Education
Knowledge to support informed care
Clear, reliable information can help you understand your healthcare, participate in treatment decisions and have more productive conversations with your healthcare professionals. The T-Leaf Wellness Education Centre provides general information about prescriptions, medicines, therapeutic goods and safe treatment practices. These resources are intended to complement advice from your doctor, pharmacist and other treating health professionals.
Electronic Prescriptions
Understanding electronic prescriptions
An electronic prescription, commonly known as an eScript, is a digital alternative to a paper prescription. It allows a prescriber to issue a prescription electronically and send a secure link to the patient by SMS or email. This link opens an electronic prescription token containing a barcode. A participating pharmacy scans the token to retrieve the prescription and dispense the medicine. Electronic prescriptions are legally recognised in Australia and generally follow the same prescribing and dispensing requirements as paper prescriptions.
Receiving and using an eScript
When an electronic prescription is issued, the patient usually receives a separate token for each prescribed medicine. The token can be presented or forwarded to the patient’s preferred participating pharmacy. After a medicine with repeats is dispensed, the pharmacy sends the patient a new token for the remaining prescription. This new token replaces the previous one and should be retained until the next supply is required. If an original token is lost or accidentally deleted, the prescribing clinic can usually resend it. For a lost repeat token, the patient should contact the pharmacy that dispensed the previous supply.
Managing multiple prescriptions
An Active Script List, or ASL, is a secure digital record of a patient’s active electronic prescriptions and repeats. It can be particularly helpful for people who take several medicines or find it difficult to manage multiple prescription tokens. Access to an Active Script List requires the patient’s consent. Authorised healthcare providers can then access the list when required for prescribing or dispensing.
Prescription Validity
Understanding prescription expiry
Prescriptions remain valid for a limited period. The applicable expiry period can depend on the medicine, its legal classification and the requirements of the state or territory in which it is prescribed or dispensed. Many prescriptions remain valid for up to 12 months, while certain controlled medicines and other restricted treatments may have shorter validity periods. Electronic and paper prescriptions generally have the same expiry requirements. The prescribing practitioner or dispensing pharmacist can confirm the validity period applying to an individual prescription.
Schedule 4 (S4) Prescriptions: Valid for 12 months from the date they are written.
Schedule 8 (S8) Prescriptions: Valid for 6 months from the date they are written.
Expired prescriptions and remaining repeats
A medicine cannot ordinarily be dispensed from an expired prescription, even where unused repeats appear to remain. A new prescription must be issued before further medicine can be supplied. The prescriber may require a review consultation to assess whether the treatment remains appropriate, effective and safe. Planning reviews before a prescription expires can help prevent unintended interruptions to treatment.
Medicines and Therapeutic Goods
Therapeutic goods in Australia
Therapeutic goods are products intended to prevent, diagnose, treat or manage health conditions. They include:
prescription medicines
over-the-counter medicines
complementary medicines
biological products
medical devices
certain disinfectants and other regulated health products.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration, or TGA, is Australia’s national regulator of therapeutic goods.
The role of the TGA
The TGA regulates therapeutic goods using a risk-based framework. Its responsibilities include overseeing product quality, safety, performance, manufacturing standards, labelling and advertising. Most therapeutic goods must be entered in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods before they can be routinely supplied in Australia, unless a specific exemption or lawful alternative pathway applies. Inclusion in the register does not mean that a product is appropriate for every person. Suitability depends on the individual’s health, other medicines, allergies, treatment goals and the balance of potential benefits and risks.
Access to unapproved therapeutic goods
An unapproved therapeutic good is a product that has not been included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods for general supply. In certain circumstances, a medical practitioner may seek access for an individual patient through a pathway such as the Special Access Scheme or Authorised Prescriber pathway. Access through one of these pathways does not mean the TGA has approved the product in the same way as a registered therapeutic good. The treating practitioner must determine whether its use is clinically appropriate and explain the relevant benefits, risks, alternatives and uncertainties.
Routes of Administration
How medicines are delivered
The route of administration describes how a medicine is introduced or applied to the body. It can influence how quickly the medicine takes effect, how long its effects last, how consistently it is absorbed and which precautions may apply. Common routes of administration include:
Oral administration: Tablets, capsules, liquids and other preparations taken by mouth are convenient and widely used. Their absorption can be influenced by food, digestion, interactions with other medicines and individual health factors.
Sublingual and buccal administration: Sublingual medicines are placed under the tongue, while buccal medicines are placed against the inside of the cheek. These formulations may be absorbed through the lining of the mouth and should be used according to the specific instructions provided.
Topical administration: Creams, ointments, lotions and gels are applied to the skin, usually to produce an effect at or near the application site. Some topical medicines can also be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Transdermal administration: Transdermal patches and specially designed topical formulations deliver medicine through the skin over a period of time.
Inhaled administration: Inhaled medicines are delivered through an appropriate device into the respiratory system. Correct technique is important for consistent dosing and effective treatment.
Injectable administration: Injectable medicines may be delivered under the skin, into a muscle or directly into the bloodstream. Many injectable treatments require administration or instruction from a suitably trained health professional.
Selecting an appropriate route: The most appropriate route depends on the medicine, the desired effect, how quickly it needs to act and the patient’s individual circumstances.
Prescribers may also consider ease of use, swallowing or absorption difficulties, duration of action, possible adverse effects and the patient’s ability to use the medicine correctly. A medicine should not be crushed, divided, inhaled, applied differently or otherwise altered unless a doctor or pharmacist has confirmed that it is safe to do so.
Prescription Access and Patient Choice
Accessing a prescription
Patients should understand how their prescriptions will be issued, how they can access them and where they can be dispensed. An electronic prescription token can usually be presented or forwarded to a participating pharmacy selected by the patient. Where repeats remain, the pharmacy ordinarily issues a new token after each dispensing. Clear communication about prescription access helps patients remain involved in their healthcare and reduces the risk of delays or confusion.
Choosing a pharmacy
Patients are generally free to choose which pharmacy dispenses their prescription. They may also choose a different pharmacy when using a valid repeat token. Availability, price, dispensing time and delivery services can vary between pharmacies. Patients may ask about these matters before choosing where to have a prescription dispensed. A clinic may help coordinate dispensing with a pharmacy for convenience and continuity of care. This should not interfere with the patient’s ability to request their prescription or use another pharmacy.
Independent clinical decisions
The responsibilities of the prescriber and pharmacist remain professionally distinct. The treating practitioner is responsible for determining whether a prescription is clinically appropriate. The pharmacist is responsible for dispensing the medicine safely and providing relevant pharmacy advice. Patients are encouraged to ask how their prescription will be provided, whether any fees apply and how they can nominate or change their preferred pharmacy.
Responsible Use of Medicines
Balancing benefits and risks
Every medicine has potential benefits and risks. This applies to prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, supplements and products described as natural or alternative. The word “natural” does not necessarily mean that a product is harmless. Safety can depend on the dose, frequency, duration of use, other substances being taken and the individual’s medical circumstances. Medicines should be used according to the directions provided by the prescriber, pharmacist and accompanying product information.
The importance of medication reviews
Regular reviews allow the treating practitioner to assess whether treatment remains effective and appropriate.
A review may consider:
changes in symptoms or health
possible side effects
interactions with other medicines or supplements
difficulties using the treatment
monitoring requirements
whether the dose or treatment plan should change.
Patients should not increase, reduce or stop a prescribed medicine without professional advice unless they have already received clear instructions about when and how to do so.
Responding to side effects
Suspected side effects should be discussed promptly with a doctor or pharmacist. Severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, collapse, significant swelling or a rapidly worsening reaction require urgent medical attention. Call 000 or attend the nearest emergency department. If too much medicine may have been taken, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. The service operates 24 hours a day throughout Australia.
Taking an Active Role in Your Care
Good healthcare involves open communication between patients and their healthcare professionals.
Before beginning a new treatment, it can be helpful to understand:
the intended purpose of the treatment
its potential benefits and risks
reasonable alternatives
how and when it should be used
possible interactions
activities that may need to be avoided
side effects requiring medical attention
how treatment progress will be assessed
when a review should occur.
Patients are encouraged to ask questions, raise concerns and participate in decisions about their healthcare.
Important Information
The information provided in the T-Leaf Wellness Education Centre is general in nature. It does not replace individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Treatment suitability, prescribing requirements, prescription validity and dispensing rules can differ according to the medicine, individual circumstances and applicable Commonwealth, state or territory requirements. Always follow the instructions provided by your treating health professional. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns about a medicine.
Further reading:
Electronic Prescriptions, Australian Digital Health Agency
Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons, healthdirect