Order a Repeat Prescription

You can post your prescription slip or written request to us at the Practice. You can include a stamped addressed envelope for return by post if you will not be able to pick up your prescription from the surgery. (Please allow extra time for any possible delays with the postal service).

You can do this by returning the right-hand half of a previous prescription for the required medications, or by submitting a handwritten request.

Pharmacies offer a prescription collection service from our Practice.They can also order your medication on your behalf. This saves you time and unnecessary visits to the Practice. Please contact the pharmacy of your choice for more information if you wish to use this service.

Your prescription may be delivered to certain chemists in the Aberdeen area by arrangement.

Please telephone: 01224 849749. These drugs can be obtained by prior agreement with the doctor. Drugs not shown on the right hand side of your last prescription cannot be normally issued through the prescription line service.

A Scottish home and Health Department circular from 1971 clarifies the position on prescribing for patients going abroad for extended periods. It states:-

“If a patient intends to go away for a longer period(than two to three week’s holiday) he/she may not be regarded as a resident of this country and would not be entitled to the benefits of the National Health Service…. It may not be in the patient’s best interest for him/her to continue to self-medication over such longer periods…. If a patient is going abroad for a long period, he/she should be prescribed sufficient drugs to meet his/her requirements only until such time as he can place himself/herself in the care of a doctor at his/her destination.”

Where ongoing medical attention is not necessary, the patient may be given a private prescription.

Next time you visit us you may be prescribed medicine that looks different from your last ones. This may mean that the doctor has prescribed a generic medicine for you. One example of a generic medicine is paracetamol, which is commonly known by the brand name Panadol. Generic medicines are just as safe and effective as branded products, and by prescribing generics, doctors can save the NHS millions of pounds, thus allowing money to be spent on you in other ways. If you are worried about any change to your medication check with the pharmacist or doctor.

When you are discharged from Hospital you should normally receive seven days supply of medication.

On receipt of your discharge medication, which will be issued to you by the Hospital, please contact the Surgery to provide them with this information before your supply of medication has run out.

Hospital requests for change of medication will be checked by a prescribing clinician first, and if necessary a prescribing clinician will provide you with a prescription on request. 

The doctors at the Practice regularly review the medication you are taking. This may involve changes to your tablets, in accordance with current Health Board policies. Please be reassured that this will not affect your treatment. We may sometimes call you in for a medication review and this may involve blood tests. It is very important that you attend these appointments, as it keeps you safe whilst taking medication.

Reasons why Benzodiazepines may not be suitable for fear of flying.

Patients in the past have requested anxiety or sleeping medicines to help with flying. These are commonly classed as either benzodiazepines (eg diazepam, temazepam) or Z drugs (eg zopiclone) There is, however, an increasing list of reasons why this is maybe not a good idea. 

• The use of drugs like these during a flight could put the passenger at significant risk of not being able to act in a manner which could save their life in the event of a safety critical scenario;
• The use of any sort of sedatives has the potential to increase the risk of a DVT. These drugs can induce non-REM sleep which tends to be of a type where there is less movement in sleep, therefore increasing the risk of sitting without moving for more than 4 hours (the length of time which has been shown to increase the risk of developing a DVT);
• A paradoxical increase in aggression has been reported by some patients taking BDZs and this therefore has the potential to put other occupants of the aircraft at risk;
• BDZs are contra-indicated for phobias
• In some countries it is illegal to import these drugs and so the patient will need a different strategy for the homeward-bound journey and/or any subsequent legs of the journey;
• NICE guidelines suggest that medication should not be used for mild and/or self-limited mental health disorders. In more significant anxiety-related states, BDZs should never be prescribed. BDZs are only advised for short term use for a crisis in generalised anxiety disorder – if a patient is having a GAD crisis they are not fit to fly. Fear of flying in isolation is not GAD.

• Many airlines offer Fear of Flying courses (eg. British Airways, EasyJet)

Non Repeat Prescriptions known as “Acute” prescriptions are medicines that have been issued by the Doctor but not added to your repeat prescription records. This is normally a new medication issued for a trial period and may require a review visit with your Doctor prior to being added onto your repeat prescription records.

Some medications are recorded as acute as they require to be closely monitored by the Doctor. Examples include many anti-depressants, drugs of potential abuse or where the prescribing is subject to legal or clinical restrictions or special criteria. If this is the case with your medicine, you may not always be issued with a repeat prescription until you have consulted with your Doctor again.