To ask for (repeat) prescription for me during child's GP appointment?

[TammySwansonTwo]

I need to take my twins to the GP on Monday - one has an eye issue, the other potentially a chest infection.

I am on longterm medication but as one is a controlled drug it's quite a ballache to get as a repeat (go all the way there to drop off a request, pick it up and sign for it two days later, take it to chemists who order it in, then go back a day later to pick it up). With twins, let alone poorly ones, it's a challenge involving a bus journey and a walk each time (they're a really good Surgery so don't want to move, it's not far just awkward to get to involving a massive hill and no direct bus). This time the repeats have run out anyway so will have to be issued by a doctor in person (or maybe over the phone).

I don't want to waste an entire precious appointment just going in and getting regular prescriptions. Having said that, I don't know if it's massively out of order to ask them to just print off my prescription while I'm already in there with my boys - I don't know if this affects their funding or something as well (e.g. they wouldn't be paid for having seen me)?

Would it be okay to ask? Really don't want to be any trouble to them but it would save me a massive amount of time and energy that I don't really have.

@Delilah21D00LoT thank you for such a thoughtful and informative post - it's massively appreciated

My tone was almost certainly less than helpful in my post - shitty was a very poor choice of words, and I know rules are rules and are there for a reason. Esp in my deprived area of London where there are issues around drug dependency, so entirely understandable

The worry comes with doing anything that could have me marked down as suspicious, I live in fear of being considered a non compliant patient as far as opioids are concerned. I can't submit the repeat request early because then I'll get marked down as a drug seeker. But then because the pharmacy has to then order the meds after I've collected the script, there can be a gap of a good few days between requesting the repeat and collecting the meds, meaning I can end up rationing them at the end of the month. Not sure what the best solution would be?

Controlled medications usually cause addiction - so this is another reason for strict monitoring.

Do they though? My pain consultant says this is very rarely the case and it's a constant struggle with GPs refusing to prescribe opioids because of fears of addiction.

There's a massive difference between tolerance, dependence and addiction

Almost all patients taking opioids will develop tolerance (this is not addiction)
Many will develop dependence (this is not addiction)
Addiction is a psychological problem with misuse of drugs - which my pain team say a minority of patients develop

Totally agree that opioids have be carefully managed and monitored, but I'm circumspect about the no of patients who become addicted (rather than tolerant or dependent)

@bananafish81
They should let you request your drug 4 or 5 days early - it's generally when people are requesting controlled medications 2 or 3 weeks early that it would be 'flagged up'.

They wouldn't want you going without. So usually they would request 2 full working days to process and then your pharmacy would request the same, it should then even it out.

Many surgeries do work differently and it may be worth asking your Receptionist or Prescriber what the best solution is so that it helps you and takes the stress away for you and them.

Try pharmacy 4 u .it's free and will drop your free medication to your home .hassles

Thanks everyone. As I say, in the past they've been happy to prescribe for one twin while seeing the other when it's a regular item so I know it's possible, just depends on time and other circumstances on the day.

I know they're not trying to be difficult with the collection thing, I just hate wasting their time really - my diagnosis is longstanding and not going anywhere so there's never really anything to discuss beyond me saying "yes, it's still shit", "yes, the pain is still unbearable", I feel like all I ever do in appointments is moan and cry. They can't actually do anything to help anyway, so it's even more frustrating for everyone involved. I don't go very often, only if there's something new and concerning going on.

I guess they must have introduced these new guidelines too - although it would have been useful for them to tell me that, rather than holding my prescription until I went to collect it from the pharmacy to find it wasn't there. I will speak to them about any other options but I guess it's just going to be another massive pain in the arse!

Just be aware, ordering controlled drugs online can still be a bit of a ball ache. I'm on Tramadol, even this when requested online requires a trip to the drs to sign for it (thankfully as being a patient for so long they allow pharmacy next door to sign), chemist to id me, OH, or (adult) DD before handing over.

Worth double checking. I'm sorry you're having health issues and should deffo ask x