The general rule: a UK pharmacist can supply up to 30 days of most prescription medicines you already take, at your request, if they are satisfied you need it now. Controlled drugs change the answer: up to 5 days for Schedule 4 and 5, and none at all for Schedule 1, 2 and 3. Find your medicine below.
Find your medicine
Asthma and COPD inhalers
Smallest packFor an asthma inhaler the limit is a pack, not days. Take the old inhaler with you. Struggling to breathe even after your reliever: call 999.
Insulin
Smallest packSay which insulin, which device (pen, cartridge or vial) and your doses. Signs of diabetic ketoacidosis (vomiting, fast breathing, confusion): go to A&E. Insulin detail.
Epilepsy medicines
Usually up to 30 daysAsk for the same manufacturer's product you normally take: the MHRA advises keeping some epilepsy medicines on one product. Clobazam and clonazepam are Schedule 4 (up to 5 days). Phenobarbital is the one Schedule 3 drug a pharmacist may supply in an emergency, for epilepsy.
Antidepressants
Usually up to 30 daysSertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, venlafaxine and similar. Don't stop suddenly; tell the pharmacist how many days you have missed.
Blood pressure and heart medicines
Usually up to 30 daysRamipril, amlodipine, bisoprolol, propranolol, statins and similar. If your medicine is in a shortage, see blood pressure shortages.
The contraceptive pill
A full cycleThe pharmacist can supply enough for a full treatment cycle. If you have missed pills, ask about emergency contraception at the same time.
HRT
Usually up to 30 daysTablets, patches and gels you are already prescribed. If your product is short, a Serious Shortage Protocol may let the pharmacist supply a set alternative: see HRT shortages.
Thyroid medicine
Usually up to 30 daysLevothyroxine and liothyronine. Say the exact strength and, if you have one, the brand.
Parkinson's medicines
Usually up to 30 daysDoses are time-critical. Tell the pharmacist or 111 exactly when the next dose is due.
Liquid antibiotics
A full courseThe smallest quantity that gives a full course. A new infection is different: Pharmacy First or 111 can assess it.
ADHD medicines
Stimulants: not from a pharmacistMethylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine are Schedule 2. Atomoxetine is not a controlled drug, so up to 30 days. What to do instead.
Strong painkillers, pregabalin, gabapentin
Not from a pharmacistOxycodone, tramadol, buprenorphine, pregabalin, gabapentin and most forms of morphine are Schedule 2 or 3, so a pharmacist can't supply them in an emergency. You need a new prescription: use 111 or your out-of-hours GP.
Low-strength oral morphine liquid
Up to 5 daysOral morphine liquids of 0.2% or less, such as morphine sulfate 10mg/5ml oral solution, are Schedule 5, not Schedule 2. Say the exact strength: morphine stronger than 0.2%, including tablets, capsules and injections, is Schedule 2.
Diazepam and similar
Up to 5 daysMost benzodiazepines, such as diazepam, are Schedule 4. Temazepam and midazolam are Schedule 3, so a pharmacist can't supply them in an emergency.
The legal limits in one table
| Medicine | Most a pharmacist can supply in an emergency |
|---|---|
| Most prescription-only medicines | Up to 30 days' treatment |
| Controlled drugs in Schedule 4 or 5 | Up to 5 days' treatment |
| Controlled drugs in Schedule 1, 2 or 3 | Not permitted at all, whether you or a prescriber asks — the single exception is phenobarbital for epilepsy |
| Insulin, a cream or ointment, or an inhaler for asthma | The smallest pack the pharmacist has available |
| An oral contraceptive | Enough for a full treatment cycle |
| An antibiotic in liquid form for oral use | The smallest quantity that gives a full course |
These limits come from regulation 225 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. They are the most a pharmacist may supply, not a promise: the pharmacist must also be satisfied that you need it now, that it has been prescribed for you before, and what the right dose is.
What to tell the pharmacist or NHS 111
- The exact name, strength and form from the box (and the brand, for epilepsy medicines and HRT).
- When your next dose is due, and how many you have already missed.
- Who prescribes it (your GP or a specialist) and your GP surgery's name.
Pharmacy closed? Use the 111 online emergency prescription service. For the whole picture, see the NHS 111 emergency supply guide.
Questions people ask
Can I get an emergency supply of my inhaler?
Yes, for an inhaler you have been prescribed before. For an asthma inhaler the pharmacist can supply the smallest pack they have, rather than a set number of days. If you are struggling to breathe, call 999 rather than looking for a pharmacy.
Can a pharmacist give me emergency antidepressants?
Most antidepressants are prescription-only medicines that are not controlled drugs, so a pharmacist can usually supply up to 30 days in an emergency if the conditions are met. The NHS advises not to stop antidepressants suddenly, so tell the pharmacist or 111 how many days you have missed.
Can I get gabapentin or pregabalin in an emergency?
Not from a pharmacist on your request. Both have been Schedule 3 controlled drugs since April 2019, and the emergency supply rules do not allow Schedule 1, 2 or 3 controlled drugs (phenobarbital for epilepsy is the only exception). Contact NHS 111 or your out-of-hours GP service, because you need a prescriber.
Related pages
Emergency supply: the full guide
Both routes, the quantity limits, the costs and the out-of-hours plan.
Pharmacist emergency supply rules
The three things a pharmacist must be satisfied of, how much they can give, and why they sometimes say no.
Can NHS 111 prescribe?
What 111 can and cannot do about a prescription, and what it actually does when you say you have run out.
Out of hours, weekends and bank holidays
Where to go when your GP surgery is shut and the usual pharmacy is closed.
Controlled drugs, ADHD medicine and insulin
Why a pharmacy cannot hand over ADHD or opioid medicine, and the rules that do let them help with insulin.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The devolved emergency supply services and how they differ from England.
111 online emergency prescription, step by step
The NHS 111 online emergency prescription service: what it asks and what happens next.
How much an emergency prescription costs
NHS 111 referral vs walking into a pharmacy, who pays nothing, and how to pay the least.
Forgot your medicine away from home?
On holiday or staying away: any UK pharmacy can help. How to prove what you take.
Medicine stock checker
National shortage status plus a call list of nearby pharmacies.
Track your medicine free
Get an email if your medicine enters or leaves a national shortage. Free, and alerts are rare — that is good news.
Track a medicine free →Written by the MediWatch editorial team and checked against the official sources above on 27 October 2026. This page is information, not medical advice. Always follow your pharmacist, GP, specialist, NHS 111 or urgent-care advice for your own medicine. Report an accuracy issue.
This page was written by the MediWatch editorial team and checked for accuracy against NHS, NHSBSA and legislation.gov.uk guidance. Shortage information comes from official DHSC medicine supply notifications and NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols. See our editorial policy and data sources.