Supply problems with medication

Rhea-Billie-Tate · 15-03-2009, 04:22 PM

Hey,
I don't suppose anyone here is prescribed/knows anything about the drug hydroxizine (brand names Atarax/Ucerax)?

I've been on it for the past year and the hospital I was in didn't seem to have any problems with their supply. My team decided to continue to prescribe it as PRN for my anxiety when I was discharged last month (less addictive than benzos) but I've not been able to find a pharmacy that has any in stock. When I first got my prescription, it was for the brand name "Atarax" and I was told everywhere that there was a supply problem but that they would be able to dispense if I got the script re-written for the generic "Hydroxizine". I've done that but they're still saying that they can't dispense it due to supply issues. It's starting to become a bit of a concern because I now only have a couple of doses left; I've been having to seriously ration it and my anxiety is getting unmanagable without.

Has anyone else been on it and experienced the same problem or know anything about what's going on with it? Also, don't suppose anyone has any idea what other medications are used in place of hydroxizine so that I can ask to be prescibed something else if this is going to be a long term problem? I'm getting tempted to just ask them to put me back on lorazepam/haloperidol because I'm really starting to struggle, but know that these sorts of drugs aren't ideal.

Thanks,

Bleeding Angel · 15-03-2009, 04:24 PM

You really need to talk to whoever prescribes the drugs too you, and tell them of the problems, they might be able to suggest something, or help you find somewhere that does have the drugs.

plastic rose · 15-03-2009, 05:14 PM

It's not a very commonly used medication. You will probably have to go to the hospital to get it. Call up the hospital you were admitted to, and tell them that no pharmacies in your area can fill your prescription, and ask them if you can have it filled out for you at the hospital pharmacy. You may have to get a doctor or nurse to go the hospital pharmacy with you, because they don't normally fill out NHS prescriptions, they're for doctors to get prescriptions FOR their patients. But if they always had a good supply, there should be no reason you can't get your medication there as long as a staff member says it's ok.

Katiee · 15-03-2009, 06:40 PM

Heyya,
I'm sorry to hear that. I'd talk to your doctor about this, sweetie. xo.

Rhea-Billie-Tate · 15-03-2009, 08:43 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'll give my OP psych's secretary a call tomorrow to see if they can get me a prescription filled at the local hospital or get him to write me up for something else. They had trouble getting any stock when I was transferred to my second placement and they won't be able to get me any at the hospital it was prescribed at as they're a private unit and don't dispense. Should have realised I would have this trouble when they struggled to find any before I was discharged.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

plastic rose · 15-03-2009, 10:05 PM

Just a thought but although private hospitals don't dispense medication to outpatients, they can give people a certain amount before discharge so that they have enough to last them until they can get an NHS refill. It's possible that if they have some in stock there, and you speak to the psychiatrist who treated you at that hospital, that they will be able to at least provide you with enough until a pharmacy can order some in for you.