Important changes affecting Gabapentin and Pregabalin prescriptions.

Important changes affecting Gabapentin and Pregabalin prescriptions.

From 1 April 2019, Gabapentin and Pregabalin will be reclassified as Schedule 3 controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, and Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

This means prescriptions for these medications will have to satisfy special requirements.

• Prescriptions must not exceed 28 days duration.
• Prescriptions will need to be collected within 28 days
• There will be no emergency supply (by your chemist) of these medications.

Actions for patients to take

• Please be aware you will need to ensure that these medications are ordered once a month
• Existing “repeat dispensing” of these items will be cancelled. Please ensure you have ordered your medication.
• You will need identification to collect these prescriptions.

As these changes come into effect on the first of April we have started to adjust medical records to reflect these new changes, therefore you may receive less medication than you are expecting.

If you have any further questions regarding this, please discuss with your local community pharmacist, or please call Sophie Mullaney, practice pharmacist.