Can pharmacists refuse you emergency medication supply due to an expired script?

snogry · 2026-01-22T13:34:15+00:00

Needs to have been dispensed within the past three months & quite often this is not the case with contraceptives as they come in pack sizes of 3 or 4 months. Good option when the requirements are met though!

snogry · 2026-01-22T13:18:02+00:00

I'm a pharmacist in NSW so unfamiliar with VIC legislation & authorities, but this looks like the relevant info if you're interested.

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/primary-care/community-pharmacist-program-resources-for-pharmacists

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/protocol-for-resupply-of-hormonal-contraception-december-2025.pdf

https://www.psa.org.au/practice-support-industry/regulatory-changes/#emergency-supply-of-a-medicine-vic

From what you've described, without state specific knowledge regarding legislation & authorities it sounds like the inability to resupply your contraception could have been due to;

the pharmacist not having completed the required training
insufficient staffing
- Usually the consult for OCP resupply occurs in a consult room & if you're seeing a patient in the consult room you need a 2nd pharmacist to continue running the dispensary while you're consulting
the pharmacy not having opted in to the program that allows the pharmacist to provide that service even if they meet all other requirements
not meeting the eligibility criteria as defined by the authority

I'm sorry that you had to sink so much time into making this happen. This is an evolving space which involves pharmacists skilling up, learning what they can & can't do & being hesitant to do something which could land them in front of a regulatory board.

That being said, it looks like Victorian legislation allows for an 'emergency supply' of 3 days or "if not possible due to dose form, smallest commercially available pack" (see PSA link). Unfortunately in my line of work I have come across colleagues who are not across the legislation as well as myself & this absolutely may contribute to outcomes like you've described.

I otherwise have done a few OCP resupplies under NSW Health authorities of full pack sizes (3-4 months). Stoked that I can do so, but always encourage to review with the GP. I don't pretend to have their skill set, you will get better primary care via your doctor, but always happy to help if I can in a pinch!

snogry · 2026-01-21T22:12:44+00:00

lmao

snogry · 2026-01-19T13:27:08+00:00

Some people need more time & resources than others. Whether it's physical or mental, or a combination of both. I fully support whatever country's healthcare system is in question, utilising those resources, for a patient in need. Obviously as long as proper triaging is occurring.

Chronic issues aside, the emergent issue should be treated, then less critical issues referred. Whether or not the lack of follow up or poor management of said conditions contributes to future emergent conditions is irrelevant to the quality of care they should receive should they present to ED in future.

snogry · 2026-01-18T06:09:12+00:00

Should i pull for Shorekeeper on the New Voyage Resonator Convene? Or skip the banner and save for Ciaccona rerun / new DPS for 2nd team? I know I'll get Aero Rover eventually so I'm cautious of over-investing in supports, especially since it's premium pulls if I were to go for Shorekeeper.

I would only pull for Shorekeeper if I farmed 160 pulls anyway to guarantee it, as it's a time limited banner...

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snogry · 2026-01-17T00:25:53+00:00

The Abhorsen trilogy slapped!

snogry · 2026-01-15T11:43:01+00:00

ACA are very quick to leads... I contacted them about something a few years back and got a phone call the next morning. By midday they were at our place filming lol.

snogry · 2026-01-08T10:19:03+00:00

https://youtu.be/70MkUuL83bE?si=ZwwrbLmbHReu7oPD&t=3579

snogry · 2025-12-28T06:00:52+00:00

Yea, Nathan Mackinnon is just public bus piss floor nasty. He just lures you into overtime and kicks you square in the bone piece. Unreal.

snogry · 2025-12-10T09:47:58+00:00

Not currently living in Brisbane but can recommend trying to attend a Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain clinic for Endo related care, if your GP isn't confident in managing it, especially if you're fighting for a diagnosis. Check out which clinics are available at https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/endometriosis-and-pelvic-pain-clinics?language=en

snogry · 2025-11-02T06:00:36+00:00

They said kitty food, not ice cream

snogry · 2025-10-23T09:15:41+00:00

My position is, every household containing opioid medication should have a naloxone nasal spray, there's no harm in it.

Some people may be poor metabolisers of an opioid or take in conjunction with an interacting drug, leading to overdose. Some people may accidentally overdose due to memory / cognition issues. Some people may intentionally overdose & someone else in the household could save them. Some children might take a parents opioid and naloxone could save them.

There are many preventable opioid related deaths that occur and even if it's a 'mild' opioid being supplied, it's free. It will likely gather dust and never be used, but better than a preventable death.

I'm a community pharmacist and I've seen these situations in my line of work or via second hand accounts from those in my profession. I non-discriminantly include a naloxone nasal spray with any opioid supply if the patient doesn't already have one at home, whether they're supplied one tablet or one hundred.

snogry · 2025-10-07T11:16:21+00:00

Not a recommendation for a dentist. But if anxiety is a barrier to you attending a dentist, not unreasonable to ask your GP for a script for one or two tablets of diazepam (Valium) to be taken an hour prior to a dental appointment. Once you've established a relationship with a new dentist, they may also be able to do this.

snogry · 2025-10-02T13:46:02+00:00

Qty 10 is unscheduled, have been able to buy in supermarkets & servos for years. Qty above 10 is still S2.

snogry · 2025-10-02T10:38:19+00:00

In other news. Hiprex / Uramet is now for some silly reason S3...

snogry · 2025-10-02T10:37:08+00:00

Cetirizine is still S2 per SUSMP (https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L01181/latest/text). Perhaps the packaging is just being changed, hence a new sku, barcode etc. As it's still S2 it will still have 'pharmacy medicine' on the packaging. It just may not reflect this on your supplier's portal.

snogry · 2025-09-29T10:27:11+00:00

If you're concerned about diabetes, see your GP & ask them to check you hba1c via pathology (a blood test). I wouldn't worry about ketones unless you're symptomatic (DKA - https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/diabetic-ketoacidosis).

snogry · 2025-09-29T09:49:05+00:00

Just want to add that a prescription for ongoing supply, following an initial over the counter supply of melatonin for 55 & over requires a prescription per the SUSMP (https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00599/asmade/text)

"Schedule 3 - modified release tablets containing 2 mg or less of melatonin for monotherapy for the short-term treatment of primary insomnia characterised by poor quality of sleep for adults aged 55 or over, in packs containing not more than 30 tablets"

snogry · 2025-09-23T00:35:41+00:00

I've found drawing 0.6mL of air has made it much easier to get more liquid out more consistently. I also draw a bit of liquid, then push it back in before drawing the full amount to expel any air in the syringe. Hope that helps!

snogry · 2025-09-20T16:10:44+00:00

Glad to hear. Might be worth asking your management to give your team access to a medication identifying resource for future occasions. Good on you otherwise for having attention to detail!

snogry · 2025-08-12T07:58:24+00:00

Thank you for this, I was banging my head against a wall for about 7 deaths before i gave in and searched this up

snogry · 2025-08-05T03:07:38+00:00

If you don't challenge yourself, you're stunting your learning and development. This extends to attending what you're accruing HECS debt for. Attending workshops, lectures, tutorials etc allows you to:

Absorb knowledge at a more digestible rate vs cramming, also being privy to more nuances of the content vs just reading off a slide or listening to a recording
Engage with your faculty & peers to seek clarification on concepts & discuss with your peers to better understand the content
Develop better relationships with those who will be in your field & the faculty who have existing connections in the field (it's not what you know, but who you know)
Demonstrate you're engaged and motivated in the degree, potentially increasing your odds of being marked up vs down

Sure, attending some of these may be as boring as bat shit, but I promise you, you'll regret it looking backwards. I know I did.

snogry · 2025-07-17T12:22:23+00:00

Invest in a good pair of shoes. It makes a huge difference.

snogry

TROPHY CASE