Buy common medicines without a prescription

For short term conditions, Over the counter medicines will no longer be prescribed August 2018

The local CCG has decided that we can no longer prescribe some common medicines which you buy at your local pharmacy /shop / supermarket without a prescription.  This is quicker for you and frees up NHS resources for people with serious health problems.  Some of these medicines cost just a few pence. 

Examples of what can be purchased without a prescription are:

    • Allergy medicine
    • Simple pain killers like paracetamol and ibuprofe
    • Sore throat, coughs, colds and flu medication
    • Anti-diarrhoea medicatio
    • Rehydration salt
    • First aid kit including plasters and bandage
    • Thermometer



 Brighton and Hove CCG - prescribing/self-care advice

Warning:  buying medicines online 

Medication sold by unregistered online pharmacies could be out date, diluted or fake.   For the UK Register of regulated Internet Pharmacies visit:  Pharmacy regulation - UK Register of internet pharmacies

For more information visit the NHS advice page: NHS.UK - Internet-Drugs

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