Warfarin Prescriptions

[jamesnan]

A member of my family has had a mechanical valve put into his heart, and has to take Warfarin for the rest of his life. Since he is only in his 40's this means that he will have to pay out a of of money on this drug, unless he can get free prescriptions. He was not told that he would have to pay for them, assuming that since it was necessary to take them it would be free.

Does anyone know if England provides free prescriptions for Warfarin?

[bednobs]

no. All drugs are necessary to take, otherwise it would be a poor doctor who was prescribing drugs that weren't needed!
he can get a pre payment certificate which might be cheaper depending on how many prescriptions he gets a year

[RATTER15]

I dont think so, a lot of people are on medication for the rest of their life, me included, I still have to pay.

[TheNovice]

http://www.nhs.uk/NHS...rescriptioncosts.aspx this is the link you require

[baza]

dont know if entitled to free prescriptions but it might work out cheaper to buy a pre payment certificate.

[jamesnan]

Thank you for all the answers.

[solvitquick]

Sorry, he will have to pay for regular Warfarin at least until (as today's rules stand) he is 60 years of age when all prescrips are free. Depending on his financial circumstances, surely it is money well spent to avoid a blood clot. In addition he consider the NHS (?) total costs to that of his
valve-insertion versus final prescription cost. He is not forced to submit his prescriptions but this would be stupid but that choice should clear his mind regarding the costs.

[pdq1]

Might be worth considering moving to Wales or Scotland where they are free.

[mike11111]

Certain conditions are exempt from charges but I don't know if that applies in his case. Otherwise unfortunately as he is only in his 40s he will not get free prescriptions until he is 65 under new regulations.

[masma]

I've always thought the 'free' prescriptions very unfair... Mr M could get them coz he's diabetic but I couldn't being asthmatic - my sister-in-law could with an under active thyriod but my other SIL couldn't due to breast cancer. Maybe the prescriptions that are needed to keep folk alive should be free but if those same people need, say,anti-bio's they should be paid for??

[baza]

depending on the prescribed dosage the cost per item may make the annual certificate viable. doctors normally prescribe one months supply at a time, as the tablets are 1mg 3mg and 5mg it may mean 2 items per prescription.

[mike11111]

A sympathetic doctor would certainly prescribe two months at a time. When I had to pay I used to get three months supply but I think they've put the block on that.

[baza]

it seems that the pcts in south essex will not doctors dish out more than 1 months supply now.

[sunny-dave]

GPs are under pressure to prescribe 'one month per script' - but this is a nonsense when the medication has to be taken for the rest of your life and you are paying for the prescriptions.

Whatever they may say, GPs have complete discretion in how they prescribe. There is no 'rule' or 'law' that says 'one month per script' - it just affects their own targets if they write too many multi month scripts.

Push (very) hard for at least three and preferably six months of medication per prescription.

[Hopkirk]

Is it prescription only?

If not, he may be able to buy it more cheaply.

[baza]

mine are pom.

[Ann]

No they are not free for Warfarin, my brother has to use a pre payment card which makes them a little cheaper but not much!
I think the "exempt" rules are extremely unfair and need looking at - diabetics and thyroid sufferers get all medication free but not heart or cancer sufferers, why the difference? I'm lucky as being over 60 I get mine free now and am so thankful.

[bednobs]

people with cancer do get them free

[jamesnan]

He lives in Herts and asked the doctor for 2 months' worth of tablets instead of 28 days as it is at the moment, and was refused. Such an unfair system when Wales and Scotland get them free.

[bednobs]

if he gets a ppc it wont matter

[RATTER15]

Bednobs, so why do people with cancer get free meds but not those suffering from other terminal illnesses, or do they?

Im just curious. I think anybody suffering from a terminal illness should get free medication.