Can I get a refund for wrong dosage of prescription meds?
Posted by DisastrousAge8905@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 43 comments
Hi, asking here because I am new to the UK. I am on 75mg of an SSRI prescription and I requested for a refill yesterday. Picked up the meds from Boots today and saw that I only received 50mg tablets packets and not the 25mg packets (I usually get both together and have one of each everyday to make 75mg). Called the GP surgery and they said they will send the 25mg separately but I will have to pay for it again. I also requested for a birth control and had to pay for it, but the NHS website says it should be free. I am a grad student, and these prescription payments are getting quite hefty. Can I ask for a refund or something? Thanks!
jcmush@reddit
If you were prescribed 75mg and the pharmacist gave you 50mg then take the box back and the pharmacist can reissue the correct prescription.
If you were prescribed 50mg then unfortunately you’re out of luck
Pr6srn@reddit
Not if it's the GPs mistake, you can't.
sihasihasi@reddit
Which is exactly what was said.
kamaca@reddit
You should be able to get a refund for the contraceptive as long as it was sent over by the nhs. Pharmacists can sell (prescribe) some contraceptives without an existing prescription but these count as private so nhs pricing doesn’t apply. If it was an nhs prescription then contact your pharmacy, they record prescriptions so will be able to see that you were wrongly charged and help with your refund.
You won’t be able to get a refund for the SSRI but both strengths should be on the same script next month and will be charged as a single item. Check the script on collection, you can return them to the dispenser before signing for them if they’re wrong and contact your GP surgery for an emergency same/next day script with both strengths together to be sent over. This is something that happens sometimes so they should all understand.
I’d also suggest speaking to your GP about a 3 month supply. Not all meds can be prescribed in that quantity, not all patients are eligible and not all GPs are comfortable doing it (especially for new patients), but it isn’t uncommon for longterm medications and it can help to keep costs and pharmacy trips down.
Contraceptives are regularly prescribed in 6 month supplies and are also available under the nhs from sexual health services, such as drop-in centres or the online/postal service SH24, which can be more accessible for some.
I hope this helps!! I left pharmacy a while ago so it’s nice to be able to put my knowledge to use once in a while lol
Pockysocks@reddit
If the 25mg was on the prescription and you paid for it but didn't receive it then the pharmacy will have to provide you with the medication and should not charge you.
If it wasn't on the prescription, you should have only been charged for what's on the prescription and you will have to pay for the 25mg when you collect it.
If it wasn't on the prescription but was charged for it, the pharmacy will have to refund.
Accomplished_Bison87@reddit
Only England has prescription charges
gt94sss2@reddit
Depending on the number of prescriptions you need each year, https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/nhs-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc may save you money.
snowdrop0901@reddit
100 and 50 mg of ssri here plus reflux meds....ive had all 3 put across as 3 prescriptions before...highly recommend getting pre payment especially if you get a monthly birth control.
Pre payment also works for all prescriptions, one off and repeat ones, so if you need antibiotics at some point in the next year ect.
lizaanna@reddit
I have the prepayment certificate but birth control is free, OP needs to remind the pharmacist it’s bc, they’ve tried to charge me before (and before I had my certificate)
snowdrop0901@reddit
Ah shit fair then. I have the implant so never got monthly birth control
RanaBufo@reddit
Birth control pills are free anyway 👍
Glad-Pomegranate6283@reddit
I’m on ten prescriptions give or take, I’m exempt but if not I’d use a PPC, it’s so handy
InsertObligatoryPun@reddit
Even if you get 1 prescription a month, you’re saving a couple of quid. Definitely worth it as cover.
grepusman@reddit
When my Pharmacy made an error in the strength of my medication, of course I raised it with them and I also asked what measures would be taken to ensure this doesn't happen again. I used to work in healthcare and I understand that such an error could be extremely serious.
They responded quite seriously and informed me that an investigation is automatically triggered, and that I will receive a report as to their findings. I did. I was satisfied with how they handled it.
You should ask the same question. Again, dosing errors can be quite serious.
StarfireGirl@reddit
Just to add on that you can usually get your contraception supplied for a year, for free, from your local sexual health clinic.
Contraception should always be free, though it can be hard to get individual pharmacies to recognise this sometimes.
littletorreira@reddit
Can you get a pill cutter and take 1 and a half each time.
TheGeordieGal@reddit
Problem with that is you'll run out before the next batch is due and may have to wait.
littletorreira@reddit
That is also true, but in a pinch of they are pills and if OP can get back to the GP and explain. Better than running out in between.
Glad-Pomegranate6283@reddit
I could be wrong, I take antipsychotics which for me are tablets, but I’m pretty sure SSRIs and SNRIs tend to be capsules
littletorreira@reddit
Oh bum. I saw "pill" and thought pill.
I have a friend who ended up getting prescribed a pill cutter on the NHS because her required dose was like 5 times more expensive as pills than the pills that were double her dose.
pixeltash@reddit
Sertraline is a tablet, but Fluoxetine is a powder in gel capsules.
So it's not that simple.
Glad-Pomegranate6283@reddit
Like I said, it tends to be the case but not always. Surely if they were tablets and OP cut them, it may not work if they have a modified release mechanism, or work less effectively bc the dose isn’t correct ?
pixeltash@reddit
Yeah good point. I can't swallow tablets well, so for years opened up Fluoxetine and put the powder in something, can confirm does not taste good no matter what you put it in.
Glad-Pomegranate6283@reddit
I don’t blame you tbh, I take pregabalin which is a capsule. I once parked it in my mouth whilst I poured a glass of water, forgetting it wasn’t a tablet. It tasted grim haha, nasal triptans are something else though
AdCareful9415@reddit
As you are new to uk you are probably not entitled to free NHS services.
Specialist_-Berry@reddit
If you're new to the UK what do you think gives you the moral right to free prescriptions? The cost of prescriptions in the UK is very low even at full price
MapOfIllHealth@reddit
As far as birth control, I remember my experience ten years ago was that you had to have resided in the country for at least 12-months to get it for free
Roademan@reddit
Perhaps get a job ? Or is work not on your agenda.
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
Diplomatic_Gunboats@reddit
You are likely being charged for prescriptions because you are a foreign student and have not applied for low income help with prescription costs. Keep in mind as a foreign student you *may* fall outside the threshold for 'low income' due to the financial proofs you had to provide to be a student here (which they will want to see). You can also apply for a refund as long as your application is within 3 months of the prescription being paid.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/
lovelight@reddit
Do you qualify for an NHS prepayment certificate? It’s £10 a month for a year and covers all prescriptions
Upstairs_Yogurt_5208@reddit
Qualify? Anyone who pays for prescriptions can purchase a prescription prepayment certificate. There is no qualifying criteria
Mammoth-Turnip-3058@reddit
I'm not sure about replacing the wrong dosage but birth control is free in this country. Did you pick it up with your other prescription or separately?
Yep_OK_Crack_On@reddit
Log into your NHS account online and check your prescription history for what was prescribed.
You need to see whether the issue is
A) the doctors mistake in prescribing you 50mg instead of 75 OR
B) the pharmacist’s error in receiving a 75mg prescription and only supplying 50
If it’s the doctors error they need to send a new prescription and you will have to pay. If it comes s the pharmacy’s error then you tell them that you have already paid for the prescription for 75mg and they are legally required to deliver what has been prescribed
citygent1911@reddit
Welcome to our world 🙈. I don't believe any prescriptions are free for university students, but happy to be corrected on this.
They're not "free" of course - they are paid for by the British tax payer.
MildlyImpoverished@reddit
Happy to correct you if it helps people - uni students can fill in a HC1 form and as long as they are earning less than a certain amount they can get free prescriptions and reduced other costs (dental/optician/etc)
No_Pea-1@reddit
There is no fee for birth control pills.
PigletAlert@reddit
I don’t think you can no, because the two strengths need to be on the same prescription. It seems unfair I know, you could ask the pharmacy, but that one is not really their fault. I’d suggest next time to double check what’s been prescribed before you pay.
You should speak to them about your contraception though because that’s free as long as it is actually for that reason and not for acne or something else like that.
PowerfulAppeal6511@reddit
Pharmacies usually charge per item, but if it’s correcting an error, you might be able to get it sorted.
No-Medicine1230@reddit
I've had this before with the wrong dosage. The pharmacy can't and won't help as they just dispense. Complain to your surgery if it's their mistake, I got money transferred to me by my surgery for the balls up
Key_Plum_99a@reddit
You won’t be able to do anything about the second SSRI prescription.
But as you’ve been wrongly charged for a contraception prescription, you can claim that back.
https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-03815/en-us
*Ask your pharmacist, hospital, or doctor for an FP57 refund receipt when you pay. You cannot get one later.
Take your FP57 receipt and proof you were entitled at the time the prescription was collected to any pharmacy.
The pharmacy will issue your refund directly.*
BlackGoldenLotus@reddit
Idk about the mistakes prescription but you shouldn't be asked to pay for birth control. Usually when I pick it up they scribble on the little form that you normally tick to indicate if you pay for prescriptions. Now that I get them dispensed through the pharmacist directly they dont say anything about payments or do i even see the form anymore. That you specifically need to question.
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