Ran Out of Your Medication? How to Get an Emergency Prescription Today in the UK
If you have run out of a regular medicine, there are 3 fast and legal routes, and choosing the right one can save you a day. A pharmacist can often give an emergency supply without a prescription, under regulation 225 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, if a UK prescriber has prescribed the medicine for you before and the pharmacist agrees you need it immediately. That supply can cover up to 30 days for most medicines, a single cycle of the contraceptive pill, the smallest pack of an inhaler or insulin, and up to 5 days of some controlled drugs, while many controlled drugs cannot be supplied this way at all. NHS 111 can also refer you to a pharmacy for an urgent supply when your GP surgery is closed. The third route is a same-day video consultation with a doctor, who can review your medicine and issue a private prescription to a pharmacy near you, often for longer than an emergency supply covers. Do not stop medicines that are dangerous to miss, such as insulin, epilepsy medicines, steroids, blood thinners and some heart and mental health medicines, without advice. At The Wellness video consultations start from £150 and telephone consultations cost £59. Prescribing depends on assessment and is not guaranteed. Confirm appointment availability, any separate prescription fee and pharmacy medicine costs before booking. Fees appear further down this page.
Reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last updated 14 October 2026.
Get a prescription today on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
Key facts if you have run out of medication
- A pharmacist can often give an emergency supply of a medicine a UK prescriber has prescribed for you before.
- Emergency supply covers up to 30 days for most medicines, with smaller amounts for some.
- Many controlled drugs cannot be supplied in an emergency, and others are limited to 5 days.
- NHS 111 can refer you to a pharmacy for an urgent supply when your surgery is closed.
- A video doctor can issue a private prescription the same day, often for longer.
- Some medicines are dangerous to stop suddenly, so do not wait.
Route 1. Ask a pharmacist for an emergency supply
Take your old packet, prescription slip or a photo of the label to a pharmacy and ask for an emergency supply. The pharmacist will interview you and must be satisfied that there is an immediate need, that a prescription cannot be obtained without undue delay, and that a relevant prescriber has prescribed the medicine for you before.
The quantity is limited by law. Most prescription medicines can be supplied for up to 30 days. Oral contraceptives are supplied for one full cycle. Insulin, asthma inhalers and creams are supplied as the smallest pack available. Some controlled drugs in Schedules 4 and 5 are limited to 5 days, and many other controlled drugs are excluded, apart from phenobarbital for epilepsy.
You pay the pharmacy’s private price for the medicine, and the decision is the pharmacist’s.
Route 2. Call NHS 111 when your surgery is closed
In the evening, at weekends and on bank holidays, NHS 111 can assess your need and refer you to a pharmacy for an urgent supply. This is useful when you cannot reach your own surgery and the pharmacy needs a referral.
Ask which route is fastest for you on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
Route 3. See a doctor by video the same day
A video consultation lets a doctor review your medicine, your dose, how long you have been taking it and any monitoring it needs, then issue a private prescription to a pharmacy near you. It is the best route when you need more than an emergency supply, when the pharmacy cannot help, when your dose needs reviewing, or when you are away from home.
Bring your packet, a photo of the label, or your NHS App or pharmacy app showing your repeat medicines. The doctor checks the active ingredient and strength, not just the brand.
Which medicines should never simply run out
Insulin, because missed doses can cause very high blood sugar within hours, especially in type 1 diabetes.
Epilepsy medicines, because missed doses increase the risk of seizures.
Steroid tablets taken for more than a few weeks, because stopping suddenly can cause an adrenal crisis.
Blood thinners, some heart and blood pressure medicines, Parkinson’s medicines and transplant medicines.
Antidepressants and some other mental health medicines, which can cause discontinuation symptoms if stopped suddenly.
If you take any of these and have run out, act today. Call 999 if you have run out of insulin and are vomiting, very drowsy or unwell, or if you have a seizure, chest pain or difficulty breathing.
Which medicines cannot be prescribed at a first video consultation
Controlled medicines, including stimulants for ADHD, strong opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines and some sleeping tablets, cannot appropriately be issued at a first consultation without established records. For these, contact the doctor who usually prescribes them, or NHS 111 out of hours.
How to avoid running out again
Order repeat prescriptions at least a week before you run out, and set a reminder for each order. Many surgeries take 2 working days or more to process a request.
Use the NHS App or your pharmacy’s app to order and track repeats, and ask whether your medicines can be moved onto electronic repeat dispensing, which lets the pharmacy release batches over several months without a new request each time.
Keep a photo of each label and a list of doses on your phone, and carry a few days’ spare when you travel.
What does it cost to get a prescription privately in London
Confirm the consultation scope, total fee and any separate medicine or test costs before booking.
Confirm the total consultation fee, any separate prescription fee and pharmacy medicine costs before booking.
- Signature Membership: enquire for current scope, access terms and fees.
- Home visit £450. Hotel visit £495 daytime or £595 evening. Enquire for office, weekend and out-of-area fees.
- Extended medication review: enquire for scope, duration and fees.
- In-person consultation: enquire for the assessment, fee and any separate tests.
- Video consultation from £150. Prescribing depends on assessment and is not guaranteed. Confirm any separate prescription and pharmacy medicine costs.
- Telephone consultation £59. Prescribing depends on assessment and is not guaranteed.
Appointments are available 7 days a week by video, at our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia, or at home.
Why people choose The Wellness when they run out of medication
Because a doctor can see you by video within hours, wherever you are in the UK.
Because the doctor checks the ingredient, the dose and any monitoring, so the prescription is right first time.
Because the prescription goes to a pharmacy near you that stocks your medicine.
Because a longer supply can be prescribed when it is safe, so you are not back in the same position next week.
And because we tell you when a pharmacy emergency supply is the faster route.
Related reading
Private prescription in London covers prescriptions in detail, ran out of antidepressants covers mental health medicines, forgotten or lost medication in London covers visitors from abroad, and online doctor and video GP consultations covers everything else that can be done by video.
Book a video consultation on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist give me medication without a prescription in an emergency
Often, yes. A pharmacist can give an emergency supply of a medicine a UK prescriber has prescribed for you before, if they agree you need it immediately. Most medicines can be supplied for up to 30 days.
Can I get an emergency supply of controlled drugs
Many controlled drugs cannot be supplied in an emergency, and those in Schedules 4 and 5 are limited to 5 days. Phenobarbital for epilepsy is an exception. Contact your usual prescriber or NHS 111.
How do I get an emergency prescription at the weekend
Ask a pharmacist for an emergency supply, call NHS 111 for a referral to a pharmacy, or book a same-day video consultation with a private doctor for a prescription.
Can an online doctor prescribe my regular medication
Yes, after reviewing your medicine, dose and history, a doctor can issue a private prescription to a pharmacy near you. Controlled medicines cannot be issued at a first consultation without established records.
How much does a private prescription cost
At The Wellness video consultations start from £150 and telephone consultations cost £59. Prescribing depends on assessment and is not guaranteed. Confirm appointment availability, any separate prescription fee and pharmacy medicine costs before booking.
How long does a GP repeat prescription take
Many surgeries take 2 working days or more to process a request, so order at least a week before you run out.
The Wellness is a doctor-led private healthcare group providing medical care from our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia. All doctors are GMC-registered. Prescriptions are issued only following a consultation and clinical assessment, and controlled medicines are not issued at a first consultation. In an emergency call 999. This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice about your own health.
Enquire now on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
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