Question about prescriptions and Chemist--- Urgent help needed---

milkymoo24

Guys, I have a bit of a silly question to ask and I am wondering could someone help me. I have just come off a medical card and I am on monthly meds for chronic stomach condition. I am used to getting the green medical card prescription off the doc and taking it straight to the chemists and its all done online. Now though, seeing as I have to pay full wack for doc visit and 25 for repeat prescriptions, I contacted an old school pal who is a doc now in Cork and she has agreed to to write my prescription every 3 months, all my med files are being sent to her in Cork. The tablets I'm on are for life and I cannot do without so please don't need any smart arses lecturing me about anything! I know I should ask her, but I really don't want to be a pain as she is doing me a HUGE favour as it is, plus I don't wanna seem dumb! I was just wondering what exactly happens with private prescriptions? Does she write the prescription on her own practise pad? And if so, will Chemists in my home-town give me any hassle with the prescriptions seeing as they are from a cork doc... evn though I will be paying? I just wanted to check as she is doing me up one this weekend n posting it on, I am just out of tablets and even a day without them would be catastophic for me. And NO, I cannot afford to go to the doc, can barely afford a slice pan of bread and my meds, so again, I ask that no smart arse know it all tells me to go see a doc! Not my question! Can anybody shed some light on it for me please please!! I'd be much appreciated!!

ablue

hi milkymoo firstly i dont think anyone in this country could judge anybody on what they have to do to survive at the moment with the financial state that we're all in.. its a nightmare trying to get from one week to the next especially having to fork out for meds at the same time.. but if i were u i would just get the prescriptions changed in a different chemist, the one u usually go to would have your details of doc and stuff, so just as to not get your friend in to any trouble id go somewhere else, coz yeah ur friend will have to sign/stamp it and as its a private prescription it will be on headed prescription paper.. but dont worry as long as u go else where no1 will be any the wiser hope that helps ya take care

milkymoo24

Hey. Thanks for you reply, you've shed some light on it for me now, thanks ever so much, wasn't sure if it was headed paper or on the green slips like the med card, I'll try the smaller chemist near by. So I wonder will they dispense the meds straight away or do you know how that works?? I am just fretting as tablets are gone Tuesday and I will be getting the prescription I presume Tuesday morning post too. Fretting in case I have to wait for them to verify the prescription!!! Oh, ps, I didn't mean to come across as defensive in my first post, its just I find sometimes on this there are judgy people that just tell what they think rather than what your asking and it can be frustrating trying to get an answer! Thanks for your answer!

IMightKnow

I have worked in a chemist and in my experience it really is not an issue where the doctor's address is, prescriptions from different counties were filled all the time

milkymoo24

@I might know. Thanks a mill for ur reply, I really didnt think it was a straightforward thing, shows what I know... Takes a bit off my mind so now cos my terrifed there were procedures for private prescriptions!!! Thanks again!!:)

IMightKnow

Honestly don't worry - you will hand in your prescription (on white headed paper) tell them how much you want to buy right now (ie if its for 3 months you can buy 1 or 2 or all 3 months supply, if you dont take all of them now they write on it how much you bought and then give you back the prescription, if you buy all of it they keep it) then they take a few minutes to dispense it, you pay for it and off you go.

milkymoo24

@researchwill yes I have heard this also that long term illness gets a medical card but when I queried this I was told that my treatment needed to be over a certain amount per month and mine didn't qualify cos my husband and I both working. I just went back to work recently so my mc renewal was denied this time. I have had one for years so all this going private stuff is new to me. You would think that people like us are OK cos we are working but with mortgage and what-not its so hard to budget for even the smallest of meds, even a box of panadol! my meds are protium 40mg for my stomach and also codeine for nightly cough! thanks everyone for ur help!!!

locum-motion

There shouldn't be any problem at all. Even if the script doesn't arrive in the post in time, you still shouldn't have a prob coz your pharmacist would do an emergency supply for you.
I don't see why ablue was telling you to go to a different pharmacy. Go to the one that knows you and your history. You haven't had a problem with your local pharmacy, have you?

ResearchWill

milkymoo24 wrote: »

@researchwill yes I have heard this also that long term illness gets a medical card but when I queried this I was told that my treatment needed to be over a certain amount per month and mine didn't qualify cos my husband and I both working. I just went back to work recently so my mc renewal was denied this time. I have had one for years so all this going private stuff is new to me. You would think that people like us are OK cos we are working but with mortgage and what-not its so hard to budget for even the smallest of meds, even a box of panadol! my meds are protium 40mg for my stomach and also codeine for nightly cough! thanks everyone for ur help!!!

Have you appealed the decision, if not do so. I know from friends that a lot of people are being refused renewals, but then appealing and getting it back. Remember to ask the reasons for the refusal so you can appeal properly.

ablue

@milkymoo no probs at all and i do know how people can be on here so dont worry bout comin across defensive.. hope u all goes well 4 ya

@locum-motion i only said to go to a diff chemist because a doc isnt really supposed to give prescriptions to someone who is not their patient and just to be sure not to cause any probs for her very good friend whos doing the fav..

locum-motion

ablue wrote: »

...
@locum-motion i only said to go to a diff chemist because a doc isnt really supposed to give prescriptions to someone who is not their patient and just to be sure not to cause any probs for her very good friend whos doing the fav..

I don't know what sort of trouble you think a pharmacy might cause for a doctor, but in any event, the OP is the Cork doctor's patient. Did you not see the bit where the OP said her records had been transferred to the Doc in Cork?

Nonoperational

No chemist will care less where your private prescription for stomach tablets comes from. Don't worry about it.

smtdos

You can buy your meds over the counter without prescription so why not cut out the doctor altogether if your that worried?

anotherlostie

The only way there might be hassle is if the prescription was for controlled drugs but I don't think this would be the case from what you've described.

RobFowl

anotherlostie wrote: »

The only way there might be hassle is if the prescription was for controlled drugs but I don't think this would be the case from what you've described.

+1
The only issue here as I see it is ethical problems for the doctor treating a friend. Docs are advised not to treat close family or friends due to a potential lack of objectivity. As long as you and her are comfortable with being able to be upfront and honest then I'd see no problem.
WRT the prescription I'd agree with locum-motion that its better to stick to the pharmacist you know and who knows your history.
There is absolutely no problem with a Cork based doctors prescription. As informed by locum-motion in the past it would actually be valid anywhere in the EU !