Search Q&A
Prescription
hi,
Perhaps this is a naïve question
I need to take a pill every day to control my blood pressure. I get a prescription from my Doctor for this. I wonder if there is a way to get a repeatable prescription so I don't have to go to the Dr everytime I run out of pills. It seems a bit ornerous for me to go to the Dr for something that takes 2 min to fill out and which I need to take time off to do. I usually get a prescription for 6 months, but I would like it to be a bit longer as I probably have to take these pills for life
Thank you in advance for all answers
Legally a doctor here is only supposed to prescribe medication for 3 months with the single exception of contraception for which they can prescribe for 6 months.
I have been taking pills for blood pressure for several years and my doctor will only prescribe for 3 months. However he sees patients in the evening and on Saturday mornings so no need for someone in work to take time off.
My husband is the same - it is a pain to go to the Dr, but really your blood pressure needs monitoring anyway and the medication might need to be changed. Blood pressure tends to keep on rising and so the level of medication needs to be changed too.
My doctor gives me prescriptions for six months for high blood pressure since that's how often she thinks it needs to be checked.
If you are regularly doing your own measures of BP then you can convince your GP to give you longer prescriptions. Some GPs write out prescriptions for collection without having an appointment. Also I have had my regular pharmacy "advance" me a prescription if they know I will provide it at a later date.
Typically there is a need for a periodic blood test and physical check up every six months. GPs work differently in Belgium compared to the UK.
If your BP is controlled and your blood test results are good; your Dr may consider to give prescription for longer than 6 months.
You can request prescription without a date which is valid for longer
It's best you see your physician every six months for this. You can always ask your physician directly if he/she may write a Rx. for longer than six months. I know my physician will not do this and for good reason. It encourages the patient to follow-up with their physician and six months is a reasonable amount of time between requests. It may depend on the situation in regards to the patient and/or may have something to do with legality....not sure.
