Prescription Rules 2025 (Update)

In order to maintain a high standard of service and ensure your safety, we kindly ask you to familiarize yourself with the following prescription rules in our clinic:

1.     A prescription is a medical document issued by a doctor who knows the patient, the reason for the prescription, monitors the regular intake of medications, and bears full responsibility for issuing the prescription in accordance with Irish regulations.

2.     Regular medications are those taken monthly for a period of 6 months or more. All other medications are treated as occasional use.

3.     A prescription for regular medications (e.g. for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol) is issued once a month by the doctor, with a validity of 3 months (contraceptive medications are issued for 6 months).

4.     Occasional-use medications are prescribed for a short period at the doctor's discretion.

5.     For patient safety, all regular medications are issued together at the same time.

6.     After a 3-month prescription for regular medications is issued, these medications can be collected directly from the pharmacy for the following 3 months without needing to request a renewal each month from the clinic.

7.     Prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy indicated by the patient (from 2026, we will no longer print prescriptions!). You will receive an SMS confirming the prescription has been sent.

8.     In case of a change in pharmacy or phone number, please inform the clinic as soon as possible! NEW

9.     Any changes in long-term medications made in a hospital or by a specialist clinic must be communicated to your GP (family doctor) as soon as possible to update the records in our system, avoid misunderstandings at the pharmacy, and prevent adverse interactions with other medications.

10.  If a patient discontinues any medication without consulting our doctor, the long-term prescriptions will continue to be issued based on previous documentation until an official request to stop a specific medication is submitted, along with a justified reason.

11.  If requesting a medication that has never been prescribed before or has not been prescribed in over 12 months, the reason for the request (e.g. name of condition) must be provided at reception, or you must book a doctor’s appointment to update the medication.

12.  Medications prescribed by the doctor must not be given to other family members or friends. Doctors also cannot prescribe medications for individuals who are not registered patients of our clinic.

13.  If you are using medications from another country, Irish equivalents may be prescribed following a consultation with a doctor.

14.  Taking someone else’s medications without a medical consultation is at your own risk.

15.  Patients on long-term/regular medications for chronic conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.) will be asked to attend a nurse or doctor review every 6–12 months.

16.  Regular medication prescriptions (online) are not issued during a medical consultation. NEW

17.  When requesting occasional-use medications (e.g. painkillers, sedatives, sleeping aids, creams), you must state the reason for the request (e.g. sleep problems). The doctor may ask for a photo of a skin condition (if requesting a cream). In justified cases, the doctor may request contact with the clinic to clarify the prescription request. NEW

18.  Requests for renewing regular prescriptions can be submitted by SMS (preferred method), email (password: regular meds), or by phone—but only if you need to confirm proper medication usage.

19.  Prescriptions are issued daily. Orders submitted before 1:00 PM are processed the same day. Orders placed after 1:00 PM are processed the next working day. In exceptional circumstances, the clinic reserves the right to issue prescriptions within 48 hours of the request. NEW

20.  If you have any questions, our staff will be happy to provide information or assistance.

Example of a prescription request for long-term medications via SMS or email:
"Repeat – long-term medications" First Name Last Name

Example of a prescription request for occasional medications:
"Prescription for Difene – back pain" First Name Last Name