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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33 |
I recently moved to the UK from the US 9 months ago and I just ran out of my Enbrel supply. I was referred to a specialist but I wont have an appointment for a few weeks. I have 4 months supply in the US but I'm not sure how best to ship medicine to the UK.
Option #1 - use FedEx/UPS and dry ice, hope the shipment doesn't get stopped at customs and disposed of
Option #2 - a friend of mine is coming to visit from the US next Saturday, have a family member give my shipment to her with dry ice...but this would add extra weight to her likely already bulging bags. Also, what if they open her bag, find the medicine and dispose of my 4 month supply?
Option #3 - buy a plane ticket for about $1,000, take off work, and just go get the medicine myself the smoothest way.
Option #4 - wait a few weeks until I get an appointment to see if they will prescribe Enbrel for me to be paid for by the UK's National Health Service.
What would you do?
Last edited by CoolTech; 07/02/11 02:34 PM.
"Hope is a good thing - maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"
"Chance favors the prepared mind"
"What we do in life, echoes in eternity"
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21,346 Likes: 2
Very_Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
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Very_Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21,346 Likes: 2 |
call the company that makes enbrel, ask for their advice, or call a doctor, one of your old ones, the new one if they will talk to you, ask them for advice. hope you get your meds soon. 
sue
Spondyloarthropathy, HLAB27 negative
Humira (still methylprednisone for flares, just not as often. Aleve if needed, rarely.)
LDN/zanaflex/flector patches over SI/ice
vits C, D. probiotics. hyaluronic acid. CoQ, Mg, Ca, K.
chiro
walk, bike
no dairy (casein sensitivity), limited eggs, limited yeast (bread)
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,483
Silver_AS_Kicker
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Silver_AS_Kicker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,483 |
Go ask at a UK pharmacy to see if they can transfer a prescription from a US doctor/Pharmacy and fill it. Then call your insurance company to see if they will still cover it?
or do you already have 4 months in your fridge in the US?
No families take so little medicine as those of doctors, except those of apothecaries.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33 |
Go ask at a UK pharmacy to see if they can transfer a prescription from a US doctor/Pharmacy and fill it. Then call your insurance company to see if they will still cover it?
or do you already have 4 months in your fridge in the US? I have 4 months supply in my fridge in the US
"Hope is a good thing - maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"
"Chance favors the prepared mind"
"What we do in life, echoes in eternity"
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 433 Likes: 1
Black_Belt_AS_Kicker
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Black_Belt_AS_Kicker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 433 Likes: 1 |
Since you asked if you should wait to see if the Specialist will prescribe Enbrel for you to be paid under the NHS, I assume that means that you know that you qualify for NHS paid prescriptions. But, do you know what the guidelines are for prescribing Enbrel in the UK? (They are much more stringent then US guidelines.) Do you meet or exceed the qualification criteria? Do you know how long the approval process takes and how long it would take to actually receive the medication? Are you willing to wait, and potentially flare, while you work your way through the process? These are questions that only you can answer for yourself. If I was in this situation, I would have the 4 month supply of Enbrel shipped to me so that I would not have to stop taking the medication while I worked through the process. UK Customs should have no reason to dispose of your medication if it is a personal supply of a legal medication that has been legally and properly prescribed for you.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,192
Major_AS_Kicker
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Major_AS_Kicker
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,192 |
I don't know if dry ice is good because that will freeze it?
Steve Orchard, Running from AS & MS
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,190
Major_AS_Kicker
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Major_AS_Kicker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,190 |
It would have to be shipped overnight with lots of ice packs. I don't know about customs. You might have to have a copy of the Rx sent in the box with it. I don't know.
Donna
Cherish your yesterdays,
Dream your tomorrows,
But live your todays.
Do the very best you can
leave the rest to God.
God Bless,
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,483
Silver_AS_Kicker
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Silver_AS_Kicker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,483 |
YA know.
Call Fed Ex and see how they would handle it. They are used to customs and moving this type of cargo across borders. If reasonable have them complete the whole transaction
No families take so little medicine as those of doctors, except those of apothecaries.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33 |
Since you asked if you should wait to see if the Specialist will prescribe Enbrel for you to be paid under the NHS, I assume that means that you know that you qualify for NHS paid prescriptions. But, do you know what the guidelines are for prescribing Enbrel in the UK? (They are much more stringent then US guidelines.) Do you meet or exceed the qualification criteria? Do you know how long the approval process takes and how long it would take to actually receive the medication? Are you willing to wait, and potentially flare, while you work your way through the process? These are questions that only you can answer for yourself. If I was in this situation, I would have the 4 month supply of Enbrel shipped to me so that I would not have to stop taking the medication while I worked through the process. UK Customs should have no reason to dispose of your medication if it is a personal supply of a legal medication that has been legally and properly prescribed for you. Yeah, I know I'm covered under the NHS but not sure about the prescribing policies. I don't know the policies around shipping medicine and since FedEx and Wyeth are closed today will have to wait until tomorrow to determine the policies. My back has started to stiffen up and my doc gave me some Naproxen, hope it helps reduce the inflammation until I can sort this situation out.
"Hope is a good thing - maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"
"Chance favors the prepared mind"
"What we do in life, echoes in eternity"
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33 |
YA know.
Call Fed Ex and see how they would handle it. They are used to customs and moving this type of cargo across borders. If reasonable have them complete the whole transaction unfortunately, they're closed today but I'll hit them up tomorrow.
"Hope is a good thing - maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"
"Chance favors the prepared mind"
"What we do in life, echoes in eternity"
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