Figuring out how to handle my Pariet prescription

[alias_sqbr]

So! I have a prescription for Pariet/rabeprazole that runs out in six weeks. It's an Authority required (STREAMLINED) medication.

I would like to avoid having to go to a doctor's office to get my next prescription at that point, to avoid possible Covid exposure, but am not sure how. Advice from anyone who understands the Australian medical system better than me (or the confused chemist I asked) appreciated.

So! I have a psychiatrist appointment in 3 weeks which seems a bit safer: it's earlier, and a psych office will have less sick people than a GP surgery (especially one aimed at international travellers, like mine is /o\) He's been willing to get me this prescription before, even though stomachs aren't exactly his speciality.

But the last time I tried getting a Pariet prescription early the system wouldn't let me.

But! That was my old prescription under the old system!

I take twice the usual dose. Pariet used to not require an authority script by default, but I used to have an authority script to get two boxes once a month. Then they changed Pariet in general to the newly created category Authority required (STREAMLINED). The doctor could no longer get permission to prescribe me two boxes at once, which makes me suspect it's also going to be difficult or impossible to get a prescription early. Now I get one box every two weeks.

So. Will I be able to get a prescription from my psych in 3 weeks? Would I have better luck if I bought up the remaining repeats early, assuming I can do that? I don't seem to have the usual "wait 20 days" restriction on authority meds, I managed to get my last box a week early and the chemist didn't think there was any time restriction.

Or is there some way to get the prescription remotely in a month and a half?

I mean visiting a GP doesn't guarantee covid exposure but I'd really rather avoid it. I could ring the doctor's office to ask about all this but ringing people is scary, especially when it involves explaining complex stuff. I could just wait until my psych appointment but would rather avoid unnecessarily wasting his time, and if I need to buy the meds up in advance need to know that now.

(My other prescription, Pristiq, doesn't run out for 3 months and is overall MUCH less hassle)

Comments

[lilacsigil]

Once you've processed the last repeat, you can usually get a new prescription with authority and authority streamlined scripts. You couldn't get the old script early because it was an authority, but your new one is a streamline so you can, it just doesn't go towards your safety net total.

You can use online doctors (which is more expensive but less exposure), you can call your GP's office and explain the situation, or you could ask your psych. If you can get the streamline number from your last script, this will make it easier for the psych to write the same thing. It will be a four-digit number, most likely 8774.

The wait 20 days restriction applies to some authority meds (and anything the doctor orders to be given that way, usually drugs of dependence) but not usually to authority streamlined, so go get the rest done then work on getting your new prescription.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, thank you!! This is SO GREAT to know sends you extra virtual cake

[velithya]

If there's no restriction for actually prescribing it, then you theoretically should be able to get it early from a doctor. Some doctors do do scripts remotely (although they often will charge a fee) and can even fax it over to your pharmacy for you so you don't have to pick it up in person.

I know ringing people is scary but maybe your doctor's office has a general email address you can use to send them a message if that's easier for you?

My recommendation in this situation (as someone who has worked in a doctor's office before) would be to contact your doctor's office, explain that you will need a new prescription for [drug] and that due to covid-19 you are concerned about attending in person, and ask if there's a way that they could do the script and sent it to your chemist. (If this was me I would also tell them that I understand that there might be a charge for this.)

[alias_sqbr]

Thank you, this was helpful all laid out like this!

[lilysea]

My GP will write repeats without a consult - you phone the receptionist, and explain what you need, and the GP faxes/posts the script to the pharmacy for you. The GP charges $10 or $15 for scripts this way without a repeat, and they need to have seen you face-to-face in the last 12 months. There's no reason that this wouldn't work for authority scripts - you don't need to be in the room for the GP to phone in an authority script.

[lilacsigil]

My local GPs won't do this (some will, some won't) but I'm hoping they start to make exceptions for coronavirus reasons.

[alias_sqbr]

That's good to know, thank you!