Can a GP halve a repeat prescription without discussing it first?

[MapsandLegends]

Has anyone ever had their GP cut their prescription in half without any consultation? This happened a while ago, I was getting 28 tablets and the next prescription said 14. No one seems to know why and if they can actually do this without consulting with me first? I've had 28 tablets for years.

Mine's done this as i hadn't gone in for my blood tests. It was a fair cop, and I haven't done it since, so nor have they.

This happened to me years ago. The gp halved the number of tablets. I rejected it and explained to reception that I have to pay double for 2 prescriptions a month when it used to be one prescription for a months worth. They understood and changed it back again. It turned out to be just a mistake. Talk to the receptionist and ask for it to go back to normal.

They are trying to wean you off them I would say. Some GP's won't even prescribe sleeping tablets. Do you take one every night.

You are taking an addictive medication and find it stressful worrying about running out. That’s addiction. Please make an appointment to speak with the GP so this can be managed properly.

And stuff that actually might be quite detrimental to someone's health.

If they want to tweak they should review in person and do a full work up as specified for the drug in question.

I'd assume BP means bloods, and 5 days BP readings before and 3 weeks after the change if indicated by the original 5.

So you’ve told them you’re suicidal and you wondered why they have reduced your sleeping tabs from 28 to 14?
They are worried you are at risk of taking the lot in one go.
You probably have tachyphylaxis and are no longer getting the same response anyway.

Yes they do
In fact sleeping tablets and antidepressants are drugs where tachyphylaxis is well documented, no one is talking about you personally , if you take them sporadically then that wont apply " not every night"
Doctors have a duty of care to patients which includes safe prescribing not handing out drugs on demand

I was told recently they are not allowed to prescribe more than 14 sleeping tablets. I suspect they’ve done a review of patients getting more.

Was it your usual GP who did the prescription? Do you have an online admin query service on your GPs website. If so I’d be querying why your prescription has changed without any notice or discussion about reducing, if that’s what they’re trying to do? My amitriptyline script was wrong recently so ran out before I could re-order online, seems the pharmacist at the GP had written the script and miscalculated how many I needed … was easily sorted out. Good luck and hope the private GP is better if you go that route

Yeah NICE guidelines now say: Sleeping tablets should only be prescribed for a few days, and absolutely no longer than 2 to 4 weeks (including the time it takes to taper off the medication).

And NHS site says: GPs now rarely prescribe sleeping pills to treat insomnia. Sleeping pills can have serious side effects and you can become dependent on them. Sleeping pills are only prescribed for a few days, or weeks at the most.

It's all shortest time possible and lowest effective dose. They should have a follow-up review with you though to help you taper off and find alternatives, exactly so you won't go straight online for your supply.

You posted about this months ago didn't you? What did your surgery say when you asked them about it?