Chemist said prescription has expired. ?

littlerock

I am due to have a minor procedure as day surgery in my local hospital next month. When I first went n for pre admission checks it was back in August and they found I had high blood pressure so it was deferred until next month.

Meanwhile my GP had given me a prescription for some lorezepam for a couple of days before the op as I get very nervous about these things. When it was deferred I did not collect the prescription immediately as I was moving house.

I went to the chemists today to pick it up and was told that the prescription, dated 12 august , had now expired and I needed a new one. I showed them the letter with a new October date for the op but that made no difference. I cannot see anything on the prescription saying it had a time expiry date and thought they usually lasted several months. Does lorezepam have a very short shelf life?

comeandgo

I think the actual prescription had expired, not the drugs use by date. If you had picked it up in August you would have got the drug. You need to get another prescription from your doctor.

Owain_Moneysaver

Lorezepam is a The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 Schedule 4 Controlled Drug.

A prescription for a Controlled Drug in Schedules 2, 3, or 4 is valid for 28 days from the date stated thereon (the prescriber may forward-date the prescription; the start date may also be specified in the body of the prescription).

https://bnfc.nice.org.uk/guidance/controlled-drugs-and-drug-dependence.html

molerat

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/how-long-is-a-prescription-valid-for/

littlerock

I took the prescription back to the surgery two days ago. I wrote a note for the doctor explaining it had expired and I needed a new one and enclosed it to show I had not used it.. I also enclosed an SAE.

This morning the SAE arrived back, containing the original now out of date prescription, just returned to me. No explanation. It is clearly now out of date as it is dated 12 august (assuming prescriptions for lorazepam only last a month,) so I don't know what is going on.

I suppose I shall have to write another note for the gp asking for a replacement, explaining I somehow got sent back the out of date prescription and ask for a correct one. It is a 30 minute journey by bus each way. Sigh.

comeandgo

Can you not phone your doctor? Or order the prescription on line if it's a repeat prescription?

suki1964

littlerock wrote: »

I took the prescription back to the surgery two days ago. I wrote a note for the doctor explaining it had expired and I needed a new one and enclosed it to show I had not used it.. I also enclosed an SAE.

This morning the SAE arrived back, containing the original now out of date prescription, just returned to me. No explanation. It is clearly now out of date as it is dated 12 august (assuming prescriptions for lorazepam only last a month,) so I don't know what is going on.

I suppose I shall have to write another note for the gp asking for a replacement, explaining I somehow got sent back the out of date prescription and ask for a correct one. It is a 30 minute journey by bus each way. Sigh.

Im pretty certain you won't get a new prescription until you see your GP again