How much medicine should you expect in one prescription?

Art_2

tanith wrote:

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

tango wrote:

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

ginger_nuts wrote:

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