Dymista hayfever treatment on the NHS

Destination · 29 May 2013 at 23:29

Also when someone said you could offer to pay for it, that is a serious suggestion, you can get a private prescription and get the drug. This is where you have to ask yourself the same 'value' question the GP ran in their own head.
Is it worth it to you?
If so go for it?

dowie · 29 May 2013 at 23:32

Xordium said:
Chuck in feeling a bit down from the hayfever and loss of libido and they will kick you out with whatever script you want

minus the chucking in a bit of feeling bit I pretty much did that - am not going to have an argument or plead with the GP as I can order it online albeit privately tis more the principle of it that bothered me afterwards - i.e. it is available on the NHS, someone who has reasonably severe hayfever, does use over the counter meds and has exams coming up is asking if its possible and some GP who's never heard of it takes a look at the price briefly and says no...

I realise that GPs aren't going to be aware of every drug that comes to market but I threw that in there as it indicated that her decision to say no wasn't the result of specific guidelines about this drug in particular but perhaps general guidelines or even simply personal opinion.... I'm more curious about the policy in general

dowie · 29 May 2013 at 23:34

Hikari Kisugi said:
Also when someone said you could offer to pay for it, that is a serious suggestion, you can get a private prescription and get the drug. This is where you have to ask yourself the same 'value' question the GP ran in their own head.
Is it worth it to you?
If so go for it?

Yeah its available online and I have done that... its the principle really that's prompted the thread. I'm in a position where I can just go and buy it - the GP doesn't know that... someone else in a similar situation but on a lower income might not be.

Stelly · 29 May 2013 at 23:42

I get really bad heyfever... I find it hard to breathe, my eyes swell so much everyone is a blur, can't stop sneezing and very very very lethargic... If £18 is something that actually worked then I would... no offence to the OP but its how I feel... I basically spend the summer indoors because nothing currently on the market works..

Stelly

Xordium · 30 May 2013 at 00:00

dowie said:
I'm more curious about the policy in general

Well the general principle is you always work from the mildest and cheapest to the strongest and expensive whether that be say piriton to your new wonderdrug, from paracetamol to morphine or from I don't know something simple for eczema say cetraban through to some supersteroid cream etc.

However, in this case at the age you are one would hazard a guess that you have tried all the obvious choices and therefore want something more. Hence, why I say you need to both give a rationale and suddenly make this look like a far cheaper option eg move the problem from being a runny nose caused by inadequate hayfever control to mental distress caused by hayfever. Then you are requesting a more cost effective strategy.

One thing to bear in mind with this though you may well solve your hayfever issues for you exam and end up with tissues stuffed up both nostrils to stop the nosebleeds!

At the end of the day this is critical for you and whilst it might seem rather innocent and an overreaction to some I am guessing such people were not hindered from undergoing life altering exams with such a hassle. And it is a hassle.

And again £18 is nowt and anyone who thinks it is needs a slap. That's less than a IV giving set (buretted) and 1/500 of an anti-fungal.

Mr Jack · 30 May 2013 at 06:27

They're predicting a really bad hayfever season this year as well.

atpbx · 30 May 2013 at 07:07

dowie said:
Yes I have - most drugs that have effects will also have side effects... though I'd rather keep the thread on topic.

I do too but I'm not asking for medical advice here - just asking about NHS policy re: spending on drugs else this thread will probably be closed.

The only advice regarding that subject that I can give is don't try and make sense of it.

Because you can't make any sense of it, for some reason treating a condition that renders you incapable of leaving the house, sleeping, working, or living a normal life at all in some cases just isn't a priority.

paradigm · 30 May 2013 at 08:35

holymonk said:
Ask about common sense, its hardly effective use of taxpayers money.

Actually, £18 spent on the new drug (if it works) is better than £x repeatedly on a drug that has little or no effect.

I get hayfever drugs on prescription and they might as well not bother.

mike gunnz · 30 May 2013 at 14:16

Alimemazine Tartrate.

Only available on prescription however its by far the most potent hayfever medication I've used in over 35 years and I've tried more than I care to remember. Its is a sedating antihistamine which is also used as a pre-med in children to induce sleepiness before operations. Major side effect is its initial sedating effect. It takes a couple of weeks for the body to build up a tolerance to it so expect to be nodding off during meetings/lectures initially.

Once the body gets used to it, its amazingly effective and you can go out and enjoy the summer. I wouldnt use anything else now.

After years of being prescribed rubbish by various British GPs I was seen by a Dutch locum GP who recommended it.