Fortiseps

[hainman]

i asked my GI for something to help me put some weight back on as im loosing it rapidly and i was told i would get fortiseps(not sure if spelling is correct)
anyway the doctors fone me this morning to say that new laws wont allow them to prescribe this stuff anymore and i have to take ensure,what exactly is the problem in the UK that is stopping the prescribing of this fortisep stuff now????

 

[Beach bum]

I found this online, apparently written by a doctor, hope it helps...

"Fortisip is fairly easily available even EBay had some! In many areas it is no longer prescribeable by GPs and can only be issued by dietitians after a full assessment. This is because so much of it was prescribed inappropriately in the past."

 

[rygon]

Assuming that is it possible you can speak to the hospital dietician to get some help hainman?

 

[rob101]

I get mine through my dietician .

 

[hainman]

thanks guys,looks like a plan,the ensure is pretty rough,esp the orange,only resemblance of orange is the colour......

 

[kiny]

I used to take fortimel, it's the same thing from Nutricia. Only issue is that it's super heavy because of the high concentrations of low quality casein and all the sugar. If you can tolerate it it's nice, but because it's so heavy I didn't like it at all.

 

[kiny]

anyway the doctors fone me this morning to say that new laws wont allow them to prescribe this stuff anymore and i have to take ensure,what exactly is the problem in the UK that is stopping the prescribing of this fortisep stuff now????

that makes no sense, there is nothing special in fortimel or fortisip, it's just casein protein wtih sugar and vitamins. It's nothing special, the same thing is in most protein bars.

 

[kiny]

I found this online, apparently written by a doctor, hope it helps...

"Fortisip is fairly easily available even EBay had some! In many areas it is no longer prescribeable by GPs and can only be issued by dietitians after a full assessment. This is because so much of it was prescribed inappropriately in the past."

lol, there is nothing in fortimel or fortisip that requires a prescription, don't know what stupid laws those are but there is nothing in those drinks that makes them special, they're just drinks like any other sports drink

 

[rob101]

Think its mainly down to the cost that the gp's can't prescribe, not whats in them.

 

[kiny]

Think its mainly down to the cost that the gp's can't prescribe, not whats in them.

ah, money, I should have known

 

[hainman]

yip money makes the world go round haha
i spoke to the gp yesterday and that was the reason he gave,must be the cheaper option....im not paying for any of it so if its not on prescription then i will just take the FREE equivalent......

 

[highlandsrock]

I was put Fortisip pre and post operation. 3 bottles a day @ around £3 a go = £270/month all on prescription. It was worth buying a pre-payment card as I was on them for many months. Depends on your taste buds but I found three flavours that I actually liked - chocolate, banana and toffee.

There is also a sister product called Fortijuice which doesn't contain fibre.

 

[hainman]

I don't pay for prescriptions in Scotland so I will go see the dietitian and get them to prescribe them.i liked them as like you say they tasted ok,compared to the ensure which has 8 flavours and 7 of them are rotten

 

[highlandsrock]

I knew there was an advantage of living in Scotland!

 

[hainman]

That's one of the reasons.......

 

[littlemissh]

Your GP can prescribe fortisips...he's telling fibs...but generally they prefer to do under the directions of dieticin. If however a GI has advised them ...he can prescribe.
My GP has prescribed them and also fortijuice because I can't have fortisips now.

The best milky ones BY FAR (I think)are resource energy drinks- I like the banana and chocolate ones. They happen to be cheaper as well.

 

[hainman]

thanks littlemiss,it was the ibd nurse who suggested putting me on the fortiseps but the gp changed the goal posts by using the excuse they couldnt prescribe them,now i know its BS and down to whats cheapest and boggin tasting,i might go into speak with them and tell them im ill taking them and want the ones i was prescribed by the hospital.the juice ones are awfull and its a struggle to drink one never mind 2-3 a day,where do i source the resource energy ones??

 

[littlemissh]

I got them from my gp who prescribes whatever I ask for as he knows it has come via the dietician or ibd nurse. The resource drinks he said were actuàlly cheaper.
Supplement drinks are classified as borderline substances and are only allowed to be prescribed for certain conditions- ibd is one of those as is ongoing weight loss etc so don't let him not prescribe if hospital had advised. Suggest he checks his BNF for the criteria if he is reluctant.

 

[rob101]

The dietician has just written to my GP to prescribe another months worth to see if i can get my weight up. Maybe you should ask for a referal to see a dietician as they may be able to help .

 

[hainman]

i need to look into it more as it was my ibd nurse who requested i have them and the gp that refused

 

[Absentminded]

I'm currently on a six week liquid diet. I have to drink 7 fortisips a day.
My dietitian arranged it, and then my GP prescribed them, no problems.
I've had 160 bottles already and just filled a repeat prescription for 160 more.

I hope you manage to get it sorted out soon!

 

[CheerBear12]

I got mine through my dietitian as well but you can get them from boots hope this helps xx

 

[Pointy_ears]

I loved strawberry and mocha fortisip when I was in hospital! I kind of miss them now I'm out but still glad the dietician doesn't think I need them any more.

 

[CheerBear12]

I understand I get free prescriptions in uk xx

 

[rob101]

Have you asked the IBD nurse to write a letter to your GP as I think they will not prescribe them otherwise. Good luck!