Did you have much trouble getting your GP to issue Prof Chu's prescription?

[jrlhamcat2]

I recently saw Prof Chu and he recommended clonidine. Previously my GP was reluctant to prescribe this as it is supposedly off-label for flushing in men. Additionally, I'm probably going to have to change GPs now as I've moved outside my current GP's catchment area.

I'm curious what other people's experiences are and how much trouble they had getting their GP to issue the prescription that Professor Chu recommended. Any comment would be appreciated.

[nat007]

Dr Chu prescribed me also clonidine and a few other meds. I asked him at the time to write me a letter, explaining his drugs of choice and motivation for it and the address it to whom it might concern (the GP in question).
This helped, a GP is a GP and he is a professor in dermatology. I would just take this letter to your gp and don't take the submissive stand with him/her, but a proactive one: you are suffering, you took the effort to travel to a proper specialist, he advices this and he has the proper background to decide on such matters, not a GP. If the GP still puts question marks, I would just say this: why are there specialists, professors, who spent decades on these diseases, and an alround GP -no offense- thinks he or she knows it better? If they want to put aside the suggestion and treatment plan of a professor, then I would let them know this is unacceptable for you, and that you like to work together with your GP, not against them. And ask if he/she can at least give it a try, I asked for a monthly trial and then evaluate with my gp, and she then saw how much my redness and flushing had deminished and we set up a long term plan together. This seems to me the most sensible way, I can get angry still reading that there are GP's who want to control all this.

best of luck

[antwantsclear]

As I think you are aware, you are entitled to choose your GP in the UK at least within your local area, so you can go and talk to several at different practices (make appointments saying you need to join a new practice). Talk to them about how they would work with you on your rosacea condition, and assess who might be most appropriate. Of course you can ask them if they would be willing to prescribe Prof Chu's recommended medications, and make that one of your criteria for choosing a new GP. Sometimes there is limited information about a GP on the practice website, which might tell you for example if a particular GP has an interest in dermatology. You may be able to get advice about this from the clinical commissioning group as well about who might have this specialism in your geographical area.

[Judworth]

I recently saw Prof Chu and he recommended clonidine. Previously my GP was reluctant to prescribe this as it is supposedly off-label for flushing in men. Additionally, I'm probably going to have to change GPs now as I've moved outside my current GP's catchment area.

I'm curious what other people's experiences are and how much trouble they had getting their GP to issue the prescription that Professor Chu recommended. Any comment would be appreciated.

No trouble atall (I am in the UK).

Infact, my GP even rang Prof Chu's secretary & gave me prescription based on an email!

Best of luck!

J

[jrlhamcat2]

Thanks for the replies. It ended not being a problem and my GP who was previously uncomfortable with prescribing clonidine off-label was happy to prescribe it at Professor Chu's recommendation. I do have to see this GP privately now, though, as I moved out of the practice's catchment area and local GP services in area where I live now seem rather dire. So that means paying a little more, but I think it's probably worth it if I can avoid the hassle of setting up with another doctor who is likely totally unfamiliar with the use of these medications for skin flushing.