General rules
Narcotic drug has initial prescription reserved for certain specialists.
– Prescription on secure paper prescription or on electronic prescription established using Health Insurance teleservices.
– The editor must indicate in full the dosage of the specialty, the number of therapeutic units per dose and the number of doses.
– Maximum duration of delivery: 7 days, unless expressly stated by the prescriber. The delivery can only be executed in its entirety if the prescription is presented within 3 days of its writing. Beyond this, only the quantity corresponding to the duration of the treatment remaining to be covered can be delivered (unpackaging required).
– Medication requiring special monitoring during treatment, but no specific mention must be made on the prescription.
– Registration of entries and exits in the narcotics register is mandatory.
– Special case of scheduled interventions: delivery can be made between the 3rde day preceding the date of intervention or discharge from hospitalization of the patient and up to 3 days after this, without splitting.
First methadone dispensation
Methadone syrup
– Secure prescription established by a doctor working in an addiction care, support and prevention center (CSAPA) or by a hospital doctor during hospitalization, a consultation or in a prison environment.
– Maximum prescription period: 14 days.
Methadone capsules
-– Secure prescription drawn up by a doctor working in a CSAPA or in hospital services dedicated to the care provided to drug addicts.
– The prescription of methadone in capsules is only possible to replace the syrup form in patients treated for at least 1 year and stabilized*.
– Maximum prescription period: 28 days.
Renewal
– Secure city ordinance established by any prescriber.
– Presentation of the initial prescription from the specialist, even if it is more than 1 year old.
– Overlapping prescriptions prohibited, unless expressly stated by the prescriber on the prescription.
– Delivery by exceptional renewal procedure prohibited.
Methadone reimbursement
Following the decree of 1is April 2008 relating to the list of care or treatments likely to be the subject of misuse, misuse or abuse, the coverage by Health Insurance of substitution treatments based on methadone is subject to writing the pharmacist’s name on the prescription in charge of delivery.
* A patient is considered to be stabilized if the monitoring of the management of his addiction is regular, without recent recreational use of psychoactive substances, with negative urinary dosages for opioids, an ability to independently manage his treatment, a recovery of the balance of his personal and social life.
