Medicamente fără prescripție medicală

Over the counter medicines are medicines that you can get without a prescription. They can be purchased in pharmacies, supermarkets and many local shops.

You may still be given a prescription for a medicine for a condition on the list if:

• You need treatment for a long time, e.g. regular pain relief for long term conditions such as chronic arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.
• You have a more severe form of the illness and over the counter medicines will not work.
• You need a medicine to treat a side effect of a prescription medicine e.g. constipation when taking certain prescription painkillers.
• You fall within a group of people to whom a specific   medicine can’t be sold. These groups commonly include babies, children and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.  
• Your health care professional thinks it is unsafe to expect you to treat yourself, for example, because of mental health problems or extreme social vulnerability.
• You require a vitamin or mineral for a medically diagnosed deficiency or treatment of a specific condition. Otherwise, vitamins, minerals, probiotics and other food supplements should be purchased over the counter.

The guidance applies to everyone, and the list above is not exhaustive. Age and exemption from prescription charges are not exceptions to the guidance.

Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to help with many health concerns.

Your pharmacist can advise which medicines are most suitable for you to purchase over the counter, and what to do if none of the treatments meet your requirements. They can also advise on whether an over-the-counter medicine can be taken alongside your prescription medicines.

Most people have access to a community pharmacy within a short distance of their home, many of which are open at weekends and late into the evening – you can find your nearest one here. Supermarkets and convenience stores also stock some commonly used medicines.

A friend, family member or carer can also buy over the counter medicines on your behalf.

Consider keeping a small supply of some over the counter treatments at home in your medicines cabinet so that you have them at hand in the first instance if you don’t feel well.

Most medicines for minor ailments can be given at home before the school day starts and last long enough so that another dose does not have to be given until the child returns home. These should be purchased over the counter. Please don’t ask your GP to prescribe paracetamol or ibuprofen “just in case” for this purpose.

This advice does not apply to you if your child receives paracetamol or another analgesic on prescription for long term management of chronic pain. If this is the case, please refer to your school’s Medicine Policy.

All local NHS services including urgent and emergency care services will ask you to purchase medicines from your local pharmacy if it is for a minor illness or refer you to a Pharmacy First Service.    

Please do not attend out of hours or A&E services if you have a minor illness. If you require advice on one of the minor conditions listed, then first visit your local pharmacy or contact NHS 111 via telephone or pe net if you are not sure.

If you have a general enquiry or wish to make a complaint, please contact the ICB rather than your general practice. You can:

• Email: llricb-llr.enquiries@nhs.net
• Telephone: 0116 2957572
• Postal address:

NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB
Camera 30 Pen Lloyd Building
Leicester Road, Glenfield
Leicester, LE3 8TB