How much medicine should you expect in one prescription?

[TopRenegade]

I have hayfever which affects me approx. 6 months of the year (starting around now as it happens). When I visit the doctor, sometimes he gives my a prescription for 4 weeks of hayfever tablets, sometimes its 8 weeks worth of tablets. Obviously I prefer a prescription for 8 weeks as it saves me money. Ideally though I'd like a prescription for 6 months - that's how long I need to take the things and then I'd save even more on prescription charges. OK, the 6 month thing is unlikely but what is the rule on this? - should I expect a prescription to last a month before I have to pay for another, or 2 months? Should it depend on the condition? Maybe you should only have enough tablets for 2 weeks? My point is - who makes these rules - or are there none - how can we tell if things are fair?

[sphrp2]

There's no "rule" as such. The surgery has to balance you having enough to treat your condition with justifying the amount they've given. A huge amount of medicines are wasted when people start a course of meds then stop or get changed to something else, so they tend not to give very big quantities. You can get a prescription prepayment form (a "season ticket") that might save you money if you regularly have prescriptions. The form is available at pharmacies.

[shelly]

I have no idea who decides how many pills etc we get on a prescription. I assume its the doctors we see at the time. When my back problem was at its worse and I needed medication sometimes I got enough pills for a month but if I saw a different doc the next time I asked for them to give me the most pills as possible at once to save me money as I wasn't working at the time and only getting SSP. He was very good and I think I got about 4-5 months worth.

I have no idea how much they cost but would it be worth you getting a 6 month pre-paid certificate? My Dad does this but then he's on heart meds for life. Might be worth looking into.

[TopRenegade]

It is not quite worth my while getting one of those prepay things. It's interesting though that there are apparently no rules and it is down to the doctor to decide how much money you are going to stump up in a year. I'm not complaining about my own situation really but I think this sounds potentially unfair.

[santana-mx3]

My doctor gives a month at a time but on a repeat prescription basis which restarts as soon as it ends. So I am covered for 6 months (or longer if needed) but do have to pay every month. Since I'm in Wales, the prescription price is low so having to pay each month isn't too bad. Besides, I remember a time when I used to be prescribed only a week or two at a time (but that was many years ago).

[ALI1973]

Dont know if this is appropriate for you, but I used to have an injection at the beginning of April which served me throughout the season (I never paid for this, was given it by the nurse) havent had it for a few years due to pregnancies and breast feeding. Personally it was fantastic, used to really suffer for months on end.

HTH Love Ali

[Art]

Generally GPs are 'advised' to prescribe one month's worth of tablets at a time, although they are free to adjust this period if they want to. If you are going on holiday for example most doctors will give you enough to cover this.

Also most doctors will want to see you occossionally to review your condition,even if you are getting repeat prescriptions without having to see the doctor most of the time.

Regards,
Art.

[love2save]

I used to have a Kenalog injection which was brilliant and took away all my symptoms....however none of the surgeries use it anymore and I now have the same problem with prescriptions for only 4 weeks.............

[wigginsmum]

I take 2 different painkillers and get 60 tablets in each prescription; one will last me roughly 2 weeks, the other will last me for several months. I have a prepayment certificate which saves me around £7/month, and my prescriptions are reviewed every year with the doctor.

[Savvy_Sue]

I recently got four tables on one prescription! :rotfl: But that was to see me through the night as I had to go back to hospital the next day to get checked out!

[tanith]

My doctor kindly gives me 3mths at a time , its for two different tablets so instead of me paying £39.00 I get them for £13.00 quite a saving.. I don't see that its any skin off their nose to give you more than a month at a time... But I suppose they have their reasons... It is also on a repeat prescription basis so I can usually repeat the prescription 4 or 5 times before the doc needs to see me again, unless of course I feel the need to have a checkup

[Art]

My doctor kindly gives me 3mths at a time , its for two different tablets so instead of me paying £39.00 I get them for £13.00 quite a saving.. I don't see that its any skin off their nose to give you more than a month at a time... But I suppose they have their reasons...

You'll find that doctors are generally instructed to limit the supply to a month at a time. This is to keep the cost of drugs to the NHS under control. I know some doctors prescribe over this but they may well get taken to task by their local health authority.

Regards,
Art.

[mentaljessie]

I think it depends on which primary care trust you live in and their procedures, the local PCT in which I live is 6 weeks worth of medication.

[muddled_midget]

The general rule is 28 days supply of medicine, although some doctors will extend to 56 days if you are going away or if it is a longterm condition requiring continuous medication, it is up to the dr. These limits are put in place to both reserve resources by trying to prevent stockpiling of tablets at home, as well as for safety, by keeping a closer check on the amount of presriptions ordered, for instance if someone was given a months prescription yet came back for another in 2 weeks saying they had run out it would suggest something was wrong and they weren't taking them correctly. However if they were given 6 months supply, it would be 3 months before they ran out, and after that length of time the damage done could be quite severe. Of course there is also the financial consideration of the prescription charges, but a huge proportion of prescriptions written are for exempt patients, where this is not the case and for these patients it actually costs more to give them one month at a time than 6 months
Hope this gives a rational explanation of why these systems are put in place, it honestly isn't to confuse you, and at least partly not to con more money out of you!
MM

[tanith]

I can see the value of only giving a month at a time and the checks that are then able to be made re the correct amount of drug being taken.. but I can also see how GP's realise that some of their patients simply struggle to pay for these prescriptions on a monthly basis and are simply trying to minimise the hardship and make sure that those struggling to pay do not go without essential drugs merely through financial hardship..
If I was retired , as I may soon be due to illhealth I would certainly struggle to pay out £13 on a monthly basis , and I am sure many others struggle and indeed go without...

[janthemum]

My meds used to be prescribed 28 days, with discussion with my doctor he was quite happy to change this to 56 days.

[angelatgraceland]

You could put it to your doctor that it would be moneysaving for the nhs to give you 2 months supply on one prescription because of the dispensing charge of each prescription to the NHS. Medical conditions change and all conditions should be monitored so I would think 2 months supply would be reasonable.

[ginger_nuts]

I get 2 types off antihistamine tablets every three months .If I was to get them every month it would be cheaper to buy over the counter rather than get a precription .
If I have to get a precription for a single (one of ) Item .I always ask if it is cheaper without prescription . I have found most pharmacy's will give the items without prescription if it is cheaper .I found Boots wont do this and try to sell me own brand stuff . I just avoid Boots .

[tango]

Doctors are meant to do 28 days supply,BUT they often do not,some people get 56 days,some 3 months,and some just plain silly amounts!!
Speak to your surgery,i managed to get 2 months instead of one ;)

[ginger_nuts]

Doctors are meant to do 28 days supply,BUT they often do not,some people get 56 days,some 3 months,and some just plain silly amounts!!
Speak to your surgery,i managed to get 2 months instead of one ;)I think it depends on the medicine you require and the doctor .I dont think a doctor would give you 3 months supply off sleeping tablets . I think you would be lucky to get 10 days supply .

[tango]

I think it depends on the medicine you require and the doctor .I dont think a doctor would give you 3 months supply off sleeping tablets . I think you would be lucky to get 10 days supply .
Hi i work in this area,and yes they do give alot more than 10 days supply of sleeping tablets ;)