Drug driving regulations were introduced in England and Wales which make it an offence to be behind the wheel while under the influence of any amount of the most commonly used illegal drugs, or an amount that is considered unsafe of amphetamine, clonazepam, diazepam, flunitrazepam, lorazepam, methadone, morphine, oxazepam or temazepam. Patients on any of these drugs should be advised to avoid driving unless they are convinced their ability is unaffected, in which case it is sensible for them to carry evidence of their prescribed medication in case they are stopped by the police.

Temazepam has been brought into line with other Schedule 3 Controlled Drugs (CDs), which means that prescriptions must now include dose, form and strength information, and state the total quantity of the preparation in both words and figures.

In England, computergenerated paper prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs are now allowed, in order to enable these items to be prescribed and dispensed using the electronic prescribing service (EPS). Pharmacists and their teams should be aware that any CD Schedule 2 or 3 prescriptions received in this way still need to state the dose, form, strength (where appropriate) and total quantity in both words and figures, and be mindful of the 28 day validity from the date of signing €“ the only element that cannot be computer generated. Repeat dispensing is not allowed, but instalment prescriptions are.

Other legislative changes affecting CDs include the introduction of a mandatory requisition form for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs, a requirement for vets to include their registration number on CD scripts, and regularising emergency supplies of phenobarbital in the absence of a prescription. Ketamine and 4-hydroxy-n-butyric acid (more commonly known as GHB) and related compounds (which include sodium oxybate) were moved from Schedule 4 to Schedule 2 of the CD regulations.