Unable to obtain Actonel (etc.)

[Farnsfield]

Need to vent!

Have just phoned Proctor and Gamble over my continued inability to obtain Actonel 35mg from either AAH or Alliance Healthcare. Was told P and G have plenty of stock but cannot arrange a direct supply. When I asked how I was supposed to obtain stock for my patients the response was that I should go back to my wholesaler. The ensuing conversation went round in circles for some time as I tried to make them acknowledge that speaking to my wholesaler (who don't have any stock as a result of a manufacturer's quota) was not going to get me anywhere.

I am now waiting for a telephone call from someone in the Commercial department as Medical Information finally recognised they weren't going to get rid of me.

[DavidS]

Suggest surgery change script to alendronic acid, which is (arguably?) more effective anyway.

[bobbin]

Need to vent!

Have just phoned Proctor and Gamble over my continued inability to obtain Actonel 35mg from either AAH or Alliance Healthcare. Was told P and G have plenty of stock but cannot arrange a direct supply. When I asked how I was supposed to obtain stock for my patients the response was that I should go back to my wholesaler. The ensuing conversation went round in circles for some time as I tried to make them acknowledge that speaking to my wholesaler (who don't have any stock as a result of a manufacturer's quota) was not going to get me anywhere.

I am now waiting for a telephone call from someone in the Commercial department as Medical Information finally recognised they weren't going to get rid of me.

I agree with David..........unless the patient has had alendronic acid before and not tolerated it.

Phoenix usually have Actonel in stock but I assume you don't have an account with them.

[Dinosaur]

Had a similar problem this week with Arimidex and it took several phone calls and faxes with Alliance (who had stock but wouldn't let me have it because AstraZeneca were blocking it) and AZ who would let me have some (3 boxes at a time cos I OBVIOUSLY didn't need what I was asking for!) before I finally resorted to shouting at the customer service lady and demanding contact from a manager.
This resulted in me finally getting the 8 (yes 8 not 80) boxes I had requested and getting my quota levels reviewed at the same time (a process that takes a week) but they still could not garantee that it won't happen again!!
They did not seem to realise they were not doing ME a favour but ensuring that patient needing THEIR product were able to get it when they need it and not have to wait until my quota resets on the 1st of the month!
AND THIS IS PROGRESS? ENSURES ADEQUATE STOCK?
NOT FROM WHERE I AM STANDING!!!

[JonF]

I couldn't get any Zoton Fastabs from Phoenix, Alliance or Mawdsleys. I phoned up the Customer 'Service' helpline at Wyeth and asked if there was a manufacturing problem as no wholesaler in NW England had any. They said no problem but everyone had used July quotas up!! So after much going around in circles i finally spoke to a manager. I asked him how a big multi national drug company was not able to ensure that stock was available at any wholesaler in NW England? His reply was that they were managing the supply effectively.......bollocks!!!

Anyway i finally got him to do a same day courier for 4 boxes as the patient was desperate for tablets....from Portsmouth to Lancashire!!

Hope it cost them a fortune!!!!

[bobbin]

I couldn't get any Zoton Fastabs from Phoenix, Alliance or Mawdsleys. I phoned up the Customer 'Service' helpline at Wyeth and asked if there was a manufacturing problem as no wholesaler in NW England had any. They said no problem but everyone had used July quotas up!! So after much going around in circles i finally spoke to a manager. I asked him how a big multi national drug company was not able to ensure that stock was available at any wholesaler in NW England? His reply was that they were managing the supply effectively.......bollocks!!!

Anyway i finally got him to do a same day courier for 4 boxes as the patient was desperate for tablets....from Portsmouth to Lancashire!!

Hope it cost them a fortune!!!!

Some of these companies need a short, sharp lesson in zero prescribing. Perhaps you should have suggested that you will be speaking to all of your local doctors and encouraging them to switch as many patients as possible on to generic lansoprazole capsules.

[JonF]

Some of these companies need a short, sharp lesson in zero prescribing. Perhaps you should have suggested that you will be speaking to all of your local doctors and encouraging them to switch as many patients as possible on to generic lansoprazole capsules.

Don't worry, I did!!

[bobbin]

Don't worry, I did!!

Just checking

On another note, it's far easier to obtain clopidogrel now that it's available as a generic. I'm sure Sanofi-Aventis are furious but few pharmacists will have much time for them given the Plavix supply fiasco.

[JonF]

Just checking

On another note, it's far easier to obtain clopidogrel now that it's available as a generic. I'm sure Sanofi-Aventis are furious but few pharmacists will have much time for them given the Plavix supply fiasco.

Just before generic clopidogrel became available I was speaking to the Supply Chain Director at Sanofi about the problems i had been having. I had great delight in telling him that i had ordered 180 packs of the generic, in packs of 28 no less, so would soon have no use for Plavix. The tone in his voice dramatically changed after that!!

[bobbin]

Just before generic clopidogrel became available I was speaking to the Supply Chain Director at Sanofi about the problems i had been having. I had great delight in telling him that i had ordered 180 packs of the generic, in packs of 28 no less, so would soon have no use for Plavix. The tone in his voice dramatically changed after that!!

All we need now is generic irbesartan!