Written answer
Medicinal Products
Controlled ADHD medicines cannot be repeated and may be dispensed only from the prescription date until 14 days afterwards, under 2026 IMC/PSI guidance.
3730. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health to clarify the rules and guidance applying to the dispensing of repeat prescriptions for controlled drugs, including medications prescribed for ADHD; whether there is a nationally standardised period governing the earliest date on which a repeat prescription may be dispensed; the guidance provided to pharmacists to ensure consistency for patients; whether consideration has been given to the particular difficulties that restrictive or inconsistent dispensing arrangements can create for people (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62585/26]
Comment on this
The Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended, together with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 as amended, set out the framework which governs prescription medicines and their supply. A repeat prescription, as defined in Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended, is any prescription which may be dispensed more than once. Prescriptions for controlled drugs listed under schedule 2 and 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 as amended, however may not be repeated. Some of these medicines are indicated for use as a part of a comprehensive treatment programme for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), under the supervision of a prescriber, and include medicines such as methylphenidate.
These medicines, due to their listing as controlled drugs under schedules 2 and 3 of the regulations, are subject to additional prescription requirements. These include that a pharmacist may neither dispense such medicines in advance of the date on the prescription, nor later than 14 days after the date of the prescription.
These legislative requirements seek to balance the protection of public health and safety with the potential for misuse, dependence or harm which can be associated with these medicines.
In order to ensure clarity and transparency on these requirements and controls, among health professionals, including pharmacists, the Irish Medical Council (IMC) and The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) have issued joint guidance on the "Safe Prescribing and Dispensing of Controlled Drugs", version 4 having been published in 2026. This guidance is available through the IMC and PSI websites.