Medication Changes

Why are we changing your medication?

We are having to make changes to the drugs we use due to both cost pressures and availability.

I am sure you have heard in the media of difficulties sourcing some medications. So sometimes we have to change patients to alternative medications as we cannot get their original.

We also change some medications due to cost pressures. The cost of some medications compared to the amount we are reimbursed changes all the time, and recently many medications are resulting in a financial loss. I am sure you understand that if all the medications we prescribed resulted in a loss, then we as a business would no longer be able to function. So some of these changes are done in order that we can continue to provide  you with services.

All of the NHS is facing these pressures and make medication switches in this way. If you have recently been in hospital you may have had medications switched for these same reasons.

Will it do the same job?

We will only change your medication to an alternative that is in the same class, and has the same effect as the one you are on.

The doses are not the same?

Drug doses are unique to each drug and cannot be compared across different medications in the same class. We will ensure you are on an equivalent dose to your old medication.

What do I do if I have side effects?

Please speak to the pharmacist or a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the surgery.