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?

@Emz2019

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?

If you try to do that and get caught the pharmacist will flag it to your GP. Not worth it- especially if it's a barcoded prescription.

@Bryonyshcmyony

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?

I’m curious too.

Are you going alone?

How are you getting there? Presumably driving if on middle of no where

I’m struggling to see why going to the town is so difficult

Why won’t you have any transport when you get there? If so, how will you get there in first place?

The pharmacist will also circle the date in case you try to present it at another chemist. If you're really unlucky an alert will go out to all local pharmacies.

The amount you are taking isn't "bad" OP, but it's the max recommended dose.

Your gp must realise if you've been on thst dose for 2 years you will be addicted

People saying don’t ring 111 for this - you do realise 111 is the right number to ring for prescription issues or for issuing prescriptions if you can’t access them in your usual way? I don’t know why people are being so unpleasant. Is it because it’s Codeine and people assume it’s somehow not essential or that there must be an addiction issue? What about if the op had chemo medication or some other vital medication that she couldn’t do without over her holiday? Would that be okay?!

@Bagelsandbrie

People saying don’t ring 111 for this - you do realise 111 is the right number to ring for prescription issues or for issuing prescriptions if you can’t access them in your usual way? I don’t know why people are being so unpleasant. Is it because it’s Codeine and people assume it’s somehow not essential or that there must be an addiction issue? What about if the op had chemo medication or some other vital medication that she couldn’t do without over her holiday? Would that be okay?!

111 isn't a fallback option for when your GP refuses medication!

Well that's odd! I'm on Buprenorphine (10x strength of Morphine) Transdermal Patches which are a controlled drug and I've been given some early for holiday. Try a different doctor?

It is perfectly fine to ring 111 with prescription issues

@HmmmmmmInteresting not a fallback option but a second opinion!

Ok so if it’s not the rules

The doctor has decided
For some reason
He doesn’t want to prescribe the OP early

We don’t know they whys etc
But I suspect he will have very valid reasons

@Bryonyshcmyony

It is perfectly fine to ring 111 with prescription issues

Op doesn’t have a prescription issue - she has a convenience issue. Unless she’s being dropped in by helicopter, there’s no way she’s 17 miles from the nearest town with no means of getting there, especially with a disabled child.

Op

I have just checked you history fgs

You started a thread about how worried you are that you are addicted to codeine.

THAT is why he has taken this stance
A good doctor by the sounds of jt

If I got a taxi and traveled the 17 miles I could but my autistic and disabled child would go absolutely crazy if we had to go into a shop of any sort, he’s 4 almost 5, he’s been diagnosed with autism and sever global developmental delays, so I never take him shopping, this get away was all for him to do something nice with him as he misses out on a lot so o thought camping in the middle of nowhere, no people
Around us all that room run around freely he really would be in his element. He’s also deaf and non verbal, but I just knew he would
Love the camping

Is it just the two of you?

If so OP you are going to need to manage this because you cannot withdraw in a tent in the middle of nowhere with sole charge of a child with significant SEN

In fact I'd cancel

Sorry I've just seen he's deaf and non verbal

Although I think your motives are good you really shouldn't be doing this without the codeine

How are you getting there? Do you have a friend who could watch your boy while you get a taxi

There's nothing to stop OP calling 111 but you do know that they send a report to your GP outlining the details of the consultation?

OP's GP is obviously concerned about an addiction issue.

@Bryonyshcmyony

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?

This is what I was wondering?

The OP started a thread worried about

ADDICTION to codeine

By offering advice to how to get around this - you are assisting an addict

Do you think you need to get some help for your codeine addiction? Bile duct stones don’t cause constant pain when they’re not impacted (in fact they are commonly asymptomatic). Someone taking regular codeine for that would ring alarm bells for me.

@HmmmmmmInteresting

There's nothing to stop OP calling 111 but you do know that they send a report to your GP outlining the details of the consultation?

OP's GP is obviously concerned about an addiction issue.

The report has to be sent to the surgery by 8am the next day. So it will be in the GP's inbox before OP has even left for holiday.

OP I only say this to be truthful, not at all in a judgemental way - if your gp is only willing to issue 14 day scripts for codiene and is unwilling to issue a few days early, I'd say you're likely to be addicted and your gp is very aware. With regards to the prescription itself, the date will be checked at the pharmacy for all medications by the dispenser and then by the pharmacist, but for a 14 day rx for an opiate will be checked very, very carefully.

DH was on a lot of controlled drugs before he died and they used to give him a month's supply at a time which was stupid because I had to return almost a full month's worth to be destroyed so it obviously can be done.

Hi there, you are only just back from this week's camping trip, if I recall correctly? Withdrawing in a field won't be easy and with 3 children to manage, one with complex needs, no, not a good idea.