Medication for a long-term condition is often settled for years, and yet the prescription always runs out at some point. Renewal is one of the most common things people ask a doctor for, and in many cases it can be done safely remotely. The doctor's job, though, is not just to sign, but to make sure the medicine is still the right one, the dose suitable and the monitoring up to date. Here is when a renewal works in a chat, what information I need, and why I sometimes ask for tests or a visit first.
How prescriptions work in Finland
A prescription written by a doctor is stored in the national Prescription Centre (Reseptikeskus), from which any pharmacy can dispense the medicine. A prescription is usually valid for at most two years from the date it was written or renewed. Prescriptions for medicines that act mainly on the central nervous system, medicines classed as narcotics, biological medicines and patient-specific special-permit preparations are valid for one year, and the doctor can also set a shorter validity. Check the actual expiry in Omakanta, the national online health record, where you can see your prescriptions, how much medicine is left on them and when they expire.
At Treat, renewing a prescription is included in the price of the consultation when it is clinically appropriate. The prescription is sent to the Prescription Centre, and you can collect the medicine from any pharmacy.
When a renewal works remotely
A renewal in a chat is usually possible when
- the condition was diagnosed earlier and the medication has been stable for a long time
- you are well and no new problems have come up with the medicine
- the monitoring the medicine requires is up to date: measurements or laboratory tests have been done on the recommended schedule
- it is an ordinary long-term medicine, for example for blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid or asthma, an allergy medicine, the contraceptive pill or an emollient cream
With your consent, the doctor can fetch your Kanta records for the case. They show earlier prescriptions and visits, which speeds up the assessment and means you do not have to explain everything from the start.
What the doctor needs to know
A renewal request moves fastest when you say straight away:
- the name, strength and dose of the medicine, ideally checked from the packaging or Omakanta
- which condition it was prescribed for and when the treatment started
- who has been following up the medication and when your last check-up was
- how the medicine has worked and whether it has caused side effects
- home measurements, if you have them: blood pressure, blood sugar, weight
- your other medicines and any known drug allergies
- whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy
Why some medicines need tests or a visit
Some medicines are only safe when their effect is monitored. In that case the doctor may ask for a recent laboratory test or direct you to an in-person visit before renewing. Examples:
- Blood pressure medicines: blood pressure levels and, for some drugs, kidney function and potassium at regular intervals.
- Cholesterol medicines: lipid levels and, if needed, liver function.
- Thyroid medicine: thyroid levels, because the dose may need adjusting.
- Diabetes medicines: long-term blood sugar and kidney function.
- Blood thinners: monitoring of the anticoagulant effect or kidney function, depending on the drug.
- The contraceptive pill: blood pressure and questions about migraine and smoking, for example.
Medicines that act on the central nervous system, such as strong painkillers, sleeping tablets, sedatives and ADHD medicines, and specialist-initiated treatments generally belong with the treating doctor or an ongoing care relationship, and are not usually renewed in a one-off remote contact. This is not distrust; it is part of safe medication.
The doctor will tell you plainly in the chat if a renewal cannot be done remotely, and what is needed so that it can be.
Plan ahead
- Check in Omakanta how much medicine is left and when the prescription expires.
- Ask for a renewal at least a couple of weeks before the medicine runs out. That leaves time for any tests without a gap in treatment.
- Keep a list of your important medicines on your phone: name, strength, dose.
- Do not stop a long-term medicine on your own just because the prescription has expired. Some medicines, for example epilepsy medicines, heart medicines and insulin, can cause a serious situation if stopped suddenly.
When it is not a renewal question
If an important medicine has run out and you are getting worse, it is no longer a prescription matter but a need for care. Go to the emergency department or call 112 if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, a seizure, confusion, very high or very low blood sugar or any other sudden, serious symptom.
How Treat can help
In Treat you say which medicine you need renewed and how the treatment has gone. A licensed doctor usually assesses the request within minutes during service hours, renews the prescription straight to the Prescription Centre when it is appropriate, or tells you which tests or visit are needed first. Treat complements your existing care; it does not replace it. In an emergency, call 112.
This article is general health information and does not replace an individual assessment by a doctor.