An FP10 prescription is valid for 6 months from the 'date' on the prescription. This is unless the medicine prescribed is a Schedule 2, 3 or 4 controlled drug (CD).
Prescriptions for Schedule 2, 3 and 4 CDs are only valid for 28 days.
The validity of a prescription runs from the date that the prescription was signed or the 'appropriate date'. The appropriate date is a date indicated by the prescriber as the date before which the drug cannot be supplied.
If a prescription contains both these dates, the period of validity starts from the later of the 2 dates. If a prescription only has a signed date, this is the 'appropriate date'.
Repeat Prescriptions
Schedule 2 and 3 CDs cannot be prescribed on repeat dispensing prescriptions.
Schedule 4 CDs can be prescribed on a repeat dispensing prescription but must be dispensed for the first time within 28 days of the appropriate date.
Schedule 5 CDs and non-controlled drugs must be dispensed for the first time within six months of the appropriate date.
Any owing balance for a Schedule 2, 3 or 4 CD cannot be dispensed later than 28 days after the appropriate date on the prescription.
Any owing balance for a Schedule 5 CD cannot be collected more than 6 months after the appropriate date.
Where one FP10 prescription form contains items with different 'expiry dates', each item must have their validity period applied.