[Closed] How would you go about buying a months worth of prescription meds❓

Private prescription, any pharmacy.

If it's drops that the person already uses but can't access their own (UK) GP for a prescription, a pharmacy is allowed to make emergency supply (effectively as a proivate sale). They may take a bit of convincing but it is possible

(I imagine the same may be true for non UK residents but I don't know)

The obvious reasons for this would be:
- you are planning on travelling somewhere you won't be able to access them
- you are concerned about issues with supply in the not-too-distant future
- you really don't want to go outside and mingle with the public just as Covid hits the peak of wave 2.5

I'd have thought any of those your GP would have some understanding of, and unless there are specific safety or legal issues with supplying you a month's worth would be able to help.

You think 1 month will cover the impending car crash.....

Just ask your GP for the prescription, though if a month's longer than they usually prescribe for at a time they may be sensitive to the implications of everyone wanting to hold more than they usually would, for whatever reason.

You can buy many some "prescription" meds online without an actual prescription - just a declaration from you which a doctor or pharmacist will review. It might be a bit spendy depending on the actual meds because you'll be paying the retail rate.

Thanks guys, that's something to start with.

Online orders seems to be for more mundane therapies I think? If herpes could be defined as such.

I suspect the GP won't be up for allowing an extra months supply for the reason johnners states, it could set a "dangerous" precedent.

I'll ask the Boots I usually get the monthly prescription from and see. Though they are usually a bit unhelpful with anything a bit out of the ordinary.

nixie
Full Member
You think 1 month will cover the impending car crash…..

I agree mate but it's about all I can do as an individual at the moment. I feel a bit of a dick abbot effectively "jumping the queue" by even doing this but given the circumstances I'll live with it.

I take a prescription med; always request - and get - a 3 month supply.
Never been challenged by either GP or pharmacist.
From your previous posts I assume it's for your mother and there is an existing prescription; if that's right it should be nothing more than a quick chat with GP or receptionist - explain reasons and subsequent repeat prescriptions should be for 3 months supply.
I would suggest you specify 3 months supply of each item every time you submit a repeat prescription.

^^ Indeed it is Frank, I'll give it a go asking for a 3 month supply, they can only say no I suppose. Definitely worth a shot.

I use Latanoprost eye drops I have the prescription in 3 month batches, just ask GP it won't be a problem.

GP here. We generally prescribe 28 days of everything. CCG doesn’t like us to prescribe more as it leads to waste if prescriptions get changed.
We often prescribe early or extra for holidays. Maximum would be 3 months at a time. Not been much demand for that recently though for some reason...
However, over ordering because of shortages makes shortages worse- just like loo roll and pasta in lock down 1, and we were strongly advised by the powers that be to not do this.
The last year or two have seen medicines going unavailable at an alarming rate- frequent “manufacturer cannot supply” notifications on common, frequently prescribed drugs, and brexit hasn’t happened yet. There haven’t been any issues with glaucoma treatments that I’m aware of yet- but my mum has glaucoma too and I’m going to check she’s stocked up.
At the end of the day all you can do is ask the gp. We haven’t had any particular instructions not to let patients over order at the moment- primary care is busy trying to roll out the covid vaccine next week so everyone is concentrating on that.
Good luck!

I’ll ask the Boots I usually get the monthly prescription from and see. Though they are usually a bit unhelpful with anything a bit out of the ordinary.

Ask for the pharmacist, not the pharmacy advisor who will be on the counter and if they can help you out I’m sure they will. I’m not sure given current circumstances anyone will allow a stockpile of meds though.

(I used to be a pharmacy manager for Boots)

However, over ordering because of shortages makes shortages worse- just like loo roll and pasta in lock down 1, and we were strongly advised by the powers that be to not do this.

i.e. OP - We understand what you're doing but please don't, it makes it worse for everyone.

I've suggested to my Mum that she asks for 3 months on her next prescription. Stockpiling against shortage never occurred to me; maybe it's a bad time to ask. She lives in rural Cumbria and can only walk with a Zimmer, and actually getting the prescription to her every month is a worry. It's an anti-clotting med for stroke prevention and probably needed for life.

i.e. OP – We understand what you’re doing but please don’t, it makes it worse for everyone.

Free market innit? Just what the rabble in charge of this country are always proclaiming as the answer to everything.

Free market innit?

Not where NHS supplied prescription medicines are concerned.

I saw the word "buy" and thought of this - https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/buy-prescription-prepayment-certificate/start
May or may not be useful. Ignore if already have pre-paid (or don't need to pay)
🙂

Pharmacist here. Just on emergency supply, this is possible but as the name suggests is for emergencies and we are limited to the smallest possible amount that would get you through until you could get a prescption. If it was tablets that could be a single tablet. For eye drops it will be one bottle but you’ll never get 3 months without a prescription.

Otherwise agree with docrobster. Everything we’ve had from the DH procurement teams has been not to supply extra as this will create more problems than it solves.

I suspect the GP won’t be up for allowing an extra months supply for the reason johnners states, it could set a “dangerous” precedent.

They've been asked / ordered to reduce prescription periods to the minimum, my two-monthly prescription has been changed to monthly as a result of Covid / Brexit.

GP practice PM here, just echoing the comments of the other two; please don’t unless you absolutely have to. I understand you’re only trying to look after your mum, it’s natural, but glaucoma eye drops  aren’t going to be in short supply

I've got a bit of a 'stock' of my meds, but it's only due to me having forgot to take them on occasion - really hard to get a stock when you are on a new medication and it can be quite worrying. One of mine had supply issues 12 months ago.

We have to have repeated requests to the pharmacy for my son's insulin - fortunately we have enough at home, but it's two weeks of chasing,and re-visits every month. 'Oh it's not come in' - glib attitude to something if he didn't have he'd be dead quite quickly ! There are supply issues though. I don't get it why a pharmacy won't have something like this in stock when they have a regular patient in ordering it every month, or at least pre-order it just before it's due.

Stockpiling meds due to no deal Brexit fears... Who'd a thunk it? Makes the bog roll hoarders look positively sensible...

I suppose the real risk is that if a large number of people do the same, medicine shortage fears become a self fulfilling prophecy, and supply gets more significantly disrupted throughout Q1-21...

On the flip side, just how long (in terms of time) are the UK's drug supply chains?

I understand you’re only trying to look after your mum, it’s natural, but glaucoma eye drops aren’t going to be in short supply

It's not just supply... how will he get them for his mum if he has to self isolate or gets snowed in?

I take a prescription med; always request – and get – a 3 month supply.

I don't know why but anything non-tablet based (creams, drops, potions and lotions) docs seem reticent to prescribe in longer portions of time. When I've had tablet based prescriptions and planning to work away from home for extended periods my doc has been happy to prescribe two or three months worth.

My gf is prescribed a lotion for her scalp - which chemists seem unable to hold in stock so anytime it runs out is a dick-about getting hold of another bottle. She's asked to be able to have one bottle in use and one spare to bridge the time it takes to get a new prescription. Doc (same doc)  has refused because its in liquid form and not in fixed portions like tablets.

Just to add.... I hold Poop in very high regard for what he's doing, what he's going through and the care he's giving. One of the forum's true heroes

If he has to self isolate or gets snowed in?

so we’re just inventing imaginary scenarios are we now? You won’t have to self isolate for more than 14 days and no one in this country is going to snowed in for 3 months.

Plus if you sign up to the CoOp pharmacy service they will bring them to you at no extra cost...

Glaucoma is pretty routinely dispensed and held and there are loads of off patent versions available on the internet

there are loads of off patent versions available on the internet

This is very true - you should see the pharmaceutical cornucopia of products I order that arrives in my email spam folder.