Random prescription qu

[whensmynexthol1day]

Those on long term medication - how many months worth do you get per prescription?
I have a feeling I used to get 3, but now only get 2 - but I may have totally mis remembered!

I have 3 different medications all out of sync for some reason so it feels like I'm always having to think about how much I have left, doing a request going to the pharmacy- it feels never ending!

Just wondering what the norm was. I appreciate this way they get more money out of me so I probably just have to put up with it! But my gripe isn't really about the money- it's the hassle- 8 weeks comes around so quickly!

I only get 2 months at a time with the exception of gabapentin which us prescribed monthly as its a controlled drug

Mine has also changed since lockdown from 2 months to 3 months, my Dhs has stayed at 2 months.

I used to get eight weeks, but recently they've changed it to every four weeks. This is a drug that I've been on for years and will be on for life and the dosage doesn't change. It's a bit more hassle to remember to order it each month and I can't see how the nhs are benefiting from it, I thought there were costs for issuing each prescription so it would be in their interests to issue 6 a year rather than 12. I have a pre-payment certificate so they get the same amount of money from me over the year.

Mine's 2 months, used to be 3. Can't remember when it changed, tho.

Only 28 days worth at a time. Our doctors won't give any more.

I get 2 months worth but I get it delivered via Pharmacy2U. You get notifications via your phone to reorder and they do it all for you. Cuts out all the constant visits to the GP.

I take two different tablets and get a repeat prescription every 8 weeks. Not seen a doctor or a nurse all year (no need but would usually be getting BP checked annually plus annual blood test).

It completely depends on what the medication is and the risks associated with abuse of it

I am not on any long term medication. However my GP was happy to give me 3 months worth of iron supplements per prescription (3 boxes), and also a few boxes of acne/eczema cream per prescription which would last 3-4 months. Obviously these are minor prescriptions in the grand scheme so they were fine about it.

If cost is an issue, get a prepayment certificate or see if you’re eligible for help with health costs

If the hassle of going to the pharmacy frequently is an issue, just get it delivered instead (usually free).

There may be pharmacies that allow repeat prescriptions to automatically be requested.

If you’re finding it hard to keep up, your pharmacist can prepare your medications for you in a “medipack”

I appreciate this way they get more money out of me so I probably just have to put up with it

If you need even 2 prescriptions per month, you should get a prepayment certificate for about a tenner a month by direct debit so that sorts out the cost aspect of it.

But the 'never in sync' is annoying. DP has all the 'unhealthy middle aged man' medications for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol and it seems like he has to put a new prescription in every week almost.

Mine are all on monthly repeat
It's a pain as I have to phone a general ordering line for several surgeries and takes a few days to get through!

I get 6 different medications and am exempt as on ESA but if I wasn't I would certainly buy a pre payment card

I get most of mine monthly which is a pain in the bum. The exception is my HRT which is for three months.

I have a pre payment certificate which cost £104 for a year, but I then get all my prescriptions ‘free’ for a year. I’ve saved a fortune doing it this way. You can pay it off monthly or all in one go. For example I had an ear infection last month and ended up with four different prescriptions which would have cost me £36.60! You can get one for 3 months too. Worth looking at getting one if you need more than 12 prescriptions a year.

Ask your practice to sync up your prescriptions, get a pre-payment certificate and sign up to an online pharmacy. :-)

Your surgery may be able to do a balancing script for you if you count up how many tablets of each you've got and then work out how many you need to bring everything into sync. It's more hassle for them to do your script this way so I'd only recommend it if your meds are really stable and you're not due a review any time soon, as they're unlikely to do it for you again if things change!

i get 8 weeks worth of tyroxine at a time

Ask if they can do a one off prescription that will give you less but will get them all on the same rhythm.

They like to prescribe less months of medication where doses can change now. If they give you 3 months but after one month your prescription changes that's 2 months worth of medication wasted. If they give you less there is less waste of something changes.

If you have a lot of prescriptions then a prepayment certificate can make it cheaper.

I have asthma and normally get my medication 2 months at a time. However, I’m now having to get it monthly - according to our GP’s receptionist asthma medicines are being rationed since so many more people now need them due to Covid

Thanks everyone. I think @BimbleWimble has summed it up perfectly! I for some reason though that pharmacies would only deliver to the vulnerable - but sounds like that isn't the case so I'll look into that. And evening up the prescription is a good idea- my prescription should at least stay the same until I see my consultant next which won't be for 6 months at least.

Yes mine has changed since the first lockdown as well. I used to get given 6 or 12 months at a time but now it’s on repeat dispensing and the pharmacy are holding onto 12 months worth and I have to pick up another lot every month. Seems very odd and a waste of everyone’s time.

Used to be 3 months. Now Dp has to beg and plead for a couple of weeks of insulin.

Gets told he shouldn’t stockpile it.

He isn’t . If anything he wishes he had as he has been known to have to go to A&E for an injection when they have then stuffed up his prescription and it hasn’t been filled

I have 5 tablets that are ordered every 4 weeks. Sometimes gp will give 2 months of one medication and not the others. So when I put in a repeat request I have to check online what the previous order was. It's all a bit confusing.