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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 8:44:48 GMT
Bit of an odd rant, but making me cross none-the-less. I'm taking a new medication for my digestive problems, something I tried a few years back but we're having another bash at. Basically, its a relatively new drug (approved in 2009) and its still on the black triangle monitoring for new drug safety. However, that means it's been on the market for 3 years now. So why the blooming heck do pharmacists not know anything about it??? I picked up a new prescription today and when I asked some questions about it, the pharmacist hadn't a clue. This drug interacts with my contraceptive pill and my thyroid medicine and I wanted to know more about how to prevent interactions, but it was ME telling her about the interactions. I know this drug is not used widely but for goodness sake, don't pharmacists have to do some professional development?  Its been on the market for 3 years - plenty of time to find out about it. As a teacher, I am expected to change what I do at the drop of a hat when legislation changes and have to do 30hrs of compulsory prof. development per year. I had exactly the same issue last time I tried this drug and finished up in a total pickle with my thyroid drugs. One GP I saw hadn't even heard of the drug and asked me to spell it for her!!!  Now I am going to take the initiative to ring the company who make it - only minor issue is they are based in the USA and the Europe HQ is in Croatia. There is a UK number but it may just be a distributor. Oh well, I can at least try! |
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Post by Redsky on Oct 26, 2012 15:02:36 GMT
That's crazy! You think they would be up to date with new drugs? Don't quote me on this but I heard that there is currently no mandatory requirements for GPs to do any training once qualified but not sure how accurate that is? Pharmasists I'm not sure about. I don't keep myself up to date with new drugs but if one of our residents start on something I am unfamiliar with, I usually check it out in the BNF
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 19:19:44 GMT
I rang the UK number on the packet and all I got was an Australian man who took my name and number and said a company pharmacist would call me back within 30mins. That was at 10:30 this morning and I still haven't heard from them. I'll try again on Monday!
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kayjayem
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Post by kayjayem on Oct 26, 2012 20:00:07 GMT
What is the world coming to Try googling it! |
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 20:05:30 GMT
I have but as its not widely used AND I'm being given it kind of "off label" it isn't much help. The website of the pharmaceutical company who make it doesn't even have any info. It just says to ring them up. I am taking it the suggested 4hrs apart, but it seems to be stopping my pill and thyroid meds being absorbed so wanted to know what the actual research says. I can't find any papers relating directly to my meds.
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dazycutter
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Post by dazycutter on Oct 26, 2012 20:09:29 GMT
ooooh, tell me who the pharma company is nad what the name of the drug is, ican look it up with the FDA... our pharmacovigilance group may be working on it too
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 20:17:03 GMT
Will send you a message Dazy!
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kayjayem
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Post by kayjayem on Oct 26, 2012 20:18:17 GMT
I have but as its not widely used AND I'm being given it kind of "off label" it isn't much help. Shocking! Maybe your symptoms are so unique it's a last resort?  DC that's a very generous offer, Nia you may get some more information that way |
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dazycutter
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Post by dazycutter on Oct 26, 2012 20:23:09 GMT
well, I do work in the industry, so you never kniow... we may have enven done the trials in it
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dazycutter
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Post by dazycutter on Oct 26, 2012 20:25:18 GMT
got you PM nia, that company is one of our clients, I will investigate when I am back at work next week
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2012 20:39:59 GMT
I am currently doing the independend non medical prescribing course for work and so have a little bit of knowledge around pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and I think that pharmacists are probably the most academic of all the nhs professions in many ways. They have literally thousands of new drugs to deal with day in day out. I am surprised if they didn't know the drug but even so that is why they carry the BNF - the prescribers bible - for when they don't remember everything  |
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 20:43:22 GMT
got you PM nia, that company is one of our clients, I will investigate when I am back at work next week Thank you most kindly Dazy, that will be very helpful!! See, its great what you can find out on't tinternet! ;D |
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 20:46:20 GMT
I have but as its not widely used AND I'm being given it kind of "off label" it isn't much help. Shocking! Maybe your symptoms are so unique it's a last resort? Hahaha thanks KJM. It just seems there aren't many drugs for what I've got and this drug does work, just the "market" for the drug is cholesterol control - loadsa money in that. They won't make money selling it for my condition, theres not enough patients!! I'm just surprised that after 3yrs on the market, pharmacists (x2) still haven't heard of it! |
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dazycutter
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The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his Tongue.
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Post by dazycutter on Oct 26, 2012 20:53:05 GMT
they probably have, but as there of millions of drugs on the market and new ones coming out every time. perhaps they forgot.. I dont know everything about my job, but I have access to the infomraiton I need when required....
Also Nia, its not the pharmacists job to prescribe, its the docs so dont be too harsh on them.... Its not a common drug and to be fair, 3 years post marketing is nothing.... after 10 years, they may have heard of it
surprised you have it off label though.... be intersting ot see what research was done for this drug for your condition...
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 20:57:55 GMT
I haven't complained other than on here!!! I know the pharmacist isn't there to prescribe, but they are meant to know about interactions etc. I do appreciate 3yrs post-release isn't long, but it would be helpful if they'd offer to find out about it, rather than look blankly at me, mutter something about ringing the company myself, and then moving onto the next customer.
There are a number of papers demonstrating the efficacy of this drug for my condition, but not much on the interactions.
I don't wish to be harsh on the pharmacists, but I did expect more help in terms of working out how to manage the interactions to be honest. I only know of the interactions because I looked it up!!
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dazycutter
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The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his Tongue.
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Post by dazycutter on Oct 26, 2012 21:00:00 GMT
get on the FDA website and look for the IB.... if its only 3 years post marketing, tehn there will be very little data on drug interactions.. you will only see what are the expected side effects..
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 21:14:38 GMT
Just having a quick look on FDA and it doesn't appear that my meds have actually been through studies with this drug. So, they know there is an interaction but it hasn't been studied. And there's no mention of approval for my condition, just for familial hypercholesteraemia and improved glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. Oh well. I'll see what the company themselves can tell me, and if you can discover anything Dazy that will be helpful.
It just seems that we address one issue, then cause another. I'm most worried about my thyroid meds.....
Oh its been approved by FDA since 2000, but only available over here since 2008/9.
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kayjayem
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Post by kayjayem on Oct 26, 2012 22:15:45 GMT
Just having a quick look on FDA and it doesn't appear that my meds have actually been through studies with this drug. So, they know there is an interaction but it hasn't been studied. And there's no mention of approval for my condition, just for familial hypercholesteraemia and improved glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. Oh well. I'll see what the company themselves can tell me, and if you can discover anything Dazy that will be helpful. It just seems that we address one issue, then cause another. I'm most worried about my thyroid meds..... Oh its been approved by FDA since 2000, but only available over here since 2008/9. Can't blame the pharmacists then Maybe docs have been trying to placate you if you've kicked off a bit. I suppose they have to try these things and see how it goes in individual cases if it is still not an established drug. If you're not happy to go along with it then don't it's your life, your health and if they aren't able to give you definitive answers leave it until they can. It sounds as though the Dr's are trying to help but can't give guarentees! |
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 26, 2012 22:40:15 GMT
I haven't kicked off about anything. The doc who prescribed it was very nice but when I asked about drug interactions he said ask a pharmacist. So I did (2 different ones) and they don't have a clue. So I rang the company who make the drug and they haven't responded as they said they would. Trouble is, I want to take the new bowel drug as it is helping a bit, but can't have my thyroid meds not working at the same time. Its just frustrating not being able to find answers.
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