UK prescriptions two medicine requirement

[whoknows]

So there is this requirement that one should have tried two treatments for their condition. So let’s take the example of Mr A, who is diagnosed with anxiety and was prescribed two meds one after the other this person would qualify for a cannabis prescription. However what if Mr A got prescribed two conventional meds at once and in the same prescription to control their anxiety. Does this count as one or two treatments. 

[BilgePump]

Prescriptions don't equate to treatments.

Mrs P has one prescription of like 6 items for various conditions.

 

I think regarding qualification for a Cannabis script you need to have actually given the two conventional medicines a fair amount of time.

Like you can't just have a couple boxes of fluoxetine decide they don't work and do the same with sertraline for example and expect to walk into a Cannabis prescription.

[mystic_roots]

Yeah you have to have been on medication for some time but they also like you to explore other routes such as therapy, be that talking, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy etc 

 

Medication can take a good 6 weeks until it's fully in your system and if that doesn't work then the Dr's may increase it. If you are having adverse side effects then they will try another type of medication, but Dr's can only prescribe a certain amount. I was referred to a specialist who was able to prescribe me medication my normal GP couldn't, I've been through most of them so when I applied for medicinal cannabis they were happy with everything I'd done and been through, bearing in mind I've been battling it for a good 10+ years before turning to MC.

Edited August 19, 2023 by mystic_roots

[hashbrown]

I have been struggling for a very long time and had various treatments over the years plenty of different medication. 

 

Anyone think I could qualify? 

[RandalMcmurphy]

27 minutes ago, hashbrown said:

I have been struggling for a very long time and had various treatments over the years plenty of different medication. 

 

Anyone think I could qualify? 

Yes you definitely would. I've a few friends who go the legal route. You need to have tried two different meds for the condition you want cannabis for. So you would qualify as long as your condition qualifies and there are a lot.

 

I got a Cancard and the Police don't give a feck. They still take my green and devices. I did have a misguided youth so have previous with the Police but I am on meds for hypertension, anxiety, and depression and they don't help as much as weed. 

 

Ive smoked and vaped government weed lots of times through friends and I even know a vendor who sells it. People are getting scripts just to sell them I assume. It's nothing special. Certainly not top shelf. Many UK vendors with better quality weed and I hear a lot of the government weed is irradiated.

 

We all store our weed correctly and the cure improves so many things. The man treats it with radiation to kill harmful microbes.

 

I understand people wanting to go legal but I am perfectly happy with what I can get on the black market. I do miss growing my own, and so does my bank account but my present circumstances prohibit it. Going to give outdoor a try next year. Got a nice spot picked out that gets sun all day and is way off the beaten track.

[Hazeytones]

I know a fella who has a script and the weed is absolutely awful, plus he has to pay for consultations every couple of months. Fuck jumping through hoops and paying for inferior weed and grow your own. I for one won't be held to ransom to use the plants that I want to use, they can kindly shove their government weed. 

[whoknows]

Thanks for your replies but I am still a bit unclear, so let’s take an example of anxiety. You could be prescribed a benzo like Valium for anxiety that’s one treatment and you could be prescribed an SSRI like Fluoxetine for anxiety. You maybe prescribed first for six months and then the next for six months.

 

What happens  if you are prescribed both these drugs (both are treatment for anxiety in their own right) together so let’s say SSRI in the morning and benzo at bed time. Is this counted as two treatments or one?  

Edited August 19, 2023 by whoknows

[whoknows]

I do understand the point about growing one’s own but not everyone is in a situation where one can grow in their home and it’s difficult  to do GG in large cities.

[Hazeytones]

I'm not 100% sure how it works was just told that other medications have to be tried first.

 

Does your doctor know you use cannabis already?

I ask because if your going down the route of medical cannabis for anxiety they may very well say that is your cause of anxiety.

 

I was at the doctors last week about breathing problems that started when I got covid over 3 years ago, before that I hadn't been at the doctors in over 10 years. They have tried me on all sorts of inhalers and nothing works but they keep saying that it's anxiety due to heavy cannabis use even though I had no problems until I got covid. Basically they don't know what's wrong and it's the easiest thing to blame. 

[whoknows]

No one knows of the eternal love between the blessed herb and me.

[Hazeytones]

You may get it OK then I really don't know. 

Do you just buy street weed then? 

[whoknows]

Yes mate no other options at the moment.

[Hazeytones]

Could you not even do a small wardrobe grow? Far safer than running about scoring grass, your more likely to get caught that way.

[whoknows]

My living situation won’t allow that. Tried my best.

Edited August 19, 2023 by whoknows

[iShouldCoCo]

It's two failed frontline treatments so individual medications. I was accepted with Sertraline (6 months) and Mirtazipine (I took one tablet and it was awful but it appeared on my prescription list). I was refused by one clinic and accepted by another with that info on my Summary Care Record. I had also been to therapy mind.

 

There is no actual requirement to have tried 2 medications now but most Drs still want to see that evidence.