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Amlodipine Besylate

Posted , 4 users are following.

mark42114
mark42114

Hi there, I am hoping someone my be able to help shed some light onto my dilemma please?

I have been taking prescribed blood pressure treatment successfully for 15 years. Following several trials to establish the correct regime I ended up on a mix of 10mg Ramipril and 10mg Amlodipine Besylate.

Following a relocation I moved  surgery and chemist three years ago, they seemed to want to covert me to the Maleste type of Amplodipine. I explained that I had been prescribed besylate as my trials displayed my blood pressure was better controlled by the slow release formula of besylate, having been on the drug successfully for a reason long period I was reluctant to change. 

Despite this, many repeat prescriptions included going through the rigmarole of explaining this every time to the pharmacy who would reluctantly have to order besylate. Maybe it was a cost thing?

Now I have been told that my besylate brand is no longer available and I will just have to accept the maleate version of the drug.

Can anybody tell me, is anyone aware that besylate is no longer available as a prescription drug in the UK?

The pharmaceutical company was Dr Redding (I think), I told they have they ceased production, is anyone aware of this?

Any insight, advice and guidance would be very much appreciated?

Thank you.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • christophe71098
    christophe71098 mark42114

    Posted

    Interesting.  I also take 10mg of amlodipine besylate, and am still getting that, and nobody has ever suggested changing it.  The brand varies from month to month, and I suspect that I am given whatever the pharmacy can get cheapest.  This month it's Accord, last month it was Aurobindo, and over the past few months I have had Dr Reddy and Bristol Labs, and another one whose name I can't remember at the moment.  I think different doctors' surgeries have different policies, too, as the only alternatives I was offered were amlodipine and ramipril, but I have friends and relations who take various other BP drugs.  It may be that you are just the victim of your surgery's policy or prejudices.  I am sure that in these days of a cash-strapped NHS, cost is a major factor.

    • Guest
      Guest christophe71098

      Posted

      Those drug makers are all generic manufacturers, they produce high volumes of cheaper but good quality medicines when the initial  patent period ends.   The GP prescribes the medicine, the pharmacist chooses which brand, the cheapest one, to provide you.
  • angela91414
    angela91414 mark42114

    Posted

    I still get prescribed Amlodopine besylate 5mg. However I also take 4mg Perindoprol and the last time I picked up my prescription noticed it was in a totally different package they were smaller and a different shape. I queried this withthe pharmacist and said I wanted the old ones as they seem to suit me so why change. I was told they were the same tablet but they would make a  note that I wanted the old ones. We will see!!!
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