Unlicensed medications

You have been prescribed ……………………………………………………. by your consultant

Currently, this product does not have a full UK product licence which means that they have not been approved for prescribing in the UK by the Government’s medicines agency.

Medicines are often used when they do not have UK product licence. This can be for many reasons, for example:

• It is waiting to be granted a UK licence from the Government.
• It is undergoing a clinical trial.
• It is made for situations when a patient cannot take the medicine in its standard form, for example a liquid if someone is unable to swallow.
• Usage of the medicine is low and therefore it is expensive for the makers to send the product for approval. It could also be difficult to get enough patients to do a clinical trial which means that the Government’s Medicines Agency would be unlikely to grant the product a UK licence.
• It has been withdrawn from the UK market due to a lack of demand or because newer products have taken its place making it unprofitable for a company to manufacture it any longer on a large scale.

However, please be reassured that your doctor and pharmacist have thought very carefully about what is the best medicine for you. If you have any concerns regarding this medicine please contact the Pharmacy Department on the number given below.

How to obtain a further supply

Your GP should have been informed when you started using this medicine via a clinic letter or discharge summary. However, not all unlicensed medicines will be available via your GP. If you require a further supply of this medicine, and you do not already have a hospital appointment, please:

☐ Go to your GP to obtain a prescription and take it to your local pharmacy (chemist) along with this leaflet. For their information we have obtained this product from …………………………………………………………………………………………

☐ Contact the clinic to arrange an appointment. Any prescription written at the appointment will usually be supplied by the Outpatient Pharmacy.

You will probably need to give the pharmacist one or two weeks to obtain the supply for you, so it is important that you do not let your supply run out before going to the GP.

If you have any queries concerning this or have any difficulties in obtaining a further supply please call the Medicines Helpline on 01223 217502.