Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What’s the normal amount of medication given on a repeat prescription

46 replies

Worriedmother666 · 01/03/2021 13:30

I’ve just started a new medication that will be on repeat dispensing. I’ve been given one months supply. I remember when I was on medication in the past I was given two months has this been changed to save money? Friend of mine told me it’s more common to given fortnightly or monthly now due to medication wastage. Is this the case?

OP posts:
claireb7rg · 01/03/2021 13:36

I get all my regular long term meds a month at a time.
Due to one of the meds I am on I get free prescriptions so I don't pay for any of them.

My gp will not increase for more than 1 month

Dollywilde · 01/03/2021 13:40

My husband gets a month at a time, but my dad only gets his fortnightly - I think it’s because one of my dad’s is a controlled medication.

LIZS · 01/03/2021 13:41

It may depend on what it is, how long you have been on it and what the daily dose is.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
QueenPaw · 01/03/2021 13:43

Depends. Some of mine are monthly, some 2-3 months

EBearhug · 01/03/2021 13:43

Mine are about 6 weeks. I get other meds with it which are about 8 weeks worth, so next time I reorder, I will leave that off.

They did do a double lot when I said I would be on holiday when the next lot were due.

WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo · 01/03/2021 13:44

I get 8 weeks at a time.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/03/2021 13:45

Yes, normally monthly.

I get one of my medications 3 monthly but that’s unusual and only because it has to be sent to me direct from the hospital. The hospital used to do me 3 monthly prescriptions to keep me going between check ups and the local pharmacist was a bit grumpy about dispensing 3 months worth and said it wasn’t usual practice. Now they just post the meds direct to me!

NeedToGetOuttaHere · 01/03/2021 13:45

I was given one month at a time and then after about 10 months I emailed my doctor and asked to have it changed to 2 months at a time which is what I get now.

MrsAvocet · 01/03/2021 13:46

Our surgery will never give more than a month at a time.

TroysMammy · 01/03/2021 13:50

Controlled drugs are now monthly. With other meds some people are on monthly or two monthly. What annoys me greatly is a patient is on a mix of monthly and 2 monthly because someone didn't look at the frequency and quantity of their other meds before adding new meds or amending dosages.

Duckyneedsaclean · 01/03/2021 14:34

General practice is to give 4 weeks worth. Some GPs will up it to 8 weeks if they're nice/know you pay for prescriptions.

Kitkat151 · 01/03/2021 14:43

2 monthly for all of mine

Athinginitself · 01/03/2021 14:49

All of mine are 2 monthly now, they tend to out things on monthly to start with and then move them over to 2 monthly.

OneNightTimeMenaceStrikesBack · 01/03/2021 14:58

ive got a mix, some thing i get 8 weeks worth and others that are controlled medications, i only get 4 weeks worth at a time. it can be a bit awkward remembering which comes when but its just how it is

minniemoocher · 01/03/2021 15:00

28 days is typical. I managed to get 56 days out of my gp but I'm on a medication that some people take double the dose so the computer let her - she explained that it's meant to be one prescription charge per item for 28 days

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 15:01

My son has a liver transplant and is on a lot of different medications. He only gets a monthly amount.
I get my Levothyroxine for my thyroid for 3 months from the same surgery.
It must depend on the drug.

Redglitter · 01/03/2021 15:07

I get my repeat prescriptions every 2 months

DimOndCadwAnadlu · 01/03/2021 15:13

Depends on the drug and reason for prescription but generally they prefer not to have long running prescriptions because of the amount of wastage if there's a change to the dosage/patient's condition because all non-used medicines have to be destroyed - they cannot be re-dispensed legally.

Destroying 3 months worth of medicine is a massive waste, especially in countries where we have free prescriptions.

Ignoremeiaminvisible · 01/03/2021 15:22

I have been on repeat medication for some years now, it has always been 56 days, at the end of last year I was told it would now be every 28 days as that was government advice because of the brexit deal.

Rememberallball · 01/03/2021 15:30

28 days only of all my medications except for one that, some months, comes with 2 removed from the prepackaged box of 30 capsules and other months comes with 30 in - and there’s no rhyme or reason as to whether I get 28 or 30 in the pack. Also, if you’re late for a medication review, they’ll only prescribe 7 days worth until you’ve had the review.

Where I used to live I got 3 months at a time. It’s all down to the CCG (can’t remember what they’re called now!)

sueelleker · 01/03/2021 16:22

Most of my husband's meds are supplied in 3 monthly installments, but I can only order when he's got less than 2 weeks supply left. The other one is a controlled drug, and can only be supplied monthly.

HildegardNightingale · 01/03/2021 20:05

I get my repeats on a 3 monthly basis. I don’t pay for them due to the type of meds I receive.
DH gets his repeats on a 2 monthly basis. He pays for his.
Same GP practice.

8090sTv · 01/03/2021 21:22

I picked up a 2 month one,it is on repeat until August. Its ADs so they probably figure lockdown is going on for a while.

I want to get my new inhaler on 2 monthly, will ask about it.

8090sTv · 01/03/2021 21:24

If you need monthly meds Prepayment Certificate is your friend.

Practicalprat · 01/03/2021 21:57

I get 2 months because I asked for it in on one of my my repeat requests.
Also thyroid for 3 months and dr gave me a prepayment certificate/card because thyroid is lifelong drug ..... or something like that. Anyway didn’t have to pay for it. And this means all my meds are free which seems a bit cheeky but there you go.