Acute prescriptions are generally one-off or infrequent prescriptions prescribed by the doctor or pharmacist on a case by case basis.

For example:

• Medication requests from hospital discharge letters or following attendance at outpatient clinics.
• Antibiotics – these are usually prescribed at a specific dose for a set duration to treat a specific infection.  Due to the side effects of antibiotics and the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance a doctor needs to make a clinical decision to prescribe these drugs on an individual case by case basis.
• Steroid creams – due to the significant side effects and risks with use of strong steroids and prolonged steroid use it is important that a doctor or pharmacist judges of the appropriate of prescriptions on a case by case basis
• Drugs liable to dependence or abuse such as: Benzodiazepines (diazepam; temazepam), Z-drugs (zopiclone; zolpidem), and strong painkillers (tramadol; maxitram; co-codamol 30/500) – due to the risk of developing dependence with prolonged use these drugs they will often be prescribed for a short-term period and not intended for prolonged us

An acute prescription is any prescription that is not on repeat.

Ordering an acute prescription

There are two ways to request an acute prescription:

1. Speak to a receptionist on the phone. The receptionist will take details of your request which will be passed to a doctor or pharmacist for review.
2. Leave a written request into the practice reception desk. This should clearly state:

• • Your name, date of birth and address
  • The name and dose of the medication you are requesting
  • The reason for the request

Please note: A request is no guarantee of the prescription being provided.  The doctor or pharmacist may wish to discuss your request further before making a decision.  In some cases, your request may be declined.