General Practice
Chronic medicine and repeats
How repeat prescriptions work, and why regular reviews matter.
3 min read
What it is
Long-term medicines for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, thyroid or asthma are prescribed in repeat cycles with a review consultation in between. The review is not a formality: doses can become outdated as your weight, kidney function and other medicines change. Bring an up-to-date medicine list to each review so your doctor can check every dose.
What to look for
Running low with no repeats left on the script
New side effects after a dose change
Being unsure what each tablet is actually for
Sensible things to do at home
- Keep a single up-to-date list of everything you take, including supplements
- Use a weekly pill organiser if you take several medicines
- Order repeats about a week before you run out
- Never stop a chronic medicine because you feel well
When to see us
- For your scheduled review before the repeats run out
- If a side effect is making you skip doses
- If another doctor or hospital has changed your medicines
To book, phone the practice on 058 813 2777 or send us a message. In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call 10177.