Prescription Medicines, Compounding Pharmacies & Controlled Drugs Explained
Not all medicines are the same in the eyes of the law, and understanding the differences helps you understand why we prescribe the way we do. Here is a plain-language guide.
What is a prescription-only medicine?
The three categories
In the United Kingdom, medicines fall into three legal categories: those sold freely in any shop, those sold only in a pharmacy, and prescription-only medicines, which can only be supplied after assessment by a qualified prescriber. Most treatments for ongoing conditions, from blood pressure tablets and antibiotics to hormone therapies, are prescription-only.
Why some medicines need a prescription
A medicine is made prescription-only when professional judgement is needed to use it safely: the right dose varies between people, interactions must be checked, and some medicines need monitoring with blood tests. That is why every request at Levitas is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor or our GPhC-registered clinical prescribing pharmacist before anything is issued.
What is a compounding pharmacy?
Made for a named patient
Most medicines are manufactured at scale in fixed strengths. A compounding pharmacy instead prepares a medicine individually for a named patient, to a prescriber's exact specification. This is useful when a standard product does not fit: a strength that is not manufactured, an ingredient a patient cannot tolerate, or a different form such as a cream or liquid instead of a tablet.
Licensed first, compounded when needed
Compounded medicines are prepared under licence but are classed as unlicensed, meaning they have not been through the same large-scale testing as standard products. Good practice is to use a licensed medicine wherever suitable and to reserve compounding for clear clinical need. That is our approach at Levitas: a valuable tool, used selectively and with appropriate monitoring.
What is a controlled drug?
Extra safeguards by law
Controlled drugs are prescription medicines with additional legal safeguards because they carry a higher risk of dependence or misuse. The group includes strong painkillers, certain sedatives and sleeping tablets, and some attention deficit medicines. They are legitimate and often important treatments, but the law is stricter about how they are prescribed, dispensed, and recorded.
What this means for you
For patients this means prescriptions are often valid for only 28 days, automatic repeats are not permitted, and each supply requires a fresh clinical decision. It is also why controlled drugs cannot be requested through our online form: they need a direct conversation with a clinician, every time. These steps are protections, and we will always make the process as smooth as the law allows.
Prescriptions for many controlled drugs expire after 28 days
Each supply requires a fresh clinical decision
Requested with the clinic directly, never through the online form
Repeat prescriptions and your NHS GP record
Why sharing protects you
If we prescribe a repeat medicine for you privately, we believe it should also appear in your NHS GP record. That record is the one place where all of your care is brought together, and keeping it complete protects you: any doctor treating you can check interactions, avoid duplication, and act safely in an emergency.
Consent always comes first
We will always ask for your consent before writing to your NHS GP, and you may decline. We will simply explain why we recommend sharing, particularly for medicines that need ongoing monitoring, such as hormone therapies. This is standard good practice for private prescribing in the United Kingdom.
How this works at Levitas
Every request, whether for a repeat medicine, a new medicine, or supplement advice, is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor or our GPhC-registered clinical prescribing pharmacist. Most are actioned the same day; others need an appointment or a blood test first. Having a list of what you already take always speeds things up. Our clinics are open 7am to 8pm, seven days a week, across London and Surrey.
Need a prescription or advice?
Submit a request online and our team will review it and arrange the right next step for you.
Make a prescription requestExplore Levitas services
Testosterone and hormone therapies, prescribed and monitored with bloods at every stage.
Explore hormone care →Same-day and next-day appointments across London and Surrey, seven days a week.
Book a GP appointment →Clinician-guided supplementation, reviewed alongside your medications and bloods.
Review your regime →Frequently asked questions
Why do I need an appointment for a new medicine?
A prescriber must be sure a medicine is safe and appropriate for you specifically, which usually means checking your history, your other medications and supplements, and sometimes your bloods. Once a medicine is established, repeats are much simpler.
Are compounded medicines safe?
They are prepared under licence but are unlicensed products, without the large-scale testing of standard medicines. They are safest when prescribed for a clear clinical reason by a clinician who knows your history, and reviewed regularly.
Why can controlled drugs not be requested online?
Each supply requires a fresh clinical decision under the law, so we ask patients to speak with the clinic directly rather than use the online form. Prescriptions are also often valid for only 28 days.
Can I get my usual NHS medicines privately at Levitas?
In many cases, yes, once a Levitas clinician has assessed you. Private prescriptions carry a dispensing cost, and our team will always confirm fees before anything is issued.
Will you tell my NHS GP what you prescribe?
With your consent, yes, and we recommend it, especially for repeat medicines and anything needing ongoing monitoring. A complete GP record keeps your care joined up and safe. You may decline, and we will discuss what that means for you.
Do supplements need a prescription?
Most do not, but supplements can interact with prescription medicines and affect blood results, which is why we ask about them in every request. Our clinical pharmacist can advise on your regime.
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