I’m about to delete the previous two posts about buying drugs online. This is because it can be both illegal and dangerous to buy drugs online without a prescription.
Buying medicine online from a registered internet pharmacy may be legal, but the link posted by BellaLasagne didn’t seem to link to a registered internet pharmacy, so we have removed it.
On the more specific issue of Nolvadex-D, we are aware of the situation, which was raised with us earlier this year. We responded to a Department of Health consultation on the subject, and this is what we said:
“Some patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer have raised concerns about the differences in scope and severity of the side-effects they experience when having to switch from branded to generic tamoxifen. While clinical autonomy in prescribing is an important issue raised in the consultation document, so too should patient choice. If patients want to be prescribed a branded drug that they know they are coping well with, and the pharmacist has the option of prescribing the generic form, patients should have recourse to stay on their branded choice even if a generic is available. Either this means that tamoxifen (or other drugs where patients have voiced concerns about increased side-effects) remains off the list of drugs subject to generic substitution or that patient/pharmacist discussion and patient choice is promoted within the guidance.”
We are still awaiting a Government response to this consultation.
We’re just talking to some other contacts, and hope we’ll be able to post a bit more information soon, but that is the situation at the moment.
Just wanted to let you know that we have now received a response from AstraZeneca:
"Whilst I appreciate your concerns about side effect reporting, I am sure you can understand that we cannot comment on medicines’ profiles manufactured by other manufacturers and provide medical advice on individual cases.
"As we know all medicines can cause side effects which can range in severity and seriousness and therefore we advise that patients discuss their concerns with their healthcare professionals who have initiated their current treatments and also to report any side effects to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a UK government body whose principle aim is to protect the public’s health via the Yellow Card system which was put in place to that effect
"AstraZeneca kept its commitment to provide Novaldex to UK patients as long as it could by manufacturing Novaldex for 31 years post its patent expiry that took place in 1979. AstraZeneca took the decision to stop manufacturing the molecule Nolvadex last year because now practically all tamoxifen used in the NHS is generic.
"In the UK you can check availability for manufacturers of tamoxifen using the following website which provides a list of registered and licensed molecules and patient information leaflets. medicines.org.uk/emc/"
Thanks Leah for approaching AstraZeneca for a statement.
It would have been nice if they could have ensured that those of us who were on Nolvadex-D and very happy with it, could have continued and completed our 5 years.
Not only do we now have to cope with uncertainty over the side effects from other medication but it is very unsettling to have to swap another drug. It suddenly brings BC to the forefront again when all any of us want to do is move on and get on with our lives as much a possible.
Hope all you ladies who have had to change from Nolvadex-D find something which will be as agreeable to you.
Oh how much I would like to help but probably not able to do so.
I asked my GP for a year’s supply of Nolvadex D as I was much happier with it. I now find I am going on Femara and still have 5 months supply of Nolvadex left - all untouched and unopened. Anyone any ideas of how I can legally help someone in need of five months Nolvadex D?
I would be prepared to sent it to a pharmacy if that was the way to go.
I wish I did know how you could legally help someone in need of five months supply of Nolvadex D - I know that I and lots of other ladies would gladly appreciate them.
Pharmacists are governed by rules and regulations before being able to provide medication to patients and having spoken with my pharmacist today she says that if you took them back to a chemist they would have to dispose of them as no one could be sure that they had been stored correctly, which would be very sad when there is so much demand for them.
I think the only way you could donate these tablets would be by private agreement between yourself and the recipient.
I am coming up to my 2 year cancerverisary and have tried other brands of tamoxifen but really didnt suit me and side effects were horrendous. Started on Nolvadex D and GP was happy to prescribe off licence. Now local pharmacies unable to obtain. Please help as I really don’t want to switch to a generic brand?
All help appreciated. Xxx