Medications – Only order what you need!

Please help us reduce medicines waste by checking what you already have at home before ordering your repeat prescription.

Why this matters

Unused medicines can expire, may no longer be right for you, and can be unsafe if kept at home. Stockpiling medicines can also make shortages worse for other patients.

Once medicines have left the pharmacy, they cannot usually be reused, even if they are unopened.

Before ordering your repeat prescription

Please:

Check your medicines cupboard first
Only tick the items you actually need this time
Do not order medicines you already have enough of
Remember: you can still order them again next time

When collecting your prescription

Please check your prescription bag before leaving the pharmacy.

If something has been supplied that you do not need, tell the pharmacy team straight away. If it is returned before you leave, it may still be possible for it to be used safely.

Do not throw medicines away at home

Please return any unwanted, unused or out-of-date medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not put medicines in household waste, and do not flush them down the toilet or sink.

Used or unwanted inhalers should also be returned to a pharmacy, as they can release gases that harm the environment.

Tell us if your medicines have changed

Please let the practice or your pharmacy know if:

You have stopped taking a medicine
You are taking it differently from the instructions
You are having side effects
You think a medicine is no longer right for you
You have a large supply building up at home

A medication review can help make sure your medicines are still safe, effective and needed.

Going into hospital?

Please take an up-to-date list of your medicines with you. You can keep this on paper, in your wallet or purse, or on the NHS App.

If you are asked to bring your medicines into hospital, please take them with you. This helps hospital staff know exactly what you are taking and may avoid unnecessary duplicate prescriptions.