I have just been to pick up my prescription for my letrozole and no chemists in my area have any. There is a problem with the manufacturer. I find this appalling. Does anyone else have a problem getting tablets. I live in Washington Tyne and Wear. What do you do?
bubblesdevere - I would contact the hospital or my GP. They must be able to ensure that you receive a continuous supply.
Ann x
bubblesdevere - I would contact the hospital or my GP. They must be able to ensure that you receive a continuous supply.
Ann x
Sorry, this seems to have posted twice and I can’t see a way of deleting one of them.
Thanks Ann I have rang my breast care nurse and am waiting for a call back
This seems to have been an ongoing problem for months and months. So frustrating. My mum is on this tablet and every month it is hit or miss whether we have to phone round all the local pharmacies to get some.
We tried her GP too. He didnt seem to want to know.
Also mentioned it to her consultant and bcn last time we saw them and they denied knowing of any problems with people getting this tablet.
thanks gocat i find it disgusting we have no control over this.
Hi bubbles
Yes I have had the same problem best ordering it way before you run out.
Bubbly
Hi Bubbly will your GP give you more than one months supply?
i have about 10 days supply so hopefully i will get some before they run out
Love
Bubbles
Hello
I have always had a problem getting letrozole. My own doctors pharmacy has never had it and we always have to go round all the chemists chasing after it. I make sure I put in my prescription 2 weeks before I need it.
I am in Hertfordshire
Hazel
Have you tried Boots? I always found they got stuff in very quickly when I insisted on some obscure generic brand of tamoxifen.
Where in Herts are you? I am in Welwyn and have never had any probs.
Boots is one of the main chemists we have had problems with. My mum automatically renews her prescription each month with them (she had tried other chemists in the past with no joy). We phone them 2 weeks before we are due to collect them and they say dont worry they are on order. Phone again a few days before due to collection and again they say they havent arrived but dont worry they will and then when it is collection day they are never there and we and them have to start the big phone round. Boots blame the manufacturers. GP reckons not his problem and bcn nurse and consultant reckon there is no known problem as no one else has mentioned it to them.
We have learnt to time the prescription so it gives us two weeks grace to find the tablets from somewhere.
Hi Ladies
I phoned the manufacturer when my usual chemist had problems getting my Femara tablets from the wholesaler and was told that some wholesalers are not stocking them because they cannot buy them at a discounted price! They advised me to ask my chemist to ring them and deal directly with them. My chemist had already made the same call and opened a direct accout with them. Result: no more problems with ‘shared’ packs of tablets while they desperately try to get hold of them for myself and the other customer who needs them!
Marcos
I had the same problem a couple of weeks ago, went for my repeat prescription at my GP’s pharmacy to be told they hadn’t got any and had problems with the suppliers, told me to try Boots, which I did,same story.
When I got home I called the hospital who said that there had been a problem but thought it had been sorted and to get the pharmacy to call the manufacturers direct. The pharmacy did this and got a delivery the following week and said they would keep a supply in for me.
I’ve been told that they are very expensive so maybe that’s why they don’t keep a great stock.
I’ve only been taking them for 2 months, how long have you and have you had any side effects?
Having to take them is bad enough without problems of getting hold of them.
Best wishes.
Jan
Hi Jan
I have been taking these now for 4 months and the main problem has been joint pain. I already have a certain amount of arthritis and these have made it worse; first thing in the morning is bad but gradually eases off after I am up and about. I take evening primrose oil and that seems to be keeping the hot flushes that some people report at bay. I have also put on a smallish amount of weight that I am blaming on the tablets but the chocolates OH buys me may be the real culprit
Andie
Hi Andie
I am the same with joint pain especially at night. Like you once I am up and about its better. Haven’t had any hot flushes that I have noticed, weight wise no difference, not yet anyway.
Have you had a bone density scan? I am going to have one in January, the oncologist said to make sure I can tolerate the pills first or else it will be a waste of time.
Been feeling a bit sick over the last couple of weeks, but having rads so not sure which is responsible.
Trouble is this is my 2nd recurrence so have to stick with Fermara as I didn’t cope well with Tamoxifen or Arimidex so my options are running out.
Enjoy the chocolate we have to have some pleasures.
Jan
Hi Ladies
I am a Community Pharmacist and only too aware of the supply problem with Femara.
From a Pharmacist point of view we find it VERY frustrating that we are unable to provide…without delay…!!! such a product.
I have ranted and raved at the wholesalers on your behalf…trust me…and even threatened them at one point with a mass of patients protesting on their doorstep…
Pharmacies can contact the manufacturer direct and obtain supplies quite readily…if they are prepared to set up an account with them…it largely depends on the Pharmacy you are using and how friendly your local Pharmacist is 
There are a few reasons as to why we cant get hold of them, firstly it is an expensive item to have sitting on your shelves but only if the pharmacist doesnt have a regular patient on them, secondly you may have heard on the news about “quota lines”…this briefly means that the wholesaler will not buy anymore that month because they have purchased their “quota” for that month. (Recession and tight budgets dont help the situation).
I know all this is of no use to ladies like yourselves who find themselves in this situation.
My advice would be…try speaking to the Pharmacy Manager and ask if they could order some and keep them aside for you. Most would be prepared…or at least I would…keep them in for you. If you tell them that you would be prepared to use their pharmacy ( the fear is that the drugs will sit on the shelf and expire) whilst you are needing Femara, even suggest you ring up a week or so before you need them and ask if they could be ordered then so that they are in stock when you bring in your prescription.
Large chains ( Boots, Lloyds, Sainsburys etc) have more flexiblity as to what they can hold over smaller and independent chemists.
Good luck Ladies
A frustrated Pharmacy Manager xx
Hi Jan
Yes I did have a bone density scan before I started these tablets, and I have been gived calcium and Vitamin D tablets to take to try to protect my bones now I am on them.
Andie
Hi All
I know Asda a not in eveyones good books at the moment but that is the only place I have been to that i can get them straight away. I got some yesterday
Hi
I live in Northumberland and have been on Letrozole for nearly 2 years and this week was first time I experienced a problem getting my prescription. Also had a problem with supply of Bondrant.
I rang my BCN who told me to tell chemist (Boots)to go direct to drug company, she even give me the telephone number, and they would supply Letrozole within 48 hours. Thankfully I have received it,I only had two tablets left.
By the way, when I went to pick up my prescription originally, chemists assistant told me there was a problem and to go back to GP and “just change to something else”. Oh if it was that easy. I even heard someone else was told “just take Tamoxifen instead”.
Take care all x
Thank you everyone who has replied it is a great help to know other ladies are having the same problems
I will go to my chemist i use all the time and ask them if they will open an account
xxx