Repeat Prescriptions

All regular medications are recorded on our computerised system for prescriptions. At least once per year we will check you are still on the correct medication and arrange any tests/reviews that are needed. This can be discussed with a GP during a telephone consultation.

It is necessary to order prescriptions in advance - giving our team at least 48 hours notice. 

• Prescriptions can be ordered by leaving a message on our 24 hour automated prescription line (OPTION 3) This means that the line is open 24 hours. Your prescription will still take 48 hours from the time of your request to process. This excludes weekends and public holidays. 
• Prescriptions can be collected from a number of pharmacies in the area, please ask our reception/administration team if you require this service.
• This website has the facility to reorder you repeat prescription via Patient Access. CLICK HERE for more information

*Please note: we can no longer accept requests for prescriptions via our reception desk

Please allow 48 hours (two working days), excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed. The process time will be longer should you request your prescription is delivered to a local pharmacy. If you experience any difficulties, please contact our reception/administration team on 01333 350241.

Please be aware that Kennoway medical Group has updated its policy for the prescribing of all controlled drugs in line with national guidance.

Drugs for Pain and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

e.g.

Buprenorphine (Butrans, Transtec), Dexamfetamine, Fentanyl (Abstral, Durogesic, Matrifen), Methylphenidate (Concerta XL, Equasym XL, Ritalin), Morphine (MST, Oramorph, Sevredol, Zomorph), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, OxyNorm) & Pethidine.

Changes you may notice:

•      The quantity of drug will be reduced to a maximum of 28 days supply.
•      You may be asked to switch to an alternative drug or preparation.
•      You may be asked to reduce your use of a particular drug, with support from your GP or other services.
•      The drug may be removed from repeat prescription if it is only intended for short-term use.
•      You may have to see your GP before further prescriptions will be issued.
•      You may be asked to attend for more frequent medication reviews with your GP.

Drugs for Anxiety and Insomnia – additional restrictions to those listed above.

e.g.

Drugs known as benzodiazepines i.e. Chlordiazepoxide, Clonazepam, Diazepam, Loprazolam, Lorazepam, Lormetazepam, Nitrazepam, Oxazepam, Temazepam and those called Z drugs i.e. Zaleplon (Sonata), Zolpidem (Stilnoct) & Zopiclone (Zimovane).

Repeated use of these tablets over a long period of time is no longer recommended and patients will be encouraged to reduce and stop these medicines altogether.

As it is recommended that you do not stop taking these tablets suddenly, patients will be invited to attend for review with their usual GP. The dose will then be reduced slowly through a planned timetable for stopping these tablets to minimise the withdrawal effects which can sometimes occur following long term use of this type of drug.

To ensure a consistent approach, patients will be asked to agree a ‘contract’ for the withdrawal of the drug with their GP. This outlines the planned dose reduction and any rules associated with this reduction. Patients will also be asked to nominate a pharmacy to which all prescriptions will be sent. Prescriptions for these drugs occasionally get lost or stolen, so this ensures the prescription arrives at the pharmacy safely and in time for the medicine to be dispensed.

Please note - Prescriptions for drugs for anxiety or insomnia:

• Will not be replaced if lost
• Will not be issued early

Under these circumstances, please do not ask reception staff to request a further supply or ask triage staff for a GP appointment, as they will be unable to fulfil such requests. You will need a telephone consultation ONLY with the GP.

Further information about any of the details above can be obtained through discussion with your GP.

Medication for Fear of Flying: Why we do not prescribe

People sometimes ask the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam, or similar drugs like lorazepam temazepam or clonazepam, for fear of flying or to help sleep during flights.

Prescribing these drugs is not recommended any more for these reasons:

1. Although plane emergencies are rare, taking Diazepam reduces awareness and reaction times for patients so you risk not being able to react to save your life if you have to escape quickly. You may also put other people in danger by getting in their way or making them help you.
2. The use of these drugs can make you sleep in an unnaturally deep sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep so you have a bigger risk of getting a blood clot (Deep Vein Thrombosis – DVT) in the leg or lungs. Blood clots are very dangerous and can kill. This risk is bigger if your flight is longer than 4 hours.
3. They have short term bad effects on memory, co-ordination, concentration and reaction times, and are addictive if used for a long time, with withdrawal leading to fits, hallucinations, agitation and confusion. They have also become widely used drugs of abuse since they first came on the market. Diazepam in the UK is a controlled drug. The prescribing guidelines doctors have to follow say that that use to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate. They are only to be used short term for a ‘crisis in generalised anxiety’. But if you are having such a crisis you are not likely to be fit to fly. Fear of flying in isolation is not a generalised anxiety disorder.
4. Some people get agitated and aggressive after taking diazepam and similar drugs, and behave in a way that they would not normally, which can pose a risk on the plane. This affects everyone’s safety and could get you into trouble with the law. A similar effect can be seen with alcohol, which has led to people being removed from flights.
5. There is evidence use of these drugs stops the normal adjustment response that would gradually lessen anxiety over time, and may increase anxiety in the long term, especially if used repeatedly.
6. Diazepam and similar controlled drugs are illegal in a number of countriesi. They may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
7. Diazepam stays in your system for some time. If your job or sport needs you to have random drug testing you may fail this having taken diazepam.
8. It is important to tell your travel insurer about your medical conditions and medications you take. If not, there is a risk of your insurer not paying if you try to make a claim.

So we will no longer be providing Diazepam or similar drugs for flight anxiety. Instead please try one of these aviation industry recommended flight anxiety courses.

Fly And Be Calm™

Fly And Be Calm™ is an instant download and comes with a money back guarantee (Guarantee does not apply to app versions).6 MP3 tracks which include instructions, the fear removal tool and two hypnotic tracks. Visit the website: https://flyandbecalm.co.uk/

The least expensive option, takes very little time, works on the root cause of your problem. If you are not 100% happy you can get a full refund.

Easy Jet
www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com

British Airways
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travelassistance/flying-with-confidence

Virgin Atlantic
https://www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/

Practice Policy in relation to prescribing sedatives for patients attending hospital or dental appointments for imaging investigations and other procedures:

Patient's occasionally request a prescription for 'a low dose sedative' to assist with a phobia when attending hospital or dental appointments, for imaging investigations or other procedures. Please see below to understand why Kennoway Medical Group will not issue a prescription in such instances:

• Small doses of benzodiazepines such at 2mg diazepam are sub-therapeutic for most adults for any effective sedation. Conversely anxiolytics can have an idiosyncratic response in patients, and even very small doses can cause increased agitation in some patients.  
  

• A patient may take a sedative an hour before their assumed procedure, to then attend the hospital to find their procedure has been delayed, therefore the timing of the anxiolytic being sub optimal.  
  

• GPs are not regularly involved, skilled, trained or appraised in sedation skills. Sedated patients should be regularly monitored.  
  

• All hospital consultants, both those requesting imaging and those providing it, have access to the same prescribing abilities as GPs. In the event that a patient requires a certain medication to enable an investigation to go ahead, they should seek guidance from the department responsible for their procedure.  
  

• The Royal College of Radiologists‘ own guidelines on sedation for imaging stresses the importance of experienced well trained staff involved and the monitoring of sedated patients:  Click here to find out more.

For phobias in relation to medical and dental procedures, patients should consider a self referral for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy via Access Therapies Fife

• Visit: https://www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory/health-and-wellbeing-services/12335%201fif1116

• Call: 01383 565 427