TOPIC:

From the UK HepC forum :
Patient given out of date medicines with a weak response when patient noticed :

www.hepcukforum.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13946

WTF!!!

- I just looked up the shelflife of viekirax and found it is three years.
- The nurse's response is unacceptable but occurred because there should have been checks in place to stop it ever getting that far.

As I've commented before these sort of things become ingrained throughout the system unless they are brought to the appropriate people's attention.

Yep, Feel for the guy, the response was dreadful - Harder for him as he was told he would get Harvoni, then when he went in for tx, they had changed it to VPak. After getting over that scenario, he went to get started on tx and now had this. Anxious times starting txt, but this is the way the NHS is going now and we are reading worrying reports more and more frequently of severe errors in care. What is really upsetting to patients, is their 'don't really care' attitude when something goes wrong. All part of the plan by current Gvt to run the service down and into the hands of private companies. Patient care is out of the window apart from a few excellent hospitals who are individually pro-active in trying to retain that side of things. I know sometimes we UK members sound like alot of moaners, but unless you can experience it first hand, it's hard to understand the stress and frustration it can cause.

I can only repeat to all UK NHS people - Check everything, get test results, check and keep on file and check the dates dates on your meds!

(edit) In fact, all patients everywhere check your meds & data etc !

Actually it's often not a lot better over here but I reckon you're not moaning loud enough, or in writing enough!

It's a systemic problem, so make it easier for them to fix the problem than to keep responding to your complaints that keep escalating up the chain of command. Most people will take the easy path = the squeaky wheel getting oil, etc.....so don't target the people involved, instead direct your complaint to how they can focus on fixing the process that allowed the error to occur (unless of course the person involved was a "right jobsworth!" ).

And make a point to check the date code when they hand you the meds. When they notice you doing that you've trained them to check before giving them to you in future.

How long is that drug on the market it seems strange its out of date so early considering they
only started using these drugs recently I would think they can send them back and get new stock.

I agree with everyone this is totally miserable for the patient in question am pretty confident they
will sort him out with new in date drugs. At least I bloody hope they do.

I would imagine the manufacturer probably made inventory pre-approval and is clearing that out first but would have supplied with some shelflife left. No doubt they will supply replacement stock if asked but probably means the pharmacist has to fill in a bunch of paperwork to complete the return....much easier to just hand it out and hope no one complains.

Hi Gaj, I was looking at your stats you're a F4 do you have a decompressed liver whats it being like
for you pre treatment.

How long is that drug on the market it seems strange its out of date so early considering they
only started using these drugs recently

They have been using the Abbvie for a while on 'compassionate access'. My friend was treated with it some time ago. He was the one that was detected EOT, then VL rose to +51 post tx and they said he had failed. 3 months later he was clear.Thankfully. Point being the Abbvie was being used a while back (last year in this case) .

Sirchinenge wrote: Hi Gaj, I was looking at your stats you're a F4 do you have a decompressed liver whats it being like
for you pre treatment.

Hi Sir, fortunately I have remained compensated and hope to stay that way or better with treatment. As with many who have HCV I wasn't aware I had a problem for close to 35 years until my annual checkup in 2012 revealed ALT of over 900 and AST close behind which resulted in my diagnosis. Cut the drink and changed diet and lifestyle but remained around 2-400 except for a short period after failed Peg/Riba. About 15 months ago my symptoms started to worsen and monitoring revealed I was developing a lot of regenerative nodules a couple of which turned into HCCs and needed removing. In layman terms my immune system and the virus were having a ding dong fight with no one winning and I was copping the blows from it. By October last year when I learnt of generics availability I was exhausted with multiple symptoms and unable to function either socially or at work. Thankfully Dr James, Greg and a few others were doing their magic by then and I have an enlightened specialist who was prepared to act in the best interests of his patients.

While we drifted a little off topic the point I'd like to stress is that while HCV can seem benign for many years, it can suddenly go down hill very quickly as I experienced. So people should consider treating as soon as they can and delays and false starts such as the above that destroy confidence should not be part of the process once the patient has commenced down the Tx path.

I'm glad you sourced tx here Gaj
I'm sorry to hear about the HCC and hope things are much more straightforward from herein
I understand the immune system crash but escaped the HCC rather, I developed other secondary nasties all of which are gone or watched
Thank gawd for this magic stuff. I'm off topic too but following your story.
Noticed James posted re shelf life in a seperate thread

Hi Gaj, Sorry to read all you've been through and thank God you got treated. I think I've also had the virus a long time and instinct (along with Prof Dusheiko) told me I needed to treat soon for the exact reasons you mention. I believe the virus ramps up quite a bit when you reach age >50 too, I knew I was 'on the turn' at that point. This happened to an old friend, I fear we're going to lose him as he wasn't monitored at all. He was diagnosed Non Hep A /B years ago and had the odd check up, he was young then and in general good health & still drinking alcohol. His consultant eventually said "You obviously seem in good health, so I don't need to see you any more" . Preventative is good! So glad you've been monitored well and nipped things in the bud. Without the virus attacking you, you can look forward to a brighter, healthier and happier future.

Hi Ariel, Yes I with interest Dr F's post on out of date meds. Interesting, as here we are often reminded to keep an eye out for dates on meds, maybe they just want us to keep buying more?! I agree with Gaj though, I was going to write that it can cause a 'loss of confidence" in patients when such details are missed, causing a delayed start of tx after psyching yourself up for it, unanswered calls to hospitals etc ; especially at a crucial time like starting tx and I see Gaj has used a very similar turn of phrase.

As my GP said to me "It's important to have faith in those who treat us" ... How understated yet perfectly put.

Whoever gave them to her should have checked the expiration date before giving them to her.

If they contact the drug company they will give them new meds to replace the expired ones....unless they were given to them as samples.

I would have said to the nurse, "I want an incident report filled out with the name of the person who gave me the expired meds and I want to talk to your supervisor".

You'll see how quickly they give her new meds.

P.