These are medications which can be purchased from any licensed retailer, such as a supermarket.
There are still some controls in terms of the quantity that can be purchased, the strength of the medication and age
limits of the purchaser.
These are medications which do not require a prescription, but can only be sold by a pharmacist. They may be stronger
variations of over the counter medications.
These medicines can only be obtained with a valid prescription. They must only be taken by the person for whom they
are prescribed.
Click here
to watch a film on the ‘Medicine Management’ website from NHS Grampian about the journey of a prescription.
A pharmacist can supply prescription medicines to a patient without a prescription in an emergency at the request of
a prescriber or a patient. Each request is considered on a case by case basis using professional judgement to decide
which course of action is believed will be the best interest of the patient.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published strict guidelines which the pharmacist must follow. In Scotland there is an arrangement for emergency supplies, which can be
accessed here.
Stricter legal controls apply to ‘controlled’ drugs to prevent them:
- being misused
- being obtained illegally
- causing harm.
Controlled drugs are further governed by legislation including the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs
Regulations 2001. A full guide to the legislation can be
found here.
These Legal controls govern:
- storage
- manufacture
- supply
- prescribing
- possession
Your organisation must have a policy regarding controlled drugs in place. You need to know your responsibilities and
accountability when administering and storing controlled drugs, so it is important that you have a good understanding of
that policy.
Remember that herbal remedies are medicines. Any medicine - herbal or otherwise - has the potential to cause adverse reactions (and have side effects).
The phrases ‘natural’, ‘herbal’ and ‘derived from plants’ do not necessarily mean ‘safe’. Many plants can be poisonous
to humans and many pharmaceutical medicines have been developed from plants using powerful compounds they contain.
Herbal medicines can also interact with other medicines that the supported person is taking. This could result in
reduced or greater effects of the other medicines, including side effects. Therefore, it is very important that someone
prescribing medication for a supported person is aware of any herbal remedies that the person is currently taking.
Like all medicines, herbal medicines must be stored safely and securely in line with your organisational policy.
