< Back to policies & procedures

Lost Medications and Controlled Drugs Policy

 

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance for doctors, nurses, and patients to enable safe prescribing of controlled drugs (CDs).

Incorrect prescribing of these medicines can result in harm to patients including addiction, physical and mental harm, and death.

 

This guideline primarily focuses on drugs which are commonly used for recreation, abuse, or where risk of diversion is high.

These include but are not limited to:

  • Morphine 
  • Diazepam
  • Tramadol 
  • Temazepam
  • Codeine 
  • Alprazolam
  • Dihydrocodeine 
  • Pregabalin
  • Oxycodone 
  • Gabapentin
  • Fentanyl 
  • Zopiclone
  • Buprenorphine 
  • Zolpidem

This Practice will not start anybody on the above drugs long term or increase the dose for those already taking them, if not indicated.

Patients who request these medicines before they are due or who run out because they have increased the dose without discussing with a Doctor will have their prescription rejected.

Lost Medications – Controlled Drugs

  • If a patient contacts the surgery saying they have lost their controlled drug medication for the first time, it is up to the on call doctor as to whether more should be issued. Reception will place a note stating “CD early request, first, *insert date*” on the patient’s alerts.
  • If a patient contacts the surgery again saying they have lost their CD medications their prescriptions will be changed to weekly and they will not be issued with more medication. Reception will place a note stating “CD early request, multiple” on the patient’s alerts.
  • If a patient on weekly prescriptions contacts the surgery saying they have lost their CD medications, their prescriptions will be changed to daily prescriptions and they will not be issued with more medication.