Doctor can’t prescribe my codeine early for holiday as it’s a controlled drug?

[Emz2019]

Iv been on codeine for almost 2 years, 8 per day, (I have galllstones) I order my codeine and other medication to help with my stomach around every 10 days so they are ready to collect on day 14 as I get 14days worth at a time, we are going away for a week so I ordered yesterday so I can take them with me, the doctor called me and said I can’t get them until 17th whihc is Tuesday, I said I am going away, he said best he can do is print out my perscription and I can take it with me and find a nearby pharmacy on Tuesday, I told him I have no transport once I’m there and I will be in the middle of nowhere in a camping field, he checked the location and it’s 17 miles to the nearest pharmacy, he told me I can get a taxi there, I said I have a disabled child! Which of course he knows I’m sure it’s on my record that would have been on the screen at the time but he said he simply can’t prescribe it early because it’s a controlled drug….. I’m so confused I ordered early one time last year because I went away and there was no issue then, what’s all this controlled drug stuff all of a sudden? Is anyone else having the same issue?

Can you not order the day before your trip and says it’s emergency medication for your trip. They are doing the right thing in not releasing it Early. Also if you are taking that much codeine for gallstones you really need to have it taken out. I was only allowed codeine and morphine for 2 months before mine was taken out. It’s highly addictive.

When my surgery changed its policy on controlled drugs, they had signs up about certain pain relief not being prescribed anymore without consultant involvement and that other controlled drug procedures had changed.
It sounds like the Dr is doing the right thing by not releasing it early.

Iv had it out but stones remain in the bile ducts I’m waiting for an ERCP to flush out the ducts, apparently corners were skipped during my surgery. He just said I will not be able to get this script until 17th which is exactly 14 days after my last, however I often find the chemist takes 2 days to process prescriptions which is why I often order on day 10 as the doctors take 1-2days to approve then another 2 days for the chemist. I just don’t know why all of a sudden I’m not allowed to get them early

I take it this is the 30/500 Cocodamol and not the 8/500 one - as you can just buy the 8/500 one over the counter which might see you through? (Obviously won’t be as strong as the 30/500 one)!

It’s just 30mg codeine and I take 2 at a time, 4 times a day.

I think you are going to struggle to get them to be honest. The only other thing you could try is to ring 111 the day before you go and explain and see if they can send an urgent prescription through to your local pharmacy for you - perhaps a different Gp might prescribe them.

Did you mean to post in addiction support? You might get better responses if you report your post and ask for it to be moved to chat or elsewhere.

@Emz2019

It’s just 30mg codeine and I take 2 at a time, 4 times a day.

That's a huge amount of opiate, you're lucky to get as much as you've already been given

I take the same drug, and no restrictions. I get a month at a time

I have been to collect my prescription form the surgery and the date on the front is 17/08/2021 so I assume if I walk into a chemist with that they would see the date and not issue me it until 17th. We do leave tomorrow and it doctors closes at 6pm for the weekend so I feel I’m out of options now other than to attempt to look for a pharmacy 17miles from the camp site

You have very serious chronic pain and a disabled child and you are going camping in the middle of no where… brave!

It’s the rules and he can’t get around them

Is an op on the horizon op? Two years of that level of medication - that in itself is going to start to cause issues surely?

I’d take it in.
They’d have to be on the ball to check that

At least you know now re booking holidays next time

@Bagelsandbrie

I think you are going to struggle to get them to be honest. The only other thing you could try is to ring 111 the day before you go and explain and see if they can send an urgent prescription through to your local pharmacy for you - perhaps a different Gp might prescribe them.

Did you mean to post in addiction support? You might get better responses if you report your post and ask for it to be moved to chat or elsewhere.

Please don’t

111 isn’t there to try and help people with their holiday plans.

The idea of someone on hold to 111
Whilst a handler to dealing with this… no

Gosh that's a massive amount OP 😢

If you are on two weekly prescriptions presumably there is a reason for it? We do the same for some of our patients whilst others do get up to a month. Those on 2 weekly/7 day prescriptions would never be given meds such as opiates early as it is a sign of overuse and following one early supply, there are often requests for more due to “running out” of previous early supply.

I don’t think the GP is being unreasonable.

Just buy some codeine over the counter at a pharmacy. Try to save some of your stronger codeine for the holiday.

You can't go without on holiday as you'll experience awful withdrawal symptoms. Do not attempt to withdraw on holiday.

@Marmitemarinaded

The idea of someone on hold to 111 Whilst a handler to dealing with this… no

People ring 111 for prescriptions all the time

@Marmitemarinaded

I’d take it in. They’d have to be on the ball to check that

They'll notice. And if it's an electronic token rather than a paper prescription the computer will say no automatically anyway.

I have always been on 2 weekly prescriptions I’m not sure why and didn’t realise the amount I was taking was bad it’s just what the gp told
Me to take, Iv only ever ordered early once when going away last year and it was not an issue then, it would only be 4 days early out of 2 weeks, is it worth taking it somewhere today with it having a future date on?

@SmileyClare

Just buy some codeine over the counter at a pharmacy. Try to save some of your stronger codeine for the holiday.

You can't go without on holiday as you'll experience awful withdrawal symptoms. Do not attempt to withdraw on holiday.

Yes this good advice

@Marmitemarinaded

I’d take it in. They’d have to be on the ball to check that

It’s literally part of the job to check the date on a prescription and as others say if scanned on/electronic, system will flag automatically.

And yes I see surgeon in September for MRI scan to locate stones then ERCP to flush out the stones

Can't you get to a town at all while on holiday?

What are you going to do all day with a disabled child in a tent in the middle of nowhere? Surely you will be near a town with a pharmacy at some point?