Medication reviews
What to expect if you are taking regular medications
If you are prescribed regular medications on repeat, then we may need to review your treatment. This is to make sure that the medications you take are still needed and work well for you. We need to make sure you are still safe to take them at the dose they are prescribed which may mean you need an annual blood test.
Vine Medical Group will contact you just before you are due for a review. We will either send you a text message to answer a few questions about your medication or our medication team will call you. It is important that you respond to these as our pharmacists then review your records and check your medications are safe. If they need further information they may contact you.
If you do not respond to our requests for information, it may be decided that it is no longer safe to continue issuing your medication until your review is complete. This may mean your medications are stopped so it is very important you answer the questions.
Prescribing of Controlled Drugs (non-palliative care)
What to expect if you are prescribed dependency forming medications such as:
- Benzodiazapines (Clonazapem, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Nitrazepam, Temazepam etc)
- Gabapentin or Pregabalin
- Morphine (or any of its alternatives including codeine, dihydrocodeine etc)
- Tramadol (or any of its alternatives)
- Z drugs (Zopiclone/Zolpidem)
These medications are associated with increase "risks" which will have been explained to you when they were started, and this means we need to monitor you closely whilst you are taking them.
These medications will not be added to your repeat medication list and you will only be issued a maximum 28 day supply at a time. You will have a named GP that will review your medications at least every 3-6 months to ensure they remain suitable and safe for you.
Please be sure to store your medication securely as any lost or stolen prescriptions cannot be replaced.
As doctors, we follow professional guidance, and this is that we must act in your best interest. This may involve reducing your dependence forming medication against your wishes if there are concerns about your safety. This will always involve a discussion with you and a team of multiple different professionals. We will encourage you to be referred to a pain clinic or a recognised withdrawal programme to assist you in reducing your use of these medicines, or in finding safer alternatives.
What happens when someone at your hospital appointment recommends a medication?
When you attend a hospital appointment, a doctor or clinician may recommend that you start on a medication.
Because we take responsibility for the medication we issue, even if it was suggested by a specialist, we need to make sure you understand what you are being prescribed, the pros and cons of the medication and alternatives on offer.
If it is clear from the letter that the person you saw has discussed this with you, we are likely to start this medication for you. However, in some cases, we will need to review you first, or ask the specialist for further information prior to starting this medication.
We appreciate this can cause delay to you receiving your medication however we need to ensure you have been given all the required information, and the treatment is safe.