I know this one.
The reason they don't prescribe bowel meds as standard to accompany drugs that bung you up is partly so that people aren't swallowing tablets they don't really need, and partly because of the way our prescription system works. We have a flat fee of £7.20 per item regardless of its 'real' cost, an item usually being one month's supply.

"Controlled" items have to be prescribed, you can't walk into tescos and buy some valium. But stuff like laxatives, ibuprofen, paracetamol, cough mixture and whatnot are available over the counter, usually for much less than the cost of a prescription.

So you'll get prescribed the prescription-only drugs, advised to drink plenty of water and eat high-fibre cereal, and told that IF you need them, you can buy over-the-counter laxatives as it's cheaper than getting them prescribed.
( Batsgirl, Sun 19 Sep 2010, 15:01, Reply)