Complaint against a pharmacy?

I looked and looked and could not find a more appropriate forum for this. I've been told that I should make a complaint against my pharmacy. Without my permission they've been dispensing medicine of a different brand than that specified by my doctor. I'm just wondering if anyone has gone through the process and what might result from the complaint? I'm guessing the regulator is toothless so I don't want to waste my time.

Gatling

Clementine Modern Soapsuds wrote: »

I looked and looked and could not find a more appropriate forum for this. I've been told that I should make a complaint against my pharmacy. Without my permission they've been dispensing medicine of a different brand than that specified by my doctor. I'm just wondering if anyone has gone through the process and what might result from the complaint? I'm guessing the regulator is toothless so I don't want to waste my time.

Basically there giving you generic brands rather than an actual brand name ,same drug, same treatment ,and cheaper for all concerned , what your complaint would achieve or be worth is probably nothing on both accounts

I should add I have a medical card and when I went to my GP yesterday I specifically asked for a Ventolin inhaler. This is because I have a pouch for this type. I went to the pharmacy and was given "Salbutamol" and told it was the same thing. When I got home it was a completely different size and shape and therefore not suitable for my carrying pouch. I had to return to the pharmacy and battle and in the end the Ventolin was on the shelf alongside the Salbutamol. So why not just give me what I asked for?

hyperborean

Deleted User wrote: »

I should add I have a medical card and when I went to my GP yesterday I specifically asked for a Ventolin inhaler. This is because I have a pouch for this type. I went to the pharmacy and was given "Salbutamol" and told it was the same thing. When I got home it was a completely different size and shape and therefore not suitable for my carrying pouch. I had to return to the pharmacy and battle and in the end the Ventolin was on the shelf alongside the Salbutamol. So why not just give me what I asked for?

If the script said ventolin you can currently request it, this will change by the end of the summer. All scipts will have the active ingredient written and not branded name and anyone on the medical card will be issued the cheapest available option.....

If your script had the active ingredient in ventolin (albuterol sulfate) then the pharmacist can dispense salbutamol (albuterol sulfate) as it is identicle but has a lower reimbursment price therefore costing the taxpayer less for the same medicine

Gatling

Simpy because its cheaper ,
Ventolin itself is just a brand name,
Salbutamol is the actual asthma drug probably what's actually on the prescription its self ,I use the same inhaler myself ,

Hmmm I see. So why when I told the PSI about this did they say the pharmacy was not allowed to do so until the Bill was enacted? Last I heard the person at the PSI was going to email me a complaint form. I just took it from that that the pharmacy was acting without my consent and therefore wrongly.

Looks like my pouch is going to be useless after the summer!!!

Gatling

They've been switching to generic drugs for months my 4 regular repeat prescription's have all been switched to generic's personally don't have a problem ,

Neither do I now that I know it's OK. I was alarmed that I wasn't getting the correct medicine. Thanks guys.

locum-motion

'Salbutamol' and 'Albuterol' are two names for the same drug. 'Salbutamol' is the INN (International Nonproprietary Name) and 'Albuterol' is the USAN (United States Adopted Name). On this side of the Atlantic, Albuterol doesn't mean anything.

There are many products that contain this drug. One of these is made by a company called Allen&Hanbury's, and the brand name that they give to this product is 'Ventolin'.

Clinically, a Ventolin Inhaler is identical to any of the other brands of Salbutamol inhaler (Salamol, Gerivent, Salbul, Ventamol etc). These products would only have received a Product Authorisation from the Irish Medicines Board if their manufacturers were able to demonstrate their equivalence. If the shape of the plastic cover is slightly different (and therefore the inhaler doesn't fit into your little pouch), then I'm afraid that that doesn't count as a clinical difference.

The legal position is that the pharmacy has to provide the product prescribed, unless the prescriber agrees to the substitution of a generic equivalent.

The vast majority of pharmacies have agreements in place with the vast majority of their local doctors to allow the pharmacist to substitute generics, where clinically appropriate. Most doctors realise that the pharmacist has a greater knowledge than they do about which products are (or are not) suitable for substitution.

OP, the pharmacist was probably trying to save money for you; the generic is probably cheaper. If you really want the Ventolin brand so that it will fit into your little pouch, then ask and you shall receive. To make a complaint to the PSI is probably a bit excessive, but by all means go ahead. The PSI will investigate and find that the prescriber has no objection at all and therefore they will find there is no complaint to answer.

As others have alluded to; the law shall shortly be changed to remove any obligation to check with the prescriber. Not only will pharmacists be allowed to substitute without checking first, they will be obliged to. The pharmacist will be obliged to dispense (and will only be paid by the HSE for) the cheapest available equivalent. If the patient wants the more expensive product, they'll have to pay the difference. (The bit about the HSE payment is obviously only relevant to GMS/DPS prescriptions.)

hyperborean wrote: »

If the script said ventolin you can currently request it, this will change by the end of the summer. All scipts will have the active ingredient written and not branded name and anyone on the medical card will be issued the cheapest available option.....

If your script had the active ingredient in ventolin (albuterol sulfate) then the pharmacist can dispense salbutamol (albuterol sulfate) as it is identicle but has a lower reimbursment price therefore costing the taxpayer less for the same medicine