Ordering prescription medicines
How to Buy Prescription Medicines
Some veterinary medicines require a valid prescription before they can be supplied. Ordering is straightforward - simply place your order online, send us your prescription and our pharmacy team will check it before dispensing your medicine.
How to Order
We make it easy...
Whether you have a new prescription or a repeat prescription, follow the three steps below.
Place your order
Find the prescription medicine you need on our website and place your order.

You can order before sending your prescription, but we cannot dispense the medicine until we have received and checked a valid prescription.
Send us your prescription
For non-controlled veterinary medicines, upload your prescription through our secure online prescription upload service. If we already hold a valid repeat prescription on file, you do not need to upload it again.

For controlled drugs, the original signed prescription must be sent to us by post or delivered by hand.
We check & dispense
Our pharmacy team will check your prescription and confirm that it is valid for the medicine ordered.

Once everything is in order, we will dispense your medicine and process your order.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Controlled drugs are subject to additional legal requirements
For controlled medicines, we require the original signed prescription to be sent by post:

Hyperdrug Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Station Bank
Middleton-in-Teesdale
Barnard Castle
DL12 0NG

Controlled-drug prescriptions are generally valid for 28 days.
Need Help?
Get in touch
If you're unsure whether your prescription is suitable, whether your medicine requires a prescription, or how to send your prescription to us, our team is happy to help.

01833 641112 | sales@hyperdrug.co.uk
FAQs
More information about prescriptions
What is a prescription-only medicine?
A prescription-only medicine is a legal classification for medicines that may only be dispensed and supplied by a pharmacist when a valid prescription has been received.
Where can I obtain a prescription?
If your vet has prescribed a medicine and you wish to obtain it from another supplier, you can request a written prescription from your vet. Following a change in the law after an investigation by the Competition Commission in 2005, your vet should provide a prescription on request where they would otherwise be supplying the same medication themselves.
How long does a prescription last?
Standard veterinary prescriptions are generally valid for 6 months, unless the prescribing vet specifies a shorter period.

If a prescription is more than 3 months old and has not been fully used, we may need to contact you to verify the prescription with you before dispensing.

Controlled-drug prescriptions are different and are generally valid for 28 days from the date they are signed. See the controlled-drug section below for further requirements.
Will I be charged for a prescription?
Some veterinary practices charge a fee for providing a prescription. Any fee charged should not be unreasonable.
Can my vet refuse to give me a prescription?
If your vet has prescribed a medicine that they would otherwise supply themselves, you can request a written prescription so that you can obtain the medicine from another supplier.
What is a repeat prescription?
A repeat prescription allows a medicine to be supplied more than once without requiring a new prescription each time, where the prescribing vet has authorised repeats.

The prescription will specify how many times the medicine can be supplied.

For example:

1 × original dispensing
5 × repeats
= 6 supplies from one prescription

Many vets issue repeat prescriptions covering the period before they would normally want to see the animal again, which may be around 6 months.

If we already hold your valid repeat prescription on file, you do not need to send it to us again.
What are Controlled Drugs, such as Epiphen?
Controlled drugs are medicines that are subject to additional controls by law.

Controlled drugs have different prescription requirements from standard veterinary medicines:

- Repeats are not allowed.
- We can only accept the original signed prescription, sent to us by post or delivered by hand.
- Controlled-drug prescriptions are valid for 28 days from the date they are signed.
- The vet's registration number must be written on the prescription.
- Quantities must be stated in both words and figures.

Please send original controlled-drug prescriptions to:

Hyperdrug Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Station Bank
Middleton-in-Teesdale
Barnard Castle
DL12 0NG
Do you accept NHS prescriptions?
No. We dispense private veterinary prescriptions only and do not accept NHS prescriptions.

If you are looking for human prescription medicines, please visit our Human Prescription Medicines page.
Do you accept prescriptions from outside the UK?
No. We currently only accept prescriptions issued in the UK.
Do I need a prescription for veterinary diets or "Prescription Diets"?
No. Veterinary diets and "Prescription Diets" are animal food products, not prescription medicines, so they do not require a prescription.
What is a data sheet?
Where applicable, we provide a data sheet or Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for veterinary medicines.

These provide information about the medicine, including its authorised uses, dosage, warnings and other relevant product information.
What should I do if my animal has an adverse reaction to a veterinary medicine?
If you suspect that your animal has experienced an adverse reaction to a veterinary medicine, let the prescribing vet know as soon as possible.

A suspected adverse reaction can be reported through the veterinary medicine Yellow Card Scheme. The report can be made by you or by your vet.
Who governs prescriptions and the supply of veterinary medicines?
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for veterinary medicines and veterinary products in the UK.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for human medicines.