Controlled drugs are only issued as 4 weeks supply as per NHS ENGLAND guidance and Practice Protocol. Please be aware that controlled drug prescriptions will expire after 28 days from issue date so these need to be taken a pharmacy and dispensed before the expiry date.

Generally prescribed list of controlled medication include the following: 

• BUTEC  
• BUPRENORPHINE 
• CLOBAZAM 
• CLONAZEPAM 
• FENTANYL 
• GABAPENTIN 
• NITRAZEPAM 
• ORAMORPH 
• OXYCONTIN 
• OXYCODONE 
• PREGABALIN 
• TEMAZEPAM 
• TRAMADOL

Please be aware that if this is the case we would expect you to contact alternative pharmacies to obtain the medication rather than request an alternative medication on prescription.

For some medication there may not be an appropriate alternative and in some cases we made need to contact the hospital to recommend an alternative. If you are unable to obtain the medication from any other local pharmacy then we will be able to investigate whether and alternative medication is available and appropriate for your treatment, please be patient with our staff while we do this.

If you would like contact details for local pharmacies you can call dial 111 on your telephone to speak to an NHS advisor or visit www.nhs.uk and use the search tool to look for pharmacies in your area.

Patients are advised to keep a small supply of simple treatments in their medicine cabinet at home so they are able to manage minor ailments themselves. 

All these medicines are widely available from supermarkets and pharmacies at reasonable cost. Many of these treatments are more expensive when prescribed on the NHS compared to when they are purchased in pharmacies or supermarkets e.g. paracetamol is approximately 4x more expensive on prescription. The NHS belongs to everybody and the CCG must ensure that its resources are used in the best possible way for all patients. 

The Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG does not support the prescribing of medication that is available to buy from local pharmacies or supermarkets for children or adults. The medications listed below are examples of medicines that should be purchased by the patient/parent/guardian. 

This list is not exhaustive: 

• Moisturising creams, gels, ointments and balms for dry skin with no diagnosis 
• Hay fever remedies e.g. antihistamines, nasal sprays (patients >18yrs) 
• Bath oils and shower gel (unless recommended by a specialist for infected atopic eczema) 
• Vitamins and supplements e.g. low dose vitamin D (<2,000units), I-Caps, multivitamins 
• Potassium hydroxide for Molluscum contagiosum e.g. Molludab 
• Lubricating eye drops and chloramphenicol eye drops and eye ointment (patients >2yrs) 
• Anti-diarrhoeal medication for short term diarrhoea (<72hrs) 
• Paracetamol and ibuprofen for short term use 
• Antifungal preparations e.g. Canesten 
• Rehydration sachets 
• Anti-inflammatory gels e.g. ibuprofen gel 
• Laxatives for short term use (<72 hours) 
• Head lice treatments 
• Threadworm tablets 
• Lactose free infant formula 
• Antiperspirants 
• Cough and cold remedies 
• Medicated shampoos e.g. Alphosyl, Capasal 
• Mouthwash e.g. Corsodyl 
• Indigestion remedies e.g. Gaviscon, Peptac 
• Haemorrhoidal preparations e.g. Anusol 
• Nasal douches e.g Sterimar

We understand that sometimes patients forget to order medication but there is some medication that can be bought from your local pharmacy or that it is safe for you to miss while we process a standard prescription request. 

We WILL NOT issue an urgent prescription for the following items: 

• OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION - this can be purchased from a local pharmacy 
• CREAMS AND EMOLLIENTS 
• STATIN MEDICATION 
• THYROXINE MEDICATION 
• ERECTILE DIFUNCTION MEDICATION 
• SUPPLIMENTS inc Calcium and Vitamin D and Iron tablets 
• ANTACIDS inc Ranitidine, Omeprazole, Gaviscon and Peptac 
• IBS MEDICATION inc mebeverine and loperamide 

Please be aware that we are often unable to process urgent requests for medication that has been initiated by hospital and not issued at the surgery yet. Please allow more time for these prescriptions to be issued.