10-12-2016, 08:52 AM
Rose, good to see you. I don't know the answer to that - how much would they allow you to buy before? Your experience very much reminded me of something posted about diazepam.
Another member, possibly Tommy (sorry if it wasn't you!), mentioned that 10mg diazepam can no longer be prescribed - it has to be multiples of 5mg. Professionally I happen to see a lot of sick notes (sorry, "fit notes") and I'm astonished to see people with panic attacks being prescribed 2mg diazepam. That's not even 2mg tid, but 2mg once a day. That's almost homoeopathic IMHO (although might have a decent placebo given the reputation of the medication). For complicated reasons I've spent a lot of time in pharmacies recently and I can see the 2 and 5mg diazepam on the shelves, but not 10mg.
10mg diazepam is available from several manufacturers in the UK and listed in the current British National Formulary (I can see the NHS prices 87p, 91p, etc). Therefore, I assume it is either locked away, or that it is so rarely scripted it must be ordered in specially. The BNF is quite useful because it indicates typical uses and dosages. I can look up other medications for anyone without BNF access.
Sorry this doesn't address your question Rose, but it perhaps suggests a general trend towards lowering doses/quantities in the UK. Obviously I understand the intention, but it isn't very helpful for those who need more pain relief or like me were stuck on a relatively high dose of diazepam and then abandoned by the NHS. It is ridiculous, I have a job that is socially useful, I do my recycling, I pay all my taxes, I don't even break speed limits or drop litter, but am forced into this legally murky area because of their policies.
All the best,
barq
Another member, possibly Tommy (sorry if it wasn't you!), mentioned that 10mg diazepam can no longer be prescribed - it has to be multiples of 5mg. Professionally I happen to see a lot of sick notes (sorry, "fit notes") and I'm astonished to see people with panic attacks being prescribed 2mg diazepam. That's not even 2mg tid, but 2mg once a day. That's almost homoeopathic IMHO (although might have a decent placebo given the reputation of the medication). For complicated reasons I've spent a lot of time in pharmacies recently and I can see the 2 and 5mg diazepam on the shelves, but not 10mg.
10mg diazepam is available from several manufacturers in the UK and listed in the current British National Formulary (I can see the NHS prices 87p, 91p, etc). Therefore, I assume it is either locked away, or that it is so rarely scripted it must be ordered in specially. The BNF is quite useful because it indicates typical uses and dosages. I can look up other medications for anyone without BNF access.
Sorry this doesn't address your question Rose, but it perhaps suggests a general trend towards lowering doses/quantities in the UK. Obviously I understand the intention, but it isn't very helpful for those who need more pain relief or like me were stuck on a relatively high dose of diazepam and then abandoned by the NHS. It is ridiculous, I have a job that is socially useful, I do my recycling, I pay all my taxes, I don't even break speed limits or drop litter, but am forced into this legally murky area because of their policies.
All the best,
barq