Received letter - GP changing anti-depressant due to Government Guidelines

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I received a letter today from my surgery.

They are changing my anti depressant from 5mg Escitolapram to 10mg Citrolapram.

Letter says that this is due to Government guidelines. Quote " Anyone who is on

Escitrolapram but has not been on Citrolapram before has to be switched onto it.

They sent me a script in the post for the citrolapram.

Note I checked with my chemist...the one that I normally take escitrolapram is

approx £15 whilst citrolapram is .....£2.

The letter from the doctors was written by a pharmacist who is working with the

surgery. I feel that this pharmacist must be helping the practice to switch

patients over to cheaper medications.

Are doctors allowed to switch a patients brand of medication without checking

with the patient first?

I already had an appointment to see gp tomorrow anyway so would like to ask for

your opinions

Thanks

Dawn

[Guest guest]

A doctor should NOT switch his patient's prescription from one

to another in the same class without first discussing this with his patient.

See http://www.drugs.com/news/switching-would-make-most-patients-unhappy-14528.html

You may be interested to learn that in a letter from the General

Medical Council to me, they state: " We advocate a partnership approach

to decision making where the doctor discusses with the patient their condition

and treatment options in a way they can understand, and respect their right to

make decisions about their care, taking into account their wishes and

preferences. Doctors should regard getting the patients consent as an important

part of the process of discussion and decision-making, rather than something

that happens in isolation. " If you are happy with the Escitrolapram

Dawn, then tell your GP you are not interested in switching to Citrolapram and

wish to carry on getting your prescription as usual. You could challenge him

and ask him to show you the letter received from 'the Government' telling him

that you have to switch.

Luv - Sheila

Hi all,

I received a letter today from my surgery.

They are changing my anti depressant from 5mg Escitolapram to 10mg Citrolapram.

Letter says that this is due to Government guidelines. Quote " Anyone who

is on Escitrolapram but has not been on Citrolapram before has to be switched

onto it. They sent me a script in the post for the citrolapram.

Note I checked with my chemist...the one that I normally take escitrolapram is

approx £15 whilst citrolapram is .....£2.

The letter from the doctors was written by a pharmacist who is working with the

surgery. I feel that this pharmacist must be helping the practice to switch

patients over to cheaper medications.

Are doctors allowed to switch a patients brand of medication without checking

with the patient first?

I already had an appointment to see gp tomorrow anyway so would like to ask for

your opinions

Thanks

Dawn

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