Diconal Supply Ending?

Updated

I was put on Diconal in 1993 after having struggled with real pain and non effective medicaments post RTA/'86, where I lost right leg below knee, with both wrists broken etc etc. Stress am not talking about phantom pains. Presently STILL. have open on end weeping 7.5" below knee stump. Because of ill fitting prostheses my right hip is knackered.. Hip op not feasible since developed venous ankle ulcers on remaining foot. Also have damaged sciatica both sides intermittently flaring. To this add neutofibrotoma, mostly quiet but currently one is enlivened in right shoulder area which lately hurts so much at times though has left my right thumb & index useless! Diconal use has reduced over years to 56 per week. Last week local Boots pharmacist said their warehouses were now empty so they can no longer supply any. There's been breaks in supply over the years but a small reserve has always just got me through. It seems since patent ended some Asian owned company has been making them but charging the NHS way over the odds for its production and the NHS has declared 'no more'. Fair enough but what do I do now, look to Oxycontin or Tramadol? Last time break in supply occurred, about 2 years ago I was offered Tramadol but actually given Codeine tabs instead which were completely ineffective and caused me more trouble than good. Is it true Diconal have been greedily priced out of any affordability and if so has anyone any suggestions as to what I could turn to next please? Thank you.

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1

Hi. I've actually phoned the suppliers and they say that they will be in circulation in November again.

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2

Re: John (# 1) Expand Referenced Message

Hi back. Really, that's interesting indeed and I thank you for the heads up. I was/am about to write to same to try and establish what's to do. Since this latest upset I've discovered exactly what is being demanded of the NHS per x 50 box and can hardly believe how much more the generic is costing over the original, from around a tenner to nearly £400! I hope your kind words of reassurance prove to be, breaks in supply have happened several times since my association with Diconal began in 93, this time it may well be goodbye to them. Fingers crossed it won't be. Thanks again, tis appreciated!

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3

Re: John (# 1) Expand Referenced Message

Hi did you manage to get a date from the suppliers? Will this medication be out of stock for long?

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4

Re: Hula (# 3) Expand Referenced Message

My local Boots confirmed they'd also heard of the November date, (although not from here ), but we're half way through and no sign yet.
I wrote to the manufacturer of Diconal (CONCORDIA Ltd), and was pleased that they responded in kind within a couple of days, indicating that the resumption of supply was 'expected' by the end of the year. So, we'll have to wait and see.

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Re: Sammy (# 4) Expand Referenced Message

Thanks Sammy. The end of the year is very different to November. I do hope the manufacturers get this sorted out sooner.

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6

Am pleased to report that Diconal are back. After what turned into, essentially, no more than a fortnight's cessation of supply, called into Boots yday, and was handed normal, full, weekly script. Unlike previous occasions 'theyve' changed the rules thus 'outstanding' has not, this time, turned into an 'owing' situation, which is somewhat unfair as the immediate opportunity to be able to put aside a small reserve for periods in the future when the supply again stalls, (cos it will) ; the 28 day validity of prescriptions meant those owing were on a monthly issued script which had, of 19th Nov just become lapsed, so - tough, lost em! Anyway, a return to normality, albeit now delivered in a larger box with new sized pop sheets within. Out of all this what has amazed me, relevant to my interest, was to find that the price per 50 box has rocketed from nearly £10 to around £400 within a short time period. The (claimed) idea behind generics was to bring down the cost to the NHS of medicines, seems to have backfired in grand fashion in ths instance.

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7

Re: Hula (# 3) Expand Referenced Message

Hi, sorry for missing this from you. The Fike were only, eventually, 'off' supply for a fortnight. I've had them back as normal now for 3 weeks or so. Only difference is they're in a bigger same coloured box and the tags are in bigger pop sheets of ten per. (No doubt to try to justify the now £400.00+ charge the makers stump the NHS for for for every 50 tabs, s'criminal!). All well and good 'til the next upset.

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Re: Sammy (# 7) Expand Referenced Message

Hi Sammy, have you noticed a supply problem again?

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9

Are you still able to get diconal?

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