Controlled Drugs (CDs)

Pharmacy guide

This guide provides all the information you need to dispense, supply, store, destroy and prescribe, Schedule 2 and 3 CDs.

It covers the legal requirements for NHS or private CD prescriptions, instalment prescriptions and requisitions.

You’ll find guidance on emergency supplies, repeats, safe custody and record keeping requirements, and how to deal with patient returns, out-of-date or obsolete CDs.

^{First Published: 26 September 2016

Updated: 17 November 2022}

Sections on this page

Legal prescription requirements for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Instalment prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Dental prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Technical errors
CD Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) prescriptions
Private prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Veterinary prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Repeat dispensing or repeat prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Emergency supplies of Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Record keeping for CDs
Collection of Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Requisitions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
Wholesale dealing of CDs
Safe custody of CDs
Patient returned, out-of-date or obsolete CDs
Destruction of CDs
Prescribing CDs
Further information

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