POM: Prescription-Only Medicine

In the UK, POM stands for prescription-only medicines. This means a medicine can only be obtained with a valid prescription from an authorised prescriber such as a doctor or dentist.

This is laid out by the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, which define medicine classifications and prescribers in the UK.

At a glance: POM

What is a prescription-only medication (POM)?

A prescription-only medication can only be obtained with a valid prescription from an authorised prescriber.

The three UK medicine classifications: POM vs P (pharmacy) vs GSL (general sales list)

There are three classifications for medicines in the UK, POM (prescription-only medicine), P (pharmacy) and GSL (general sale list).

The first is POM medicines, which have the strictest restrictions on how they can be dispensed. These medicines must only be dispensed when a prescription has been obtained.

Next is P or pharmacy medicines, this refers to medications you can buy from behind the counter at a pharmacy without a prescription, but under the guidance of a pharmacist who may ask questions or decline the sale of medication.

Lastly, there are GSLs, known as the general sale list; these are medicines that can be purchased without a pharmacist or doctor involved. Things such as small packs of paracetamol and antihistamines are widely available to buy in stores without having to see a healthcare provider first.

There are pack-size and strength limits for GSL medications, that's why paracetamol packets have 12 tablets in the supermarket and 32 tablets when purchased from a pharmacist.

Medications are classified in this way to determine how much professional oversight is needed for the safe use of medications.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is a licensing authority and can move medications into different classifications, for example, turning the emergency contraception pill from a POM to a P in 2001.

Examples of prescription-only medicines

There are many medications that are only accessed through prescription; the judging criteria considered by the licensing authority for prescription-only medicines are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and include:

• Is likely to present a direct or indirect danger to human health, even when used correctly, if used without the supervision of a doctor or dentist

• Is frequently and to a very wide extent used incorrectly, and as a result is likely to present a direct or indirect danger to human health

• Contains substances, or preparations of substances, of which the activity requires, or the side effects require, further investigation 

• Or is normally prescribed by a doctor or dentist for parenteral administration (through injections or IVs).

Common examples of POM medicines include: antibiotics, weight-loss injections, strong painkillers such as tramadol, asthma inhalers, antidepressants and cardiovascular medicines.

Cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) also fall under POMs.

Why is medical cannabis a POM?

Medical cannabis is also a POM and has been legal to prescribe in the UK since November 2018, but it comes with higher levels of restrictions.

Medical cannabis is also a Schedule 2 controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, and this dual classification requires the highest level of government control and supervision when prescribing to ensure patient safety and prevent misuse.

Medical cannabis can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor registered on the GMC Specialist Register and must be dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.

CBPMs are generally unlicensed medications so are supplied as specials medicine products.

Sativex is the exception to this and is an oral spray cannabis-based product for medicinal use that is licensed and can be prescribed by the NHS for muscle stiffness and spasticity in patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

How to get a POM in the UK

Every prescription-only medicine in the UK is obtained in the same way. An authorised practitioner such as a doctor or nurse writes the prescription which is handed over to a registered pharmacy to dispense it.

NHS England writes its prescriptions on an FP10 form, and patients generally pay a flat rate no matter the cost of the drug. Private prescriptions are written on FP10PCD forms, and patients generally pay the full cost of the consultation, medicine, and pharmacy dispensing fee.

Through the NHS, only certain conditions, such as rare forms of epilepsy, spasticity linked to multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, are approved for medical cannabis prescriptions.

However, private medical cannabis clinics like us at Releaf, who have a team of specialists registered with the GMC, have the legal authority to prescribe cannabis-based medicines for a wider variety of health conditions where deemed appropriate.

Unlike the US, which has cannabis dispensaries people can buy from, medical cannabis in the UK must be dispensed through a registered pharmacy.

Pharmacists may supply a POM medicine under emergency supply procedures in limited scenarios rather than without a prescription entirely. This could be when a pharmacist has been requested to provide the medicine by a relevant prescriber who is unable to provide a prescription immediately. Pharmacists may also be able to arrange an emergency supply at a patient's request if it is a medicine they’ve had prescribed before.

While there are exceptions to POMs, they do not extend to medical cannabis as it is a Schedule 2 controlled drug.

Prescription-only medications and the law

Generally speaking, possessing someone else’s general POM medication may not always be a criminal offence in itself (for instance, holding a family member’s prescription of antibiotics).

However, the act of supplying or sharing general POMs with another person is a breach of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

The laws become more stringent with controlled drugs such as medical cannabis.

Cannabis-based medicines sit in Schedule 2 controlled drugs according to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, and only the person they were prescribed to can lawfully possess them.

Possessing medical cannabis without a prescription is illegal and you could face five years in jail plus an unlimited fine.

Prescribed medications should never be shared, as this breaches the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

Handing medical cannabis to another person is a supply offence and doesn't require money to change hands. Giving someone your prescribed medication is legally the same act as selling them and you can face two years in prison and/or a fine.

Again, sharing controlled drugs like medical cannabis comes with an even greater consequence and can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Keeping your medical cannabis in its original packaging is the easiest way to protect yourself. The prescribing label on the packaging will have your name, pharmacy, prescriber, and date to show it has been lawfully prescribed to you.

A medical cannabis prescription does not automatically give you the right to drive and you must not be impaired while driving; for more information, read driving and medical cannabis.

Frequently asked questions about prescription-only medications

What does POM stand for in medication?

In the UK, POM stands for prescription-only medicines. This means a medicine can only be obtained with a valid prescription from an authorised prescriber such as a doctor or dentist.

What is the difference between POM, P and GSL medicines?

POM medication is prescription-only, P is for medications that can be purchased without a prescription but with a pharmacist’s supervision and GSL is for medications that can be purchased without a healthcare professional involved.

What are examples of prescription-only medicines?

Some examples of prescription-only medications include strong painkillers, weight-loss injections, antibiotics and antidepressants.

What is the difference between prescription and non-prescription medicines?

A prescription medication is picked out for you by an appropriate prescriber. A non-prescription medicine is picked by you.

Is medical cannabis a prescription-only medicine in the UK?

Medical cannabis is a prescription-only medicine in the UK, that can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor.

Can a pharmacist give you prescription-only medicine without a prescription?

There are a few instances where a pharmacist can give you a prescription-only medication without a prescription. This includes when the patient requests a medication they have previously been prescribed and if a prescriber asks the pharmacist to do so in an emergency where they cannot release a prescription immediately.

Is it illegal to possess a POM without a prescription?

Generally, it is not illegal to possess a POM without a prescription. However, possessing controlled drugs like medical cannabis without a prescription that states it was lawfully supplied to you is an offence.

To find out if you are eligible, try our free medical cannabis eligibility checker, it takes less than 30 seconds to fill in.

Our medical cannabis glossary can also help you learn more about terms you may associate with medical cannabis. 

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