second opinion? It is ridiculous how badly mental health is treated in the UK. I can't even get any diazepam from my doctor. I understand benzos are not a long term solution and are addictive but I have read of people being on pregabalin for years and managing to come off them fine. God help us lol xxx
---------- Post added at 06:06 ---------- Previous post was at 04:17 ----------
I found an email address for my GP, should I be so bold as to send him an email with my "evidence"? I don't feel I could bring myself to get another appointment with him, I'd feel as though I am wasting time as it is a nightmare for GP's these days with their schedules. When I could easily send an email? Or is that too much? I've never heard of someone doing that before but I just want to fight my case. He did say he would do some research on it but didn't say about getting in touch with me if he found evidence in my benefit. I am from Scotland and we get our prescriptions for free but I don't know if there is a way to pay for them through the NHS? I am just desperate.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
If you want more proof of when it's used, you can find guidance to the NHS on the NICE website. Sadly, this only covers England & Wales as Scotland have their own version but I remember their guidelines being far being NICE in terms of mental health when I was checking on their for someone on here a while back but I wonder if NICE approval would help?
This medication costs more so GP's can be like this and your GP sounds like a right idiot trying to scare you off by citing side effects when they all come with them which they are less open about when they prescribe then easily when someone sees them wroth anxiety and depression. A very low thing to do.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hello Heather,
I wouldn't bother sending emails to your doctor - they would probably get quickly flicked through and forgotten.
Is your doctor unaware that pregabalin is licensed for anxiety or put off by the cost? Maybe both. But persist.
If you have the money, you can offer to pay the full cost yourself. The cost isn't astronomical - I paid it in Australia because pregabalin wasn't licensed for anxiety, and it came to around five dollars per day at the maximum dose (I think that's about 2-3 UK pounds for 600 mg). I thought it was money well spent, particularly when lots of people were spending the equivalent on a morning cup of coffee and muffin.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Well if you list your county or town, I can post you the costs as the local trusts have documents detailing their costs but I would expect it would cost more given someone is likely to want a profit and the licenced costs are most likely not to individuals.
There are some local trust cost examples in my post on this thread:
http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=161965
I'm sure I posted a load in one thread but I can't seem to find it anymore.
Hanshan, I doubt a patient could do that with a NHS GP, maybe it will mean going private?
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MyNameIsTerry
Well if you list your county or town, I can post you the costs as the local trusts have documents detailing their costs but I would expect it would cost more given someone is likely to want a profit and the licenced costs are most likely not to individuals.
There are some local trust cost examples in my post on this thread:
I'm sure I posted a load in one thread but I can't seem to find it anymore.
Hanshan, I doubt a patient could do that with a NHS GP, maybe it will mean going private?
Thanks Terry. I am from Glasgow in Scotland. I sat for hours last night looking at many documents which shows pregabalin is prescribed for anxiety and so many people from the UK are on it for this reason. My friend is from the same place as me and he is prescribed it but the doctor just shoved that under the table. I can't believe the support on this site, I'm almost in tears at how helpful you are all being. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.
I have sent an enquiry to a private hospital to find out some more, I just have my heart set on this drug as I've compared it to so many other drugs and I just feel it could work for me. I actually read a document which argues that it is ridiculous that people are made to go on SSRI's instead of pregabalin for anxiety when pregabalin has been found to be so much more beneficial. I think this is why I am so annoyed with the system right now.
---------- Post added at 17:12 ---------- Previous post was at 17:08 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hanshan
Hello Heather,
I wouldn't bother sending emails to your doctor - they would probably get quickly flicked through and forgotten.
Is your doctor unaware that pregabalin is licensed for anxiety or put off by the cost? Maybe both. But persist.
If you have the money, you can offer to pay the full cost yourself. The cost isn't astronomical - I paid it in Australia because pregabalin wasn't licensed for anxiety, and it came to around five dollars per day at the maximum dose (I think that's about 2-3 UK pounds for 600 mg). I thought it was money well spent, particularly when lots of people were spending the equivalent on a morning cup of coffee and muffin.
Yes that was what he said anyway, that it wasn't licenced for anxiety, even though my friend is on the same drug. He then tried to give me the "I don't know how it would react with the trazodone", which again makes no sense as my friend is also on trazodone. But I did say I would be willing to come off the trazodone, but he said my depression may come back. At this rate it is going to come back anyway as it is ridiculous how much it restricts my life. I hadn't realised how much it does until I listen to other people and what they do on a day to day basis. I don't think we can pay for our scripts from the NHS, I think we need to do it privately here. But a consultation with a private doctor costs a fortune alone, but I have put in an enquiry to a private hospital anyway and see what happens. I would give up the money each month for this drug as I honestly couldn't put a price on how awful it feels some times. I am from Scotland so I have been finding it difficult to find info on this drug for my area.
---------- Post added at 17:40 ---------- Previous post was at 17:12 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MyNameIsTerry
If you want more proof of when it's used, you can find guidance to the NHS on the NICE website. Sadly, this only covers England & Wales as Scotland have their own version but I remember their guidelines being far being NICE in terms of mental health when I was checking on their for someone on here a while back but I wonder if NICE approval would help?
This medication costs more so GP's can be like this and your GP sounds like a right idiot trying to scare you off by citing side effects when they all come with them which they are less open about when they prescribe then easily when someone sees them wroth anxiety and depression. A very low thing to do.
Yeah I checked the NICE website and thought about showing this to my doctor. The side effecgt thing baffled me as I had read a document a few days ago which compares pregabalin to SSRI's and it just shows it really is a money thing when it comes to prescribing this for anxiety. I had tried citalopram in the past and I lasted 2 days, my jaw had a mind of it's own, my pupils were HUGE, my head was bursting, my anxiety went a million times worse, I couldn't sleep, had restless leg syndrome, had to keep going to the toilet every 5 minutes, heart palpitations and so on. I spoke to a locum doctor on the second day who said come off it immediately. Then one of the other doctors said I could try fluoxetine. Then the locum doctor said no I should never try that as it is very similar to citalopram. Now I haven't experienced anyone with these types of side effects with pregabalin. I'm just at a loss on what to do.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Sorry to hear all this.
Change your doctor practice, ASAP.
There are many in Glasgow, and you should have options.
The private route will be ruinously expensive. Initially prescribed by a private doc, I was quoted £200 per month for 150mg per day (and you may well need more).
I went to a NHS GP and, given my history of major recent problems, got a NHS script with no problems. You just need to say what I said: you have had dire experience of conventional SSRI and SNRIs, and, as per this link http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anxiety...Treatment.aspx, Preg is the third in line.
Pregabalin is expensive, but nothing compared to some of the meds out there these days. I do believe Preg is coming off patent in the EU in the next year or two, which will change everything. But I doubt you can wait, so find yourself a new doctor. Ask your friends (on FB etc.?) if they have a good one they know of.
You have nothing to lose, and much to gain.
Good luck!
Albert
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SmilingAlbert
Sorry to hear all this.
Change your doctor practice, ASAP.
There are many in Glasgow, and you should have options.
The private route will be ruinously expensive. Initially prescribed by a private doc, I was quoted £200 per month for 150mg per day (and you may well need more).
I went to a NHS GP and, given my history of major recent problems, got a NHS script with no problems. You just need to say what I said: you have had dire experience of conventional SSRI and SNRIs, and, as per this link , Preg is the third in line.
Pregabalin is expensive, but nothing compared to some of the meds out there these days. I do believe Preg is coming off patent in the EU in the next year or two, which will change everything. But I doubt you can wait, so find yourself a new doctor. Ask your friends (on FB etc.?) if they have a good one they know of.
You have nothing to lose, and much to gain.
Good luck!
Albert
God, I can't believe it costs so much privately. Are you from Glasgow, or Scotland at all? I told my mum of these issues today and broke down about it, she said she wants to come to the doctor with me and bring the documents I have found which show it is licensed in the UK for anxiety. I suppose you are right, I have nothing to lose. I just feel a bit out of my depth going back to the doctor again. If that still leads to nothing I will switch practice. It's ridiculous how mental health is treated in the UK. Thanks for your advice :) I really hope I can get a script soon.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
An interesting article on the cost of pregabalin and effect on prescribing -
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/nice-ret...e#.VLMK2yuUeSo
Any doctor can write a private prescription. They just don't use their NHS prescription forms, or cross out the NHS bit.
I found a price of around 80 GBP for 56 x 300 mg Lyrica, If you took one per day (single dose per day not recommended, but would save money), it would cost about 1.43 GBP per day. (The following is for information purposes only - not to be taken as a recommendation or endorsement).
http://www.assetchemist.co.uk/search..._300MG_56_Caps
Nevertheless, since pregabalin is NHS licensed for anxiety, your doctor would almost certainly be duty-bound to write out an NHS prescription.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hanshan
An interesting article on the cost of pregabalin and effect on prescribing -
Any doctor can write a private prescription. They just don't use their NHS prescription forms, or cross out the NHS bit.
I found a price of around 80 GBP for 56 x 300 mg Lyrica, If you took one per day (single dose per day not recommended, but would save money), it would cost about 1.43 GBP per day. (The following is for information purposes only - not to be taken as a recommendation or endorsement).
Nevertheless, since pregabalin is NHS licensed for anxiety, your doctor would almost certainly be duty-bound to write out an NHS prescription.
Yeah I seen a similar article a few days ago. The NHS is ridiculously under funded and things like mental health aren't being dealt with properly. I spoke to my mum today and she urged me to email my doctor so I did. Just sent him all the documents I have found on here, many of them the ones you had posted on that other thread. I had found that thread a couple days ago and been looking through all the NHS articles. Shame that something that could help is so close yet so far away. Thanks for your info :)
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Albert - that's truly disgusting to charge £200 per month, the cost per month was around £64 to local trusts in 2012 and it can't have increased anywhere near that much. Sounds like an unscrupulous GP exploiting desperate people to me!
Hanshan - NHS Scotland is a separate entity so are your links for them or NHS England & Wales?
Heather - it sounds like a good idea to take your mum because he may find if harder to blag someone who is struggling with anxiety.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hello Terry,
The link to treatments for GAD is NHS England. I don't know if Scotland approves separate treatments for GAD.
The link to the "Pulse" newspaper is nonspecific UK. You would need to read in any article in the Pulse to see if it was specifically locally relevant - the main point was that cost factors were driving whether pregabalin was prescribed or not in at least one location at one time.
The online pharmacy is located in the UK and presumably can fill prescriptions from anywhere in the UK.
In principle, doctors are able to write private prescriptions outside of subsidizing and licensing agencies like the NHS (and the patient bears the full cost). The fine detail varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. This principle holds true in Australia, even though we have different laws governing it for each of the six states and two territories.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hi Heather,
No I'm in London
But I'm guessing NHS Scotland has similar guidance etc. to NHS E&W
I like the NHS in many ways, but I deeply dislike the way it abuses its monopoly and resolutely refuses to treat taxpayers as customers. You are ill, and have paid into this system, and have the right to be treated properly.
Good luck with it
Albert
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I think the only reason they don't orescribe is cost. Which is so wrong if you've tried almost everything which it sounds like you have why not try it?
I was Lucky I had tried most anti ds and most I had to stop within days of starting as got severe side effects and like you ive had cbt ect.
She said try these and I'd never heard of them till I posted on here. They seem to work really well for most people on here. They are helping me slightly but not enough.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Avasmummy_x
I think the only reason they don't orescribe is cost. Which is so wrong if you've tried almost everything which it sounds like you have why not try it?
I was Lucky I had tried most anti ds and most I had to stop within days of starting as got severe side effects and like you ive had cbt ect.
She said try these and I'd never heard of them till I posted on here. They seem to work really well for most people on here. They are helping me slightly but not enough.
I know, I just don't get it. I've paid NI and tax in this country and now that I want to use what this money goes toward, I cannot get it. BLAH!
Yeah I've been told never to go on SSRI's again and I am too terrified to try SNRI's as they are similar in the side effects. I guess I just need to keep trying to fight my case, at the end of the day I have nothing to lose.
How long have you been on pregabalin and what dose? I hope it continues to improve for you :)
---------- Post added at 19:17 ---------- Previous post was at 19:14 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SmilingAlbert
Hi Heather,
No I'm in London
But I'm guessing NHS Scotland has similar guidance etc. to NHS E&W
I like the NHS in many ways, but I deeply dislike the way it abuses its monopoly and resolutely refuses to treat taxpayers as customers. You are ill, and have paid into this system, and have the right to be treated properly.
Good luck with it
Albert
Yes I agree, I feel so lucky we have the NHS when you compare to the likes of America but it definitely has its flaws.
My mum works for the NHS and I was asking her about NICE. As NICE say that pregabalin can be used to treat anxiety, but these guidelines are for England and Wales. She said that they strictly follow these guidelines in Scotland too so she is adamant the doctor doesn't want to prescribe it due to cost.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Been googling around on this.
It seems it was never approved in Scotland for GAD (unlike in E&W), which may be the issue. That said, it seems it has been prescribed for this reason, leading to concerns re cost and even abuse: http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6747/rr/672294
I'm no expert, but I guess Glasgow like all large cities has drug problems, including the abuse of prescr drugs like this. It could be this is weighing on his mind a bit, but that is of course only a guess.
Gabapentin is a cheaper and less sophisticated version of Preg. If you really can't get preg, it might be worth trying to get this instead.
I feel very sorry for you; I always think how luck you Scots are having free prescriptions etc., but clearly there is rough with the smooth.
My quote for £200 was from a private hospital, which was clearly over the top.
It seems you can get it online (with a private prescription) for £85 per month for 150mg. This is less than £200, but will really add up. If it works, you will need to be on it for at least 6 months, possibly a lot longer.
I still think you need to find a new NHS doctor.
Albert
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I'm currently on 400mg a day broken in to three doses.
Ive been on it since November so it should be working a lot more than it is really.
Most on here got instant relief and it's just been perfect for them.
It's very up and down for me I'm having good days with mild anxiety then days that can only be described as the worst days in my life. I think I may need a dose increase.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I have been told to stop it for a week. My eyesight has been getting more blurry as the days pass, and my stomach bloated out and wouldn't go back down. Been in a foul mood all day today which I suspect is my body missing it, however my vision is improving and the bloating has eased. I have to say that although my mood has been terrible, I actually feel normal today, and like I have feelings, which I havent felt for a while so not sure if I might just get some CBT books and try things that way for a while.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Cold Turkey? I didn't know you could on this med do you get withdrawals?
I was thinking about stopping it tbh.
Right now it's 1am and I'm up with racing thoughts to the point I think I might be mad. Although that is my anxiety im afraid of going mad.
I have never had it bad like this before.
I understand what you mean about feelings. Sometimes I feel numb and drugged on this med.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Thanks for the clarification Hanshan.
A quick search turned this up http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/...olution_Lyrica which shows on 2012 that no submission was made for GAD to be part of it's licenced use in Scotland.
I'm not sure if this had changed but it would be pretty easy for the OP's GP to use this against then if it has been updated.
The odd thing is that there is some more recent evidence out there which shows otherwise, such as https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...la108wbkZbAC6Q
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hello Terry,
Thanks for that - I didn't know that there was any difference in the NHS according to different regions of the UK.
Trying to to switch people to gabapentin and characterizing pregabalin as a third-line drug that can only be initiated by a specialist both sound like cost-cutting to me, not good medicine.
Anyway, I think the patent on pregabalin expires in 2018, at which time cheaper generics can compete. If this brings the price down, the very same doctors who were arguing against pregabalin may suddenly turn around and start recommending it to their patients.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Sorry it did not work for you Dazza. Go careful if you has stopped cold turkey.
Sarah
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I agree Hanshan.
I remember my GP saying he couldn't prescribe medications beyond SSRI/SNRI forms so would require a psychologist which is really worthless since you have to be referred with a 12 month waiting list in my area! I find third ludicrous when in the case of a physical issues you can be referred for a medication review and handed straight back.
It seems to come down much to the GP's willingness to help.
Its a strange system because aside from the division country level, it then becomes regional in the corn of local trusts and its not uncommon to find close regions with different policies so it can be a bit of a postcode lottery for some conditions. There have been media cases in the past about the NHS saying its available but the local trust deny it. I think the trusts are very geared towards cost as I used to know a health campaigner years ago who was fighting for the rights of pensioners and he's was always bashing the local trust in the media.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Australia is a bit different in that we have the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) which covers the entire country without variation.
If a medication is PBS-listed for a certain condition, you pay a certain amount for a month's prescription, regardless of how expensive it is. I think it is about $5.00 (similar to US$ but going down) for a pensioner/low income earner, but around $35.00 per month for an income earner. Obviously, you don't pay that for cheaper medications. The doctor is free to prescribe what they want within the guidelines - it doesn't cost their practice anything.
There are systems and systems - the important thing is to get the right treatment for you.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I'm already booking my flight! :shades::D
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Not so fast! I don't think pregabalin is PBS-approved for GAD (again, probably cost-cutting), so people with GAD have to pay the full cost if they want it (it is approved for neuropathic pain).
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I asked my GP for pregabalin because I read it was good for both nerve pain and GAD. He wouldn't prescribe it but suggested Amitriptyline instead. He said they always try that one first and pregab is fourth on the list. He denied it was because of cost but rather because it's highly addictive.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Well, it's highly addictive ... and look at all the awful side effects ... expensive ... no, who told you that?
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Tish,
I suggest you see a different GP in your practice and show them the NICE guidelines regarding Pregabalin. Your GP is trying to palm you off with a cheaper, old fashioned drug.
In my opinion Pregabalin has side effects which are not as horrendous as SSRIs and pass with time. It is not as addictive as Valium and is the best thing I have been given for anxiety.
I am not saying that Amitriptaline is not effective for anxiety and nerve pain, it also acts as an anti-depressant. But Pregabalin is the better more modern option.
Sarah
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I didn't know pregabablin was highly addictive? I wouldn't have started it if I knew that!
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hi Avasmummy,
You may have missed my point. Pregabalin is not highly addictive and its side effects are much milder and fewer than ADs for most people. But these are lies told by doctors to cover up the fact that they are not prescribing it due to cost.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Compared to the cost of the standard SSRI's most likely Hanshan. Oddly though I checked the costs when another member, gregcool, was having issues with his new GP and his trazadone (which was also a lying GP as it's cheap in pill form in the UK) and I found that a common SNRI which I am on, Duloxetine, is quite expensive.
They tout this addiction line around but if you look into that if guidance against it's use in patients with know substance misuse issues, if I remember correctly.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
There is no evidence that pregabalin is addictive when taken at prescribed levels.
There is some evidence that people with substance abuse issues are taking megadoses (several times the maximum prescribed dose) and may well develop withdrawal symptoms. This should not be confused with normal practice above.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
OK so I have booked an appointment with a different GP at the same practice for Friday afternoon. I have printed off the page on pregabalin from the BNF, links fro the NHS and NICE. I haven't let myself get hopeful this time. But it is worth a try. Wish me luck.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
good luck heather :hugs:
let us know how u get on. X
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hi guys thought I would give you an update. I went to a different doctor nearly 2 months ago and she said the same thing the previous doctor had said but she said she would do more research as she wanted to give me it. She said she would call me the following week but after a few weeks of no call I was getting to the end of my tether. I ended up in bed for 3 days crying when I went back to the doctor to see a locum doctor. She was really nice and sat with me for 40 minutes listening to my history. My mum was with me and she went mental about how the other doctor hadn't called me. The locum asked if I would try another SSRI so I agreed to try sertraline. For the first couple weeks on sertraline I was OK but nearer the end of the month the dry mouth had gotten so bad that my mouth and tongue came out in sores and I couldn't eat or sleep. So the doctor told me to come off them. She said I should speak to the other doctor about the pregabalin although she wanted me to try more antidepressants first. The thought of this terrified me so instead of seeing her again I requested a call from the other doctor, who is a partner at the surgery and the only one allowed to prescribe medicine for non-licenced issues. I couldn't get an appointment with her til next Friday but she called me today and she has said I CAN GET PREGABALIN tomorrow :D I'm sooooo happy! I have hope once again!!! I must say perseverance has definitely paid of for me this time :) thankyou everyone who has been supportive of me over the last few months of frustrating times for me. I really hope this works for me x
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hello Heather,
This is an amazing story. Three doctors and you can't get one willing to prescribe a medication approved by NHS for anxiety eight years ago? Where are these people? On the moon?
If a new medication for anxiety is NHS approved this year, will it mean that these GPs in 2023 will still claim that they haven't heard of it and can't prescribe it? Beats me.
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Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hanshan
Hello Heather,
This is an amazing story. Three doctors and you can't get one willing to prescribe a medication approved by NHS for anxiety eight years ago? Where are these people? On the moon?
If a new medication for anxiety is NHS approved this year, will it mean that these GPs in 2023 will still claim that they haven't heard of it and can't prescribe it? Beats me.
I know it really is. Turn out that the NHS in Greater Glasgow and Clyde (where I live) do not have it licensed for anxiety but it is licensed everywhere else. The doctor said that this is due to the fact that this constituency did not seek to acquire a licence from wherever it is you get a licence, she does not know why, and this is why GPs are reluctant to prescribe it. She did say, however, that it does not mean they are not allowed to prescribe it for non-licensed issues if the GP feels that other avenues have not been fruitful and the benefits outweigh the risks. So I am glad I persevered. I do feel though that the first GP was unwilling to prescribe due to cost. And I am thankful I persevered and finally got a GP who done some research and will now prescribe me it. I get the prescription tomorrow. How much of an idiot will I look if it doesn't work though lol. Although I know it will as my boyfriend is on pregabalin and has given me some when I have been in a total panic and it has helped a lot. I just didn't want to say to the GP I had received meds that weren't prescribed for me.