Have you ever had a prescription that you needed to continue taking, so you had to visit the doctor each month to renew the prescription? This method can be frustrating and time-consuming, but there’s a better way to do this with repeat prescriptions. This is just one of the clinical services offered to student health services and other patients.


Here’s all you need to know.


What Is a Repeat Prescription? 

 

When you need the same medication over and over and will be taking it for a long period of time, local doctors can provide you with a repeat prescription. This is essentially permission for you to receive the medication without needing an appointment with a doctor. 


Repeat prescriptions are good until a certain date or for a certain number of refills. All the information will be added to the form you need to provide the pharmacist. In general, you won’t get a repeat prescription immediately, as your doctor needs to ensure you know how to take it and will want to monitor you as you get used to the medication. This is particularly important with medications that can have strong side effects. 


Your doctor will often prescribe you the first month’s worth of medications, which you will take and check in with the doctor to ensure everything is going well. They will help you monitor any side effects and adjust the dosage if necessary. This is an important step, as you may need to change the dosage for the best results. 

A good example of this would be a blood pressure medication or medication for diabetes. 


These can have severe side effects if taken improperly, so a doctor will prescribe a certain amount, but keep an eye on you and how you react. Once you’ve taken enough to have an effect, the doctor will see what your levels are and can continue to check your blood sugar or pressure. Once the doctor is certain you are ready to take the medication with minimal monitoring, you’ll still want to check in if you notice any changes. However, the doctor can then fill out a form that says you have permission to refill the prescription as needed until a specific date. 


You will be required to see a medical professional annually if you’re on repeat medication. This gives the doctor a chance to check that the medication is still working satisfactorily and you can relay any concerns. The doctor may adjust your dosage or change things slightly if needed, such as adding a new medication or removing one that you no longer need. 


Everyone changes and it’s possible that your body is going to adjust to your medications in one way or another. Whether this means you will end up needing higher amounts or you’ll simply manage your health problems better with lower amounts, it requires adjusting things. 


Over time, you may become resistant to some of the medications and need new ones, or there may be a whole new treatment option on the market. This is a good chance to talk to your doctor and find out if they have a better option for you to try. Of course, if you are switching meds, you will need to be monitored once more. 


What Kind of Medication Can Be Prescribed on Repeat?


Not all medications can be put on a repeat prescription. For example, the birth control pill needs to be given for several months, then you will see your doctor again. Usually, you’ll be given a six month supply and then will have to see the doctor for a refill. 


Your prescription sheet will have a green side and a white side. The white side is for repeat medication, while the green is for short courses of medication, such as antibiotics. You will keep the white side and bring it in every time you need to repeat the order, or show it to the online order form.


The type of medication that is prescribed on repeat can be anything you might take regularly and on an ongoing basis. For example:

- Blood thinners

- Antidepressants

- Anxiety medications

- Blood pressure medication

- Diabetic medication


If you have specific supplies that you need a prescription for, such as syringes or other needs, these may fall under a repeat prescription, as well. Talk to your doctor and be sure to include everything you need and are worried about. They should be able to help you out.


How Can You Better Manage Your Prescriptions?


The following tips will help you manage your NHS repeat prescriptions so you can always make sure you have the medications that you need. 

● Schedule an Annual Doctor’s Appointment

NHS repeat prescriptions require seeing a doctor each year to renew it all. This is something you should plan ahead and schedule to ensure you don’t miss it. This should just be automatically scheduled and you can continue to see the doctor every year. 

● Manage Your Repeat Prescriptions Online

With NHS repeat prescriptions and online clinical services, you can download the app and manage everything there. You’ll find there are plenty of benefits to going online to handle it all. For example:

● Don’t lose your prescription: You can upload it and keep all information in the app so you will never lose your prescription and won’t need to go back to the doctor. 

● Save time: Forget waiting in line for a prescription. You can do it all on the app and that means you will save quite a lot of time. You also have the option of seeing local doctors online so you can get a repeat prescription.

● Order online: You won’t need to go to the pharmacy if you are going to get your prescription online. This means no waiting, you just pick up the medication when it’s ready or you may even have it delivered to you, depending on the method of delivery. 

Overall, it is quite beneficial to have clinical services like this available to you on an app.

● Use a Reminder App

Do you have a tendency to forget your medication? It’s a good idea to use an app on your phone or even just the alarm to remind yourself when to take the medication. If you are on something that needs to be taken at the same time every day, this can be quite helpful. 

You can also use the reminder app to let you know when you’re getting low on medication. 

● Organise Your Pills

Do you take more than one pill? It can be easy to forget which one you took and when. If you frequently wonder if you’ve actually taken your medication for the day, try putting your pills into a medication organiser. This will show you at a glance what you’ve taken already for the day. It saves you the possibility of double dosing or accidentally skipping a dose. 

● Create a Dosing Schedule Chart

It may also be helpful to create a simple chart where you can mark down which pills you’ve taken so far that day. The chart is particularly useful, because you can also take notes. This will let you note if a medication is causing any side effects, so you can talk to your doctor about it. You may also take down any information that relates to your condition so the doctor can discuss it with you at your next appointment. 

● Create a Master List of Medications

If you have multiple medications to take, it is useful to track them. Make a list of all the medications so you can discuss them with the pharmacist or the doctor in order to ensure you have no overlaps. It’s always a good idea to have a full list of what you take so you can present it when needed. 

● Remember to Order Your Prescription a Week Ahead

You don’t want to run out of medication ever, particularly if it’s for a life-threatening issue. Dropping your blood pressure medication, for example, could be deadly. To avoid having a moment where you forget to renew your prescription only to realise later that you have run out, be sure to remind yourself to order the prescription a week or so ahead of time. Every time it gets close to the end of the month, put in your repeat prescription and ensure you have enough medication on hand for the coming month. 


Do you need to set up a repeat prescription? Are you interested in getting your NHS repeat prescription online? You can register to do just that on the NHS GP site.

How to Tell if You Have Diabetes

by Jahan Mahmoodi • 28 September 2022
Diabetes isn’t an uncommon illness, but it can be serious and result in your having to change your lifestyle. There are two different kinds of diabetes, and the main difference between them is that type 1 is genetic, whereas type 2 diabetes can be down to your lifestyle and will develop over time, rather than showing up in an earlier stage of your life. It is important to know what the symptoms of diabetes are so that you can address the problem sooner rather than later, so below are some of the key things to look out for and when you should see a doctor. What are the Symptoms? If you want to know how to tell if you have diabetes, these are common indicators that you might have developed this problem. The need to urinate frequently, or feeling thirsty and/or hungry a lot. You might also notice that you experience extreme fatigue, weight loss, tingling sensation, or pain in your hands and feet. Cuts and bruises might also take longer to heal than they have done in the past. Some people might also experience blurred vision or find that they are getting thrush in the genital area repeatedly. You may want to refer to a self help service to check symptoms if you are concerned. What Should You Do? If you are concerned that you have diabetes, the first thing to do is make an appointment with your doctor. They can arrange a blood test to check your blood sugar levels, as this can be a great indicator of whether or not you have diabetes and can be one of the first warning signs. High blood sugar can be treated with lifestyle changes, and you may need to take insulin at times too. Your doctor can talk you through how to manage your diabetes more effectively, or look at NHS GP for more information. They may even refer you to specialist centers for disease control for further support and guidance. Who is at a Higher Risk? If you do have a history of type 1 diabetes in your family, then you are more likely to develop this condition, too. However, for type 2 diabetes, those at a higher risk include people who have a diet that is high in fats and sugars and are overweight. Your risk also increases the older you get, with a lot of people developing this when they are over 40. This is why it is important to monitor high levels of blood sugar and get this tested if you are concerned. Lifestyle Changes for Diabetics If you do have type 2 diabetes, there are some things you can do at home to help this. The first step is to look at moving to a healthier lifestyle and eating a more balanced diet with reduced sugar. Remember to be careful with carbs, too, as these can turn into sugar in your body. You might also want to think about getting more exercise to help you lose weight which can be beneficial.  If you are worried about whether or not you have developed diabetes, contact your doctor as soon as possible to take the necessary tests.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

by Jahan Mahmoodi • 25 August 2022
What is PTSD? Learn about the symptoms of PTSD and what to do if you think you or a loved one has this psychiatric disorder. PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, is a psychiatric disorder that occurs after a traumatic event or prolonged trauma over time. Historically, it became known as “shell shock”, which many soldiers experienced after combat in the world wars. However, any kind of trauma can lead to this disorder, such as: Accidents Assault Abuse Illness or injury (either yourself or a loved one) The death of a loved one Going through these experiences does not being you will definitely experience PTSD. A traumatic event or prolonged trauma might trigger the disorder in one person and not another, and it has not been determined exactly why. One suggestion is that those suffering from PTSD have high-stress hormone levels, though this isn’t always the case. If you think you or a loved one might have PTSD, it’s crucial to understand the symptoms and seek medical help to process the memories and reduce symptoms over time. Below are the most common symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder PTSD. Flashbacks of Trauma After experiencing a traumatic event, many people feel sad, scared, and anxious, and these symptoms tend to improve naturally over a few weeks. In people with PTSD, these symptoms last far longer and can produce one of the most common symptoms associated with post traumatic stress disorder: flashbacks. Flashbacks make a person with PTSD experience the traumatic event over and over again in their mind. Often, the flashback is very vivid and causes high levels of panic and anxiety, and can even become debilitating in severe cases. Frequent Nightmares People with PTSD usually experience frequent nightmares, often of the traumatic event or events that they have been through. These nightmares cause elevated stress levels and can lead to further issues, like sleeping difficulties and insomnia. Extreme Anxiety Anxiety is a symptom of multiple mental health issues, including PTSD. After experiencing trauma, a person with PTSD will often feel extreme anxiety in their day-to-day life. They Avoidance It is common for people living with PTSD to avoid anything associated with the traumatic event they experienced, which often includes people, places or activities. It is common for sufferers to even withdraw from their friends and family. Over time, this can make their symptoms even worse as they continue to isolate themselves. Intrusive Thoughts Intrusive thoughts involve upsetting and confusing thoughts that those with PTSD wish would disappear. Typically, these thoughts lead to feelings of guilt and upset. Without treatment, these intrusive thoughts are difficult to manage and might worsen over time in some cases. Irritability or Anger Many people with PTSD become irritable or angry, which can lead to reckless behaviour. This behaviour might cause them to damage their relationships. Extreme anger may also be a sign of complex PTSD, which is caused by long-term trauma rather than a single event. PTSD in Children Children can get PTSD just like adults. The symptoms may look different, though. If you suspect your child has PTSD, here are the signs to look out for: Reliving the traumatic event Angry outbursts Nightmares Fear and/or sadness Seek Help for PTSD When experiencing symptoms like this, it’s important to see mental health specialists in order to determine the cause. Then, these mental health professionals can provide appropriate treatment to help the patient manage and improve their symptoms over time, whether through therapy or medication, or a combination of both. If you think you or your loved one is experiencing PTSD, book an appointment with your NHS GP as soon as possible. Help is available, and nobody has to carry on suffering with their symptoms.

How to Improve Student Mental Health

by Jahan Mahmoodi • 18 August 2022
Student life can be rough. If you feel as though your mental health is beginning to suffer as a result, here are some tips that may be able to help.