Professional and legal issues: prescription-only medicines

Question 1

Is the age needed on a prescription for it to be legally valid?

Answer 1

Only if patient is under 12

Question 2

How long is a normal prescription valid for?

Answer 2

6 months

Question 3

How long is a prescription containing CD items valid for?

Answer 3

28 days

Question 4

If a number is not stated on a repeatable prescription. how many times can it be dispensed against?

Answer 4

Twice unless the prescription is for an oral contraceptive, in which case it can be repeated five times (dispensed 6 times total).

Question 5

Prescriptions for which sch CDs are repeatable?

Answer 5

Prescriptions for sch 2 and 3 controlled drugs are not repeatable, those for schedule 4 and 5 are.

Question 6

Records for private prescriptions for POM items must be kept for how long?

Answer 6

2 years from the date of the supply or sale or for repeatable scripts from the date of the last sale or supply.

Question 7

Prescriptions for what are exempt from record keeping?

Answer 7

Oral contraceptives, as are Sch 2 CDs where a separate controlled drug register record has been made.

Question 8

Dentists can legally write prescriptions for what medicines?

Answer 8

Any POM. The General Dental Council advises that dentists should restrict their prescribing to areas in which they are competent and generally only prescribe medicines that have uses in dentistry.