Accord brand - been told by pharmacy that it is no longer available

On the company website it states that is still actively made?

www.accord-healthcare-products.co.uk/.../letrozole-tablets

Thank you for checking. Well, since posting this, I phoned another branch of the pharmacy chain. The assistant said what you said, and checked with the pharmacist, tapping on the screen as we spoke. Yes, it is still available, but the branch that I have my repeat prescription uses a different supplier. These two branches are of the same company. I’m trying here not to name the company, so apologise for sounding muddled. So basically branch X uses supplier A, and branch Y uses supplier B. So it’s the supplier that it’s unavailable from. I’ve just trotted back, told them what I had been told, and yes …. It’s true. So I’ve now got to get Accord from the next nearest branch of that pharmacy, which isn’t such a big deal. 

The customer service was very bad, I was talked to like a two year old. Apparently, no other customer has mentioned it. I’m the only one making a fuss. That could be true, but seeing as I wasn’t told the whole truth at the start, I’m not sure if I’m being spun a yarn again. Have now had to contact the GP surgery to get the prescription re-issued as the pharmacy  won’t swap them. I understand that rule though. 

I feel like bursting into tears. I was made to feel so small, everything was public. I asked to speak privately to the pharmacist, but this was denied. The only karma to come out of it was that in a shop full of people I told the woman what the other pharmacy had said, which was not she had said,  and she replied that what they said was the truth of it. Oh dear … I feel a hamster moment coming … I just want to hide under the duvet and not come up …. 

You can swop your nominated pharmacy on the NHS app. You will possibly need to have a medication review before they will authorise a repeat prescription.

Hi, thanks for that advice. When I asked the GP receptionist for a re-issue of the prescription, I asked if I could come away from the pharmacy automatically getting my prescriptions. About ten minutes later, I got a text to say that a prescription was ready for me to pick up (I only live around the corner) and that it could be taken to any pharmacy. My repeats will be on the same basis. 

Oh right so you can pick up from GP. We can't have to nominate pharmacy.

I think it’s because I live in a rural area, and we only have one chemist for miles. If that chemist can’t get what you need (I know a few people who have been hit with supply problems) then you are a bit stuck. So you can opt to collect it in person to take it elsewhere as once you get to the nearest town 18 miles away, you have a choice of six or seven pharmacies, one of which is open 24 hours. I work down that end so it’s not a big deal for me, but others are tied into one pharmacy, as you say. 

It sounds like you are better off changing if they behave like that anyway.:)

Hi Cloudier, I don’t have that particular tablet I have tamoxifen and it’s made by Mylan. I’ve found I’ve not had any side effects other than the usual hot flushes and I did get a sore hip which com and goes. When I spoke to my oncologist about brands he said it’s the fillers that they use in the tablets that can cause the issues. When I spoke with my pharmacist they mentioned it was a good idea to try 2 or 3 brands to so I would have a choice incase they couldn’t get hold of one. I will be trying this after my holiday as the Mylan brand isn’t supplied at my pharmacy. Most pharmacies seem just get what is available when they order or whatever brand is on a special offer at the time. I think they will try to get a specific brand if asked but I guess if not available at the time they take what is so they have supplies. Maybe it’s worth checking out the ingredients in both brands Accord and Mylan and see if they are similar or even give Mylan a go and then swap back to accord if problematic. Saves having to swap pharmacies and chase around after one brand if you find both are suitable
Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Thanks Cuffcake. This is really good advice as the situation was bound to happen at sometime, as I’m on Anastrazole for 10 years (8 to go). I don’t regret coming away from the pharmacy though. I never got to speak to the Pharmacist, who would very likely given the same advice as you. Instead, I was told an untruth by an unqualified person  (that Accord was not available at all as the company had been bought out - not true according to other chemists) and I was made to feel inadequate by telling me publicly in the shop that I am the only person that has said that they would prefer a particular brand of a tablet. 

Just to add to this, and for others who might be affected by brand changing, I’ve just spoken to a friendly pharmacist (my prescription has ‘Accord brand’ written on it now) that Accord and Teva are manufactured by the same company and are the same. He also said that whilst my prescription has my preference on it, he can dispense another brand if I am happy with it. 
What a steep learning curve this has turned out to be!!