Currently or until recently, your parents may be managing and ordering your medicines. As you transition from children's to adult services, you will be learning how to take responsibility for your own medicines as you become more independent. The paediatric and adult teams are here to support you in the process.

Medication Supply

It is important that you do not run out of your medicines so please allow plenty of time to re-order them from your GP surgery or from the hospital.  Some of your medicines may only be able to be supplied from the hospital or delivered directly to your home if you live far from the hospital.

You may now need to pay for your prescriptions if you are over 16 years of age and are not exempt from prescription charges; if you are 16-18 and still in full-time education you will be exempt. If you do have to pay prescription charges, there are two methods of payment: single items which can be purchased as and when required or a prepayment certificate that can be purchased which will cover for 3 months or 12 months. Pre-payment works out cheaper if a lot of prescriptions are required.  If you are having any issues with supplies of your medicines please contact the Cystic Fibrosis team so that the Cystic Fibrosis pharmacist can help to sort these issues out.

Clinic Visits

People with Cystic Fibrosis are cared for by a multidisciplinary team which includes specialist doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians and physiotherapists.  You may be asked about your medicines by any member of the team.  If you are having problems with any of your medicines or if there are any you don't like taking, please let us know so that we can come up with a plan together. Juggling medicines alongside day to day life can be difficult!  We are always here to help you with finding a routine.

Hospital Stay

If you come into hospital for an admission, do make sure you bring all medicines, your nebulisers, inhalers and physiotherapy equipment in with you from home. You will be visited by the pharmacy team to confirm what medicines you are currently taking. This will allow us to ensure we have prescribed the correct medicines for you in hospital. Self-administration schemes are available to allow you to continue taking responsibility for your own medicines whilst you are in hospital.  Please ask your nurse or pharmacist for more information.

Away from Home

If you are moving to university/college or away from home you will need to register with a local GP surgery to set up your repeat prescriptions. Make sure you have sufficient supplies of medicines to take with you when you move. This will allow you time to make arrangements for supply in your new area. If you are living in shared accommodation you might want to consider getting your own separate fridge to store your medicines in. 

If you are going away on holiday make sure have got adequate supplies of your medicines and check in advance that there is somewhere to store them. Talk to your Cystic Fibrosis pharmacist if you have any concerns.

The following websites can give you more information about your medicines:

• Cystic  Fibrosis Trust