UK DRUG PURCHASING – How to do it.

So now you need to decide where to buy your drugs.

You can either buy direct from your clinic, or buy them in the UK. It seems easy to do, but it takes a bit of time and patience to buy in UK. But remember you have a CHOICE. You could save hundreds of pounds shopping around. Be clever about it.

What do I need to get?

Your clinic will tell you of course. But here are the main 3 drug steps in a normal IVF cycle.

1. The Stimulation Drug (FHS) – as advised

2. Preventing Ovulation Drug - taken when advised

3. After treatment drug - taken when advised

How do I get them if buying in UK?

Your clinic needs to give you a prescription of drugs and approximate amounts. If you are buying them in the UK then take it to the Doctors to get an ENGLISH Prescription (sometimes known as underwriting the prescription). 

NOTE: Getting your GP to do this can be a little hard work, as not all GP’s understand (or like) this process. So, make sure you have the English brand names for the drugs on your foreign prescription. Your clinic should do this for you.

Once you have your new prescription, and then contact your chosen pharmacy to order the drugs. They will need the original prescription, so take a copy for your records. Only then will a pharmacy issue the drugs to you. This process can take a few days, but can courier the drugs overnight if you are in an emergency. (Some drugs may need special couriers as they need to be kept cold remember)

How are the drugs sold?

The stimulation drugs are sold in vials of 75iu Ampoules. (A vial is a glass bottle; an ampoule is a sealed container for drugs that need injecting)

You can normally buy them in batches of 5 x 75iu or 10 x 75iu ‘packets’, depending on what your prescription is.

How to contact to get them?

The contact details for the main pharmaceuticals are below. Call them for prices. They may ask what clinic or location you are in, because sometimes the drug companies and the IVF clinic have a price agreement and so you may have to buy at a specific price. (This is more of the case with UK clinics rather than clinics abroad, but check just in case).

How much?

It varies! So it seriously pays to shop around! You can save hundreds in a simple phone call. I did.

A warning :

Do not buy any drugs from chat rooms or discussion websites - it's tempting for people to sell their left over drugs to you, but you can't be 100% certain they are perfect - Now isn't the time to cut corners really...

PHARMACY & CHEMISTS (in alphabetical order)

Applied Dispensary Service (ADS)
Healthcare at home
Pharma Service Division
Junction Close
Green Lan industrial Park
Feathertone
West Yorkshire
WS7 6ER
Tel: 0800 328 5323
www.healthcareathome.co.uk (general site, not fertility really)

Calea Uk Limited
6 Christleton Court
Stuart Road
Manor Park
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 1 ST
Tel: 0870 749 2020
Fax: 0870 749 2024

Clinovia Ltd
PO Box 26
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 8YA
Tel: 01279 456705
www.clinovia.co.uk

Pharmasure Ltd
28 Watford metro Centre
Dwight Road
Watford
WD18 9SB
www.pharmasure.co.uk
Tel. 01923 233 466
Fax. 01923 233 113

Rigcharm Pharmacy (Mr Ali)
93 Watney Street
Stepney
London
E1 2QE
Tel: 0207 790 9150

West Town Chemist
63-65 Mayors Walk
Peterborough
PE3 6EX
Tel: 01733 564144
Fax: 01733 311150

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ltd (They don’t sell direct to customers)
www.ferring.co.uk
Tel: 0870 240 0518

HIGH STREET CHEMISTS

You can also get through these high street places, and the same rules apply for a UK prescription.

Boots The Chemist - www.boots.com/homePage/BootsHome.html

Rowlands Pharmacy - www.rowlandspharmacy.co.uk/

Moss Pharmacy at Waitrose - www.alliancepharmacy.co.uk/index.php?link=home

Morrisons - www.morrisons.co.uk/150.asp

Tesco - www.tesco.com/health/services/?page=pharmacy

Asda - www.asda.co.uk