Thealoz in UK

[Rosie]

Hi all,
I would love to know what pros/cons other dry eye sufferers have experienced with Thealoz Drops. I was diagnosed with sjogrens ten years ago, started using Thealoz in the last few weeks; at first I thought it was great stuff, but unfortunately I have had a bout of conjunctivitis and a stye since then, not sure if its a co-incidence. My doctor refuses to prescribe Thealoz, and as its much more expensive than my usual OTC drops even on Amazon, I was also wondering if anyone else can get it on the NHS in the UK?

[Tillykins]

Hi, I wrote to the company and they sent me a bottle to try free

My optician recommend it to me as it's preservative free
Not sure it's helped tho, I find it burns to start with

[littlemermaid]

Google 'NHS formulary eye drops' and the name of your health trust to find out what is available locally as standard and what the alternatives are. Also Moorfields Pharmaceuticals do a list of 'specials', and hospital trust pharmacies have more meds easily available, like Azyter or cyclosporine.

Once they are prescribed by Consultant Ophthalmologists it is more difficult for the GP not to fork out. I find it makes a huge difference in attitude which GP in the practice you see. One, Practice partner, phoned me on the mobile to query the prescription my child had had 4y 'I can't justify the cost of these eyedrops to the CCG' (her eye condition is iatrogenic, his prescription). So we saw a Locum GP there, who said 'you don't need to see me, this is repeat, I'm not going to interfere with the Specialist's advice'. Hmm. They really are that bad...

Local NHS formularies recommend standard drops (all have different recommendations) unless the patient is 'allergic' or has a reaction, in which case it is not easy for a GP to justify not paying. If they don't just sign it off, the next step is to put a request to the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) Drugs Committee (they are guided in commissioning by a local ophthalmology commissioning group ie senior consultants and optometrists). I would like to pay the NHS negotiated price if meds are refused on NHS budget (eg search 'Hyloforte NHS price', the British National Formulary NHS price £9.50 http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/formulary...ate/hylo-forte whereas high street it's £17+).

I spoke to Lloyds Head Office about this and they suggested getting a private prescription (eg GP, consultant, anyone), bulk-buying, and negotiating a discount with a pharmacist. Plus there is no VAT on private prescriptions. Some high street pharmacies, supermarket in particular, are tied to particular suppliers and can't order in or negotiate on price.

Interestingly, hospital trust Medicines Management Committees can be approached about buying pharmaceuticals or blood products at a negotiated price, on prescription from one of their employees. My understanding is that private patients pay the NHS price. There is a particular strong case when the local CCG or GP will not pay NHS on a hospital consultant's prescription in order to force the hospital trust to pay for what they would like to regard as specialist meds.

HM Gov VAT exemption for medical need http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...yType=document

It's probably easier to go to France

Healthwatch and Citizens Advice Bureau are working very well together, sharing information and staff, so anyone who has been refused prescribed meds on NHS budget should go there first for advice and local knowledge.