The number of repeats specified in a given prescription is typically one less than the total number of times that the patient can be supplied with the prescribed medication.
When the label on your medicine says that there is a “repeat” or “repeats” it means that a further supply is available from that pharmacy up until the date stated on the label. The Pharmaceutical Management Agency, PHARMAC, sets dispensing frequency for some medicines to 1 month (30 days) at a time.
For example, a prescription authorising 5 repeats means that the patient can be supplied with the prescribed medication a total of 6 times, i.e. the original supply plus 5 subsequent repeats.
Obtaining and storing repeat prescriptions
If you have repeats on your prescription, your pharmacy will send you a new token by SMS or email to use when you require more medicine. You will need to use this new token at your preferred pharmacy when it is time to get your next supply of medicine.
The NHS recognises that a 28-day repeat prescribing interval makes the best possible balance between patient convenience, good medical practice and minimal drug wastage.
How will 28 day prescribing affect you? If you are being prescribed a “repeat medicine” your doctor will now start to prescribe enough of each medicine to last you for 28 days. For example, if you are taking 2 tablets a day you will receive 56 tablets, 3 tablets a day 84 tablets, 4 tablets a day 112 tablets etc.
Generally, prescriptions remain valid for 12 months from the date of prescribing. However, under state or territory laws some prescriptions are only valid for 6 months.
Why can I not have more than 1 month supply of my prescription at a time? The practice will only prescribe a months supply of medication at a time. This is to prevent wastage. The practice has to dispose of thousands of unused items every year.
Doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists who are involved in your care are authorised under law to access information about your prescription history in SafeScript, without your express permission, for the purpose of ensuring your safety when prescribing or dispensing high-risk prescription medicines.
A repeat prescription is a prescription that is issued with prior arrangement with the doctor so that you don't need to be seen in surgery on every occasion that you require a prescription.
You can have this prescription filled 3 times: that is, the first supply, when you will receive the medicine plus a repeat authorisation form, which authorises supply of the same medicine on 2 more separate occasions.
“In numerology, repeating numbers are seen as an amplification of energy,” says Wilder. “The more a number shows up around a person, the stronger the vibration behind it, which is influencing that person's life. Seeing a number tripled means that the full potential of that energy is present.”
While there are regulations around early prescriptions, pharmacists have discretion to fill them early. For example, a 30-day repeat prescription may be collected after 20 days if the dispensing pharmacist believes there is sufficient reason.
How repeat prescriptions work. For repeat prescriptions, your pharmacist will send you a new QR code after each repeat is dispensed. This happens until all the repeats are complete, so you will need to keep the new message until it's time to get your medicine again.
Automatic repeat prescription
You simply collect your regular medication from your usual pharmacy each month without actually having to order it. Your regular medication will be available at that pharmacy for you to collect, automatically.
Take all of the prescriptions to your usual pharmacy. The pharmacist will keep all the prescriptions and will give you your medicines at regular intervals as agreed by your doctor.
Here's the quick answer… Does my doctor know if I filled my prescription? Many pharmacies use a system called EHR (Electronic Health Record) These digital records include medical data, prescriptions that were filled at pharmacies, giving your Doctor access to prescription filled details.
SafeScript NSW is a real time prescription monitoring system. It allows prescribers and pharmacists to access real-time information about their patient's prescription history for certain high-risk medicines, known as monitored medicines.
If you have reasonable grounds for believing that the request is for a quantity or a purpose not in accordance with the recognised therapeutic standards of what is appropriate, you should refuse to supply.
Your medication
If you need regular medication for a stable long-term health condition, your GP may prescribe a maximum supply of three months.
Today, laws and regulations governing prescription duration vary from state to state; for non-controlled substances, the prescription duration is generally a maximum of 12 months. However, some states have begun extending the prescription duration beyond 12 months.
How often will I need a medication review? Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review their regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip.
The report released by pharmaceutical lobby group Medicines Australia has revealed some drug companies are spending more than $700,000 a year on payments to doctors. From October pharmaceutical companies will have to reveal any payments they make to a doctor whether the doctor likes it or not.
o When concession card holders reach the safety net threshold, after 36 full priced concessional scripts, they will receive PBS medicines at no charge for the balance of the year.
Can you fill two of the same prescriptions? When a doctor writes a prescription, it is for single use only. In other words, you typically cannot get two of the same prescriptions at one time. Insurance will not pay for the same prescription to be filled twice in the same period.