I took my Ordonnance down to our local chemist today, expecting to get three boxes of a certain medicine, as I usually do every week. However, I was surprised to be given two boxes plus one capsule of the medicine I had been prescribed. When I asked why, I was told that because the date on the Ordonnance was dated for three days earlier, I was not entitled to the full three boxes! How bureaucratic can one get?
Huh ? Come again ? Misunderstanding perhaps?
sounds like it is medication for 1 week and as he went down 3 days later… they assume he does not need the full week’s worth…
possibly… but I am sure Richard will clarify situation…
My original gripe was about my local pharmacie refusing to fulfill the details of my Ordonnance. Normally I have three boxes of a certain class A drug each week. But I normally go down to the pharmacie on Thursdays. I went down on the usual Thursday, but when I presented the Ordonnance to the woman behind the counter, she went away for quite a while, then returned with two boxes plus one capsule. I asked why? She said that as the Ordonnance was dated for a Tuesday, I was not entitled to the three boxes…How damned bureaucratic can you get? In the past I had been wrongly told that one had three days grace before the Ordonnance became invalid, but evidently I was misinformed…
Sorry Richard… I have no idea what Class A Drugs come on prescription.
I do know that the pharmacist will query things if I try to fill the Prescription “too soon”… she will say… your husband has already had 1 month’s supply of eg Heart Pills… only the other day… why do you need another month’s supply… and I explain… because we will be abroad (or whatever is the case)… OK, no problem…
Only once been told a prescription was “out of date” and that was for a blood test…which was delayed due to illness…
But then again… what is Class A ??? and yes, I have tried Google…
Probably something like morphine sulphate. Had to get some a little while back for better half when her back was particularly painful. Had no problems like the OP had though, just had to give the usual beurocratic crap.
Most prescriptions are valid for six months, I have never come across anything quite so time constrained.
My new pharmacist tells me that I am entitled to an extra in any one year for any medication which only lasts for 28 days instead of the usual 30.
This is very useful to know if you are not, like me, aware of this entitlement.
It’s no real secret:the class A drug is Methadone, a drug that is sometimes used in UK as a Heroin substitute. I am NOT a heroin addict, but I do suffer pains in my lower back due to osteo-arthritis, and the only medicine that works for me is Methadone, prescribed by the Palliative Pain Centre in our local town hospital.It is NOT addictive in the low dosage I take, fortunately. I was just miffed because of the bureaucracy that was so nit-picking on this occasion…So next week I will go on the same DAY as the Ordonnance was written on!
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I should think there are very specific rules for things like methadone, with no leeway or initiative on the pharmacists’ part allowed, simply because of the profile of the majority of users and the perceived risks of resale and /or overdose by ‘saving up’ attached. Any pharmacist is going to nitpick with you rather than run the risk of prosecution.
As the dosage is the lowest on the sliding scale of strength, I don’t think it would be of much use to an addict who was “accro” on Methadone. But I do get your point in principle that such drugs could fall into the hands of third parties in the event of theft. But if ones doctor has prescribed x numbers of boxes of a drug, one should expect that the patient should GET that number, regardless of the date of issue…
Subject closed, but thanks for response.
When I was prescribed an addictive pain killing drug (also for a back problem) the doctor never prescribed more than two at a time. The dose of each tablet may be small but when many tablets are available…
Methadone in low doses is NOT addictive, as I have taken it for more than two years now. And if it was, I would have been warned by the specialist pain doctors when they first prescribed it.
Thank you for your observation, but this topic is now closed.
Which is why they restrict the number of tablets they allow at one time. Coffee, chocolate and jogging are addictive, it’s all a matter of degrees.
Richard… I’ve sent you a Private Message.
Sorry, but I don’t know how to find private messages. In any case , as I have previously mentioned, this topic is now closed, but thank you for sending me a private message…
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General Reply to anyone who might look at this thread:
If a Pharmacy gives you any problem with a prescription… mention this to your Doctor and he can write extra instructions on the next prescription to avoid the problem happening again…
I know this works… 'cos we’ve done it.
best of luck everyone…
Coffe and chocolate, yes, but jogging - you MUST be joking 
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No, not joking. People get addicted to exercise. That’s one good reason for keeping it under control. 
I wish I could. Goodness knows I need more exercise.