I have a repeat prescription, which my local pharmacy kept when I first took it in. Why do they do that and not keep a photocopy???
Anyway, I have a photocopy of it that I took myself. Can I use that photocopy at another pharmacy (which I’ll be passing tomorrow)? Or am I tied in purely to the one that took the original?
Thanks
I also scan the originals at home so I have a copy before I take it into the pharmacy if I can, but sometimes we go direct from the GP to the pharmacy so I ask them to photocopy it for me.
Can’t see why you wouldn’t be able to use it. If they’re not sure they can contact your GP for confirmation.
Yes you can. I have done it often. A couple of times they asked if it was the original but were OK when I said No another Pharmacy has it.
I usually scan a prescription and print a copy before I go to the Pharmacy.
Great, thanks!
Scanning them is a top idea too!
If it is a ‘repeated’ Rx, you could go to the pharmacy and ask for the original back. some pharmacies ‘keep the original’, and then they send you a reminder letter to pick up the next box on the ‘due time’ (they calculate it), that you should get your new pills. But they would have asked you if you wanted that service. Otherwise, they actually should NOT keep the original, but they should make a copy themselves, and then write the # of boxes given/sold to you, ‘stamp’ and date the original, so if you go to another pharmacy, they will know how many are ‘left’ on your Rx.
It worked. Thank you. They never even asked if it was a copy and interestingly this pharmacy gave it back to me.
Not legally, but people do… You should collect your original from the pharmacy and take it with you. And if present a repeat off prescription for a once off refill at an another pharmacy it may set the red flags flying in any case.
It actually will depend on the medication. Things like Insulin, antihistamines, glucose test strips are unlikely to raise an eyebrow. In those cases the prescription is more important for reimbursement.
I always just use scanned & printed prescriptions in multiple countries, never an issue
It was for migraine medication, nothing addictive - and I hadn’t got any since May!
I guess it depends what it’s for.
I have a repeat prescription for which I can get a max of 6 months. The pharmacist won’t give me more until I’ve been back to my doctor for a check up and get a new prescription. This seems like a good system because if you can swing it to get an unlimited supply, how do you know if you don’t need the dose adjusting or some other tweak that wouldn’t necessarily immediately present as a new symptom?
I have one of those as well.
Since I always go to the same pharmacy in an emergency they will give a small amount to tide me over until I can see the doctor but they won’t do more than that.
I think it’s a good way to prevent abuse if the system.
In SZ we can still (with some exceptions) get meds from the GP rather than the pharmacy. I can get my meds at any interval I choose, up to a year’s worth. (I’d guess the amount one can get at a time is drug or patient stability dependent). But if I haven’t seen the doctor for one year, the assistant will then only give me enough to last until I can get an appointment for a consultation. A pretty good compromise.
Keeping the original is just a scam to ‘encourage’ you to go back to the same place. “Can I have a copy of my prescription please” was one of the first phrases I learned in German
NO, there would be no point in regulating dangerous drugs if could go and abuse the prescription.