Oral pharmacotherapy is a safe and effective treatment when it is taken as prescribed and supervised at a registered dispensing pharmacy. Like any clinical treatment, it carries risks if doses are missed, combined with other substances, or taken outside the prescriber's plan.
This page sets out what those risks are and what we ask of you as our patient, so your treatment stays safe and continues without interruption. The clinical framework we follow is the Victorian Department of Health pharmacotherapy policy.
What are the risks?
Combining your treatment with other substances
Alcohol, sedatives, sleeping tablets, benzodiazepines and other opioids (including non-prescribed opioids) can be dangerous when taken with your oral pharmacotherapy. The combination slows breathing, can cause unconsciousness, and is a leading cause of accidental overdose death. If we believe you are at risk from another substance on a given day, we may delay your dose for your safety and contact your prescriber.
Driving and operating machinery
Driving under the influence of any drug that reduces your alertness is illegal in Victoria. In the first weeks of treatment, until your dose is stabilised, oral pharmacotherapy can reduce your ability to drive safely or operate machinery. Speak with your prescriber about what is safe at your current dose.
Tolerance and missed doses
If you miss doses, your tolerance drops quickly, sometimes within days. Returning to your previous dose without a clinical reassessment carries a real overdose risk. The pharmacy will never resume a dose without instruction from your prescriber once a missed-dose threshold is reached.
Take-home doses
Take-home doses must be stored safely, out of reach of children and anyone not prescribed the treatment. A single dose intended for an adult on long-term therapy can be fatal to a child or to a person without tolerance. Never share, sell, or give away your medicine.
What happens if you miss doses
The Victorian pharmacotherapy policy uses missed-dose thresholds to keep treatment safe. The thresholds below are what we generally apply at the counter, alongside your prescriber's specific instructions:
- 0 to 2 missed doses. Usually continued at the same dose, depending on clinical judgment, the medicine and your treatment history.
- 3 missed doses. Caution increases. The pharmacist may pause supply and ask your prescriber to reassess before the next dose.
- 4 consecutive missed doses. Treatment is considered interrupted. You will need to see or speak with your prescriber, be reassessed, and will often restart at a reduced dose because your tolerance has dropped.
The single most important thing you can do is tell us early. If you know you may miss a dose for any reason (travel, illness, work, a hospital stay), phone the pharmacy before the missed day on 03 9364 7133. We can usually keep your treatment on track, contact your prescriber if a takeaway is appropriate, and avoid a restart.
Your responsibilities
These are the responsibilities we ask of every pharmacotherapy patient at the pharmacy. Most of this is common courtesy, the rest exists to keep you, our staff and other patients safe.
Attend your dosing visits
Come to your scheduled doses, or let us know early if you cannot. Regularly missed pickups will lead to a missed-dose review.
Keep your prescriber appointments
Treatment depends on your prescriber's reviews. Missing medical, counselling or review appointments can interrupt your script and your treatment at the pharmacy.
Be respectful at the counter
Aggressive, threatening or abusive behaviour towards our staff, other patients or visitors will not be tolerated. Behaviour that puts others at risk will lead us to pause your supply and notify your prescriber.
One prescriber, one pharmacy
You should stay with one prescriber and one dispensing pharmacy for your oral pharmacotherapy. Receiving doses from more than one pharmacy, or scripts for the same class of medicine from multiple prescribers, is unsafe and may end your treatment. We check SafeScript at every relevant supply.
No illegal activity at the pharmacy
Drug dealing, theft, or any other illegal activity on or around the premises is grounds for the pharmacy to refuse service and contact police.
Care for your take-home doses
If you are approved for takeaways, store them safely, do not share them, and bring back empty containers when asked.
When the pharmacy may pause your supply
Your prescriber owns the decision to cancel or restart your treatment. As your dispensing pharmacy, we may pause a dose and contact your prescriber if:
- You appear intoxicated or sedated at the counter.
- We have safety concerns about you driving or returning home.
- You have missed doses and reached the prescriber's review threshold.
- Your behaviour at the counter puts staff or other patients at risk.
- A SafeScript alert suggests an unsafe combination.
A pause is not a cancellation. We will explain what is happening, contact your prescriber the same day where possible, and resume dosing once they confirm it is safe to do so.
If something does not feel right
If a dose feels different to usual, or you experience drowsiness, slowed breathing, or any other symptom that worries you, call us straight away on 03 9364 7133. If you are at home and the symptom is severe, call 000. The dosing pharmacist can review your dose record with your prescriber and arrange a reassessment if needed.
Related information
- Your rights and responsibilities, the broader Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
- What it costs
- What to expect
- Feedback and complaints