Help centre

Understanding prescriptions

Your Alternaleaf doctor will assess your medical history and current symptoms to recommend the most suitable medication for you, if appropriate. With access to a wide range of options, they’ll collaborate with you to create an individual treatment plan.

Due to the regulations around your medication, you’ll only be able to order the specific brand and formulation that’s been prescribed.


Repeats

Your prescription may include repeats so you can access more units of medication. This refers to the number of times you can reorder your prescribed dose before requiring a follow up consultation to discuss renewing your prescription with your Alternaleaf doctor. 

You can view the amount of remaining repeats on your prescription when ordering.



Interval time

Due to medical dispensing regulations, your doctor can only prescribe a certain amount of each medication that can be dispensed within a set period of time.

If you order more than that amount within the set period of time, your order will go into interval time. This means it can’t be dispensed until the interval time passes.

You can view the interval time for each of your medications by following the steps below:

  1. Login to your Patient Portal.

  2. Select “Prescriptions” from the left navigation menu.



  3. Under your “Active” prescriptions, select the drop down arrow next to the medication name for more information.


If the “Max quantity per repeat” on your prescription is “2” and the “Interval time” is “14 days”, you can order a maximum of 2 units of that medication within a 14 day period.

The interval time is based on the dispensed date of your last order.

For example, if you order 1 unit of medication on 1 September and it’s dispensed from the pharmacy on 4 September, the 14 day period will start from 4 September.

If you then order 2 units of medication on 13 September instead of 1 unit, this would push the amount ordered up to 3 units within the 14 day set period of time. Therefore your order will go into interval time until 18 September.



If your order is showing the status "Interval time" and you're not sure why, or you'd like to edit the order, please contact Alternaleaf.



Script duration

Due to schedule 8 medication regulations, prescriptions may remain valid for 6 months. However this does vary depending on the doctor’s assessment of your circumstances. You’ll receive an email prior to your prescription expiration date as a reminder. If there are still repeats remaining when your prescription expires, you won’t be able to use them. If you wish to renew your prescription, you’ll need to book a follow up consultation to discuss with your Alternaleaf doctor.

If you require your medication, we recommend ordering a minimum of 10 days before your prescription is due to expire. This is because the prescription needs to be active at the time that your medication is dispensed from the pharmacy. If your prescription expires after you order but before the medication is dispensed, the order will need to be cancelled and refunded.

To view the expiration date of your prescriptions, follow the steps below:

  1. Login to your Patient Portal.

  2. Select “Prescriptions” from the left navigation menu.



  3. Under your “Active” prescriptions, select the drop down arrow next to the medication name for more information.



  4. This will display the date the prescription was created and when it will expire. 

 


Requesting an eScript

If you’d like to pick up your medication, we can organise a script release. This means your prescription will be emailed to you as an eScript, so you can take it to your chosen pharmacy. You can only nominate one pharmacy to hold your approval documentation and fill your prescription.

This is currently not available for those living in Western Australia or Tasmania. 

Things to keep in mind:

  • The script release process can take 3-5 business days. 
  • Make sure your chosen pharmacy stocks your exact medications and that you understand their dispensing fees.
  • uMeds will no longer hold your prescription and you won’t be able to order through your patient portal.
  • If you want to order through our partner uMeds in the future, you’ll need to contact Alternaleaf to arrange this. You'll also need to complete a follow-up consultation with your Alternaleaf doctor. 

If you’d like to request a script release, please contact Alternaleaf.