When does a prescription from the GP expire?

A once-off prescription expires one month after the date written on the script. A repeat script usually expires after the same number of months as there are repeats, e.g. a script that has x6 written at the bottom is valid for 6 months after the date on the prescription, with the caveat that no repeats will be dispensed after the prescription lapses. That means that if a prescription is dated 1 Jan 2015 with 6 repeats, you can take it to the pharmacy in March 2015, but will receive no more meds after 1 July 2015, even if you only got 3 sets.
 
This also depends a bit on the scheduling status of the medication that is prescribed. You could probably still get an S3 medication on an expired prescription, but certainly not an S5.

Pharmacists are bound by some pretty strict rules, but are usually quite helpful in terms of doing things like phoning the doctor to ask that a new prescription gets faxed through to them etc.
 
Last edited:
EvilDarkElf said:
This also depends a bit on the scheduling status of the medication that is prescribed. You could probably still get an S3 medication on an expired prescription, but certainly not an S5.

Pharmacists are bound by some pretty strict rules, but are usually quite helpful in terms of doing things like phoning the doctor to ask that a new prescription gets faxed through to them etc.
Click to expand...

S5.....da good SHT!
 
EvilDarkElf said:
This also depends a bit on the scheduling status of the medication that is prescribed. You could probably still get an S3 medication on an expired prescription, but certainly not an S5.

Pharmacists are bound by some pretty strict rules, but are usually quite helpful in terms of doing things like phoning the doctor to ask that a new prescription gets faxed through to them etc.
Click to expand...

S5.....da good SHT!
 
I've had no problem getting repeats on a prescription for a schedule 4 medication that is more than 6 months old, but it is a medication the pharmacy knows I have been taking for a long time and will need to keep taking. They start getting very cautious for higher schedules however.
 
EvilDarkElf said:
This also depends a bit on the scheduling status of the medication that is prescribed. You could probably still get an S3 medication on an expired prescription, but certainly not an S5.

Pharmacists are bound by some pretty strict rules, but are usually quite helpful in terms of doing things like phoning the doctor to ask that a new prescription gets faxed through to them etc.
Click to expand...

S5.....da good SHT!
 
EvilDarkElf said:
This also depends a bit on the scheduling status of the medication that is prescribed. You could probably still get an S3 medication on an expired prescription, but certainly not an S5.

Pharmacists are bound by some pretty strict rules, but are usually quite helpful in terms of doing things like phoning the doctor to ask that a new prescription gets faxed through to them etc.
Click to expand...

It is schedule 5 and the doc wrote out 2 prescriptions for Dec and Jan 4th.
 
Then you should be fine for both (I assume the one for Dec is less than 30 days old). The doc wrote out 2 to get around the 30 day expiry thing, so that you can still get your meds in Jan (mine does the same thing quite regularly). Maybe just don't take the second one before 4 Jan, for the sake of the pharmacy admin :)
 
EvilDarkElf said:
Then you should be fine for both (I assume the one for Dec is less than 30 days old). The doc wrote out 2 to get around the 30 day expiry thing, so that you can still get your meds in Jan (mine does the same thing quite regularly). Maybe just don't take the second one before 4 Jan, for the sake of the pharmacy admin :)
Click to expand...
I'm not sure I understand. I have 2 pieces of paper from him. The first is post-dated 4th December and the second is post-dated 4th Jan 2015.......

.....Oh I get it now as I was typing. I can get the Dec one at the beginning of Jan and the second at the beginning of Feb. Awesome.

Ninja'd said:
It seems you're still using an expired prescription.
Click to expand...

LOL!
 
Just get them when they're due. You don't have to take all the pills the same month you buy them in.
 
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