Zebradeb Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Hi All, some guidance please... are Paracetamol, ibuprofen& loratadine available over the counter at supermarkets for example as in UK? Also I will need replacement epipens too. Guessing they will be prescription. - how does it work? Does one go to the GP, get a prescription and then acquire said prescription from a pharmacy? Just trying to think ahead... allergies are a real problem in this household ! .. its crazy that amongst all of the things I need to get sorted and soon, that this is keeping me awake at night! Beam me UP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Yes paracetamol and brufen can be bought in supermarkets. I think the epipen will be via the GP and pharmacy. Both children and adults pay for prescriptions here in Aus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Epipen is over the counter here. Ventolin is also over the counter and cheaper than an NHS prescription Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 We've been through this recently. You can get an epipen over the counter but you will have to pay the full cost - around $100 and you will probably get grilled by the chemist. We had to get one recently while we waited for an appointment with specialist. A GP can't write the initial prescription for an epipen, the initial prescription has to come from a specialist - immunologist etc. The prescription will allow you to get 2 epipens at pbs cost - around $35. A GP can write subsequent prescriptions for replacements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabethkolo Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Also, just in addition to what everyone else has said, loratadine is definitely available over the counter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo and scott Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 can you buy insulin over the counter? and blood testing strips ? thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabethkolo Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Diabetes is a tricky one. I worked in pharmacy in Aus for years, so feel free to hit me with any questions. Insulin is prescription only. Medicare (aka the NHS) will subsidise the cost of this, meaning the patient should pay $36.90 for around a month's supply. Registering with Medicare (if you are granted PR) should be a priority when you get to Aus. There is another organisation (separate from Medicare) called NDSS which a diabetic person will need to sign up to. In order to do this, you need to bring your medical history to an Aussie doctor who will confirm the diabetes diagnosis and authorise the patient to sign up to NDSS. A diagnosis from a UK doctor is not sufficient for this, but seeing as everyone needs a GP anyway, this shouldn't be too much of a hassle. Once you are a registered with NDSS, you can be eligible to purchase testing strips and needles at a subsidised rate. The cost will depend on your income and what brand you use. These items are available for purchase without an NDSS card, but you can expect to pay considerably more. Once you have an NDSS card, you can take it to any pharmacy to purchase needles and testing strips. Your NDSS number will be plugged into an online database, so even if you (or your partner) forgets what you normally use, the pharmacy will be able to tell you. Lancets are not subsidised in any way, and are freely available for purchase at pharmacies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozzachino Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Cerebus, do you have to have an appt with a specialist to get an epipen? How long did that take to get the appt? I have been meaning to get one since we arrives but never got round to it. Just assumed my gp could do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabethkolo Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Cerebus, do you have to have an appt with a specialist to get an epipen? How long did that take to get the appt? I have been meaning to get one since we arrives but never got round to it. Just assumed my gp could do it! Yes, your first prescription needs to be written by a specialist. If you have private health insurance, you can expect to wait considerably less :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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