Paracetamol prescriptions

The problem seems to be that the NHS is allowing the tax payers to be ripped off . Surely they should have departments in place to negotiate the very best prices .
When my grandma died late 2015 I found hundreds of paracetamols in various places hidden around the house as though she was stockpiling incase of a world shortage

Interesting posts -thanks.If people have to take vast amounts of paracetamol that's very different .Also I should have said that I think offering postal,service to able bodied people is wasteful.If people have difficulty getting to the chemist ,then of course it's sensible, but surely that could be sorted by the GP without too much paperwork.Perhaps surgeries could provide more information about the way prescriptions are charged / organised, including payment to chemists as opposed to GP pharmacies.

Yes Luckygirl and Anya why on earth is a massive organisation like NHS paying over the odds for meds? Wouldn't you think they had enormous bargaining power?

I often found that, when newspapers were short of news they ran a health article, usually from the BMJ and often a bit out of date. Even my newspaper of choice, the Observer, used to do it. A friend of mine was put in an induced coma after taking ibuprofen without omeprazole; she nearly died. Other than the obvious danger of overdosing, paracetamol is by far the safest pain relief to take as it doesn't seem to react with other medication or cause stomach bleeding etc. I wish I could find out how much paracetamol was at cost price these days, but I daren't ask. I wonder if the £3.20 price is for capsule shaped tabs? Either way, the cost of some medication is staggering; some asthma inhalers eg. Everyone should, of course, only ask for medication when needed [even when it's on repeat prescription]. It's down to each practice of hospital to get the cheapest deal possible on things but whether or not they do is another matter. I know I did.

I have already described on GN my major problem of severe gastritis caused by taking too much ibuprofen for too long. My GP does not think it should be available over the counter as it can be so dangerous. I am still not fully recovered, on daily medication and am on a restricted diet. I may be left with a chronic gastric problem and all down to ibuprofen.

Yes, that's the question that ought to be asked Luckygirl

Re ibuprofen, found this on a website

"You should talk to your doctor before taking ibuprofen if you fall into any of the categories below. It may be possible for you to take ibuprofen, but possibly at a lower dose or with extra monitoring from your doctor to minimise any risks.

Elderly people.
People with a history of disorders affecting the stomach or intestines, such as ulceration or bleeding, or inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Ibuprofen can sometimes cause serious side effects such as ulceration or bleeding in the gut, so if you're aged over 65 or have a history of gut problems your doctor will want to monitor you more closely if you're prescribed ibuprofen. They may also prescribe a medicine to protect your stomach. Problems are more likely with high doses and if you take ibuprofen for long periods of time. If you get any sign of bleeding from your stomach or bowels while taking ibuprofen, for example vomiting blood and/or passing black/tarry/bloodstained stools, you should stop taking it and consult your doctor immediately."

If it is so cheap why is the NHS paying over the odds for it?

I was precribed paracetamol and codeine for a herniated disc in March ,I haven't had my MRI scan yet so I decided to get a repeat prescription .I had to almost argue with the doctor despite the amount the last doctor gave me was supposed to last 3 weeks and I eked it out over 6 weeks.I couldn't buy that strength over the counter so in the end she agreed to !"one more prescription" I cant sleep for pain without them and I try to only take them at night.Dont know how I'll manage without if she decideds not to give me any more .I would be happy to pay for them IF they were available but as someone else said the fact they ARE on prescription means the GP can keep track of how many I've had

Same here ana, I have a prescription for those too, plus a stomach protector. I can't tolerate codeine at all. Oh dear, more drain on the NHS, but I surely didn't ask for a chronic pain condition, I guess most of us would far rather we didnt need to take them at all.

people over 65 shouldn't take ibuprofen?

My GP has never told me that, in fact she recommended taking them as well as paracetamol in one case. The specialist nurse at hostpital also recommended the same, and they know I'm well over 65!

It's also very important that doctors know what pain killers people are taking. eg people over 65 shouldn't take ibuprofen. Paracetamol often works better taken alongside other meds [eg codeine] rather than taking something combined with it, but it's important to know what quantity to take. And, of course one shouldn't take aspirin if on warfarin etc etc

Yes, paracetamol is cheap but if you are one, or in our case two, of the unlucky ones who are medically advised to take eight a day it can be difficult to buy them sensibly. A supermarket will only sell a maximum of two packs at a time. Our local chemist became very suspicious at the amount we were buying. Our GP was asked to speak to the Chemist to make him aware of the situation, her preference was to offer a prescription explaining that was the most appropriate way to ensure a regular supply. It also triggers a regular review which could otherwise be overlooked. We'll struggle if a prescription is no longer permitted.

Well, my mum had paracetamol on prescription, I couldn't have kept up with buying them for her. I would have needed a wheelbarrow!

Have to echo sentiments of tegan that the problem with buying paracetamol if you are on a high dose is that there are limiots to how much you can buy now. Also I was barely mobile so couldn't have trekked around multiple shops. Please don't tar everyone with the same brush!

I agree, people really should buy their own except in exceptional circumstances. It is up to doctors to simply tell the patient that and NOT write out the prescription whether the patient pays for it or gets it free.

If you're prescribed paracetamol you usually have to take up to 8 tablets a day and you can't buy that amount over the counter. I also feel that they can purchase them cheaper than £3.20, but can't check that out these days. Of course people have to be offered the chance to have their medication delivered to them; if you're housebound and have no one to pick them up what else can you do? Dispensing doctors get paid to supply prescriptions to people; better that than pass it on to private chemists who will then get paid for it; at least the money is staying within the NHS. Our local surgery is several miles away and lots of patients can't travel to the surgery to pick up their medication.When I worked for the practice I used to deliver to people in my spare time but since the surgery closed down [cost cutting measure]they have to employ someone to do it.

Paracetamol 19p for 16 in Aldi. I have always resisted the GP's offer of paracetamol on prescription although I'd get it free. I also don't understand people who buy the branded Panadol which can cost almost ten times as much, though the ingredients are identical.

Surely people who pay for their prescriptions wouldn't use one for paracetamol? You can buy 32 for 42p in Asda.

Agree marmar - had a bad leg break last year and had to take lots of paracetamol. Also precription charges are over £8 per item now so people who pay are more than covering the cost to the NHS.

i agree it it a terrible wast of money to have paracetamol on prescription for most people, but when my mum had to take oral morph she was told that it was necessary for her to take paracetamol along with it, and got it on prescription (LOADS OF BOXES)

If these folk are paying for their prescriptions they will be paying twice as much.