Filling a prescrip with one refill

[tomintheusa]

I'm an American citizen. Type II on a Medtronic Paradigm pump and Humalog. I will be in Cambridge next June for 4 days during which I will almost certainly need to fill a prescription for my insulin. I have posted a prior message about how to get a Cambridge MD to write me a prescrip (using the original I'll have with me from my family doctor in the US) that I could then take to a Cambridge pharmacy. I have received many, many helpful replies and I'm certain that I can work out how to get the US prescrip turned into an English one I can fill in Cambridge. I am grateful to all of you who have already given me wonderfully helpful advice and information on this topic. It was because of all the great help you've already given me that I decided I could go ahead and sign up for the tour package to Cambridge! I can't wait for the trip!

But several of you (and on other boards including this one) have told me something about how it actually works when I go to a pharmacy that I'm confused about. So please pardon me for being anal about details, but I have to know before I leave home how to get my doctor to word the US prescrip in American English so that when I translate it into English English it'll work smoothly.

I already know I will need to fill the prescription twice. Once while I'm in Cambridge in mid-June, and again while I'm in Southport in July visiting friends there.

[ps. Before you answer by just saying "bring enough with you..." or "bring it in a way that keeps it cold long enough..." you may wish to review the thread that follows my first post. That question has been asked and answered quite well on that thread. The short version, for this thread, is that that won't work. I have to fill the prescrip twice at two different times, due to the total duration of my entire trip, which includes more than just England and more than just the 4 days in Cambridge. I.e., I NEED the answer to the question I've asked here.]

In the US, my doctor would write me a prescription for a one-month supply, which would be one 100-ml vial, and he would specify that at least one refill was already authorized as well. I would then take that to my local pharmacy and they'd fill it. Then, when I needed the refill, I'd either go back to the same pharm or to another one in the same chain, and either one would simply look up the original prescription number, verify that it still included at least one refill, and they'd refill it. I would not need a second paper copy of the original prescription.

I have gotten the impression that the refill might not work exactly that way in England. Instead, I have gotten the impression that I would need to have two separate paper copies of a prescription for the right kind of insulin and the right amount (100-ml vial) that I would use one at a time for both the initial fill and for the refill later, at the same or (more likely) a different pharmacy.

Can someone please clarify what is the actual process and in particular just what kind and how many paper copies of the prescrip would I need to bring with me from my family doctor, in order to get what I'd need for both vials while I'm in England?

Thanks in advance, and once again, I'm sorry for being so confused!

 

[Austin Mini]

Hi there. When I submit a prescription to my chemist (read pharmacist) they order the insulin (Humalog in 5 x 100U/ml cartridges for insulin pens). They then order the insulin from their suppliers and wait for delivery which can take five days, or even longer (it has taken fourteen days). Please note Insulin is not an 'off the shelf' item it has to be ordered, delivered to the Chemist, checked and then stored in a fridge until collection. Good luck.

 

[Northerner]

I have gotten the impression that the refill might not work exactly that way in England. Instead, I have gotten the impression that I would need to have two separate paper copies of a prescription for the right kind of insulin and the right amount (100-ml vial) that I would use one at a time for both the initial fill and for the refill later, at the same or (more likely) a different pharmacy.

Can someone please clarify what is the actual process and in particular just what kind and how many paper copies of the prescrip would I need to bring with me from my family doctor, in order to get what I'd need for both vials while I'm in England?

Thanks in advance, and once again, I'm sorry for being so confused!

Hi Tom, Yes you are correct - you would need two separate pieces of paper specifying the 100-ml vial. Each is retained by the pharmacist you take the prescription to. I've never had to wait 5 days for my insulin (novorapid cartridges), it's usually in stock or available the following day - I doubt if you'd have to wait much longer in any major UK town or city, although vials may not be as readily available as cartridges (most people use pens rather than pumps or syringes here). It's possible that you could get a doctor to issue two prescriptions so you could use them wherever you were in the country.

 

[Austin Mini]

I was just telling it how it was.

 

[Northerner]

I was just telling it how it was.

Sorry Austin, wasn't having a go, just didn't want Tom to get the impression that was commonly the case. It's the first time I've heard of insulin being so difficult to obtain - do you live in the back of beyond or is your pharmacist not part of a chain?

 

[Austin Mini]

Hi Northerner, no I live seven miles from Peterborough. Once this year I had to return back to the Chemist (Co op) as they gave my ordered insulin to someone who turned up with a 'script and had mine. Year before that they had my 'script but forgot to order it and again that year suppliers just 'ran out' of insulin.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Northerner, no I live seven miles from Peterborough. Once this year I had to return back to the Chemist (Co op) as they gave my ordered insulin to someone who turned up with a 'script and had mine. Year before that they had my 'script but forgot to order it and again that year suppliers just 'ran out' of insulin.

Not good! 😱

 

[bev]

Hi Tom,

Like Northerner said you need two separate prescriptions - one for June and one for July. Just to be extra cautious I would ask for 2 vial's on each one - you never know what might happen!🙂I completely understand your concerns and would probably do the same myself - but do remember that if you did find yourself in trouble without insulin you wouldnt be left to fend for yourself - we are quite civilized - he he!😉🙂Bev

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Presumably the same doc could write two scripts and Tom could pick them up whenever needed. I don't think there's a time limit on them (within reason)

 

[Aoife]

You may be able to get a dr to fax the script through to the pharmacy ahead of time so the insulin is there, ready and waiting for you. Carrying a paper copy of the prescription is a good idea anyway. You may just want to check on the 100ml vial bit though, I think that amount would last me all year!

ETA a pharmacy can only dispense a prescription from a doctor licensed to practice in the UK, i.e. with a GMC number. Just checking you know this!