Online Prescriptions & Repeat Prescriptions

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What is an online prescription?
An online prescription is a valid script issued by a registered Australian doctor following a real-time telehealth consultation by video or phone. Our doctors conduct live, one-on-one consultations before issuing any prescription.
This means you speak directly with a GP in real time, who assesses your condition, reviews your health history, and determines whether a prescription is clinically appropriate.
We do not issue prescriptions based solely on online questionnaires or automated forms.This practice is not considered good medical care under Australian guidelines.
What do online GPs commonly prescribe via telehealth?

Infections: antibiotics for urinary tract infections, skin infections, chest infections, throat infections, and sinusitis.

Skin conditions: treatments for acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, and tinea.

Mental health: antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications such as SSRIs and SNRIs – for example, sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine.

These are for patients with an established diagnosis or following an appropriate clinical assessment.

Contraception: the oral contraceptive pill, emergency contraception, and referrals for longer-acting options.

Respiratory conditions: inhalers and preventer medications for asthma and COPD, as well as treatments for hay fever and allergic rhinitis.

Chronic disease management: medications for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and thyroid conditions including metformin, ramipril, perindopril, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and thyroxine.

Gastrointestinal conditions: treatments for reflux, heartburn, and irritable bowel symptoms — including omeprazole and pantoprazole.

Men’s health: treatments for erectile dysfunction and hair loss — including sildenafil, tadalafil, and finasteride.

Women’s health: treatments for menopausal symptoms, recurrent thrush, and bacterial vaginosis.

Preventive health: referrals, health assessments, and prescriptions supporting ongoing preventive care.

This is not an exhaustive list. If you are unsure whether your condition can be managed via telehealth, your GP will advise you during your consultation.

How do I receive my prescription?
After your consultation, your prescription is sent electronically – known as an eScript – and it will go directly to your phone or email as a QR code.
You can take this to any Australian pharmacy to have it dispensed.
Can I get a repeat prescription online without visiting a GP in person?
Yes. AHPRA guidelines confirm that a patient does not need a prior in-person appointment before having a telehealth consultation, and doctors can issue repeat scripts via telehealth.
Our doctors can renew prescriptions for ongoing conditions such as blood pressure medication, contraception, or thyroid treatment after a consultation to confirm your condition is stable, your current treatment is still appropriate, and no new concerns have emerged.
Repeat prescribing is never automatic: your doctor will always review your situation before reissuing a script.
What happens during a consultation for a prescription?
Your consultation follows the same standard of care as an in-person GP visit.
Your doctor will verify your identity, review your medical history, ask about your current symptoms and any other medications you’re taking, and discuss the risks and benefits of the medication being requested.
If the doctor determines that an in-person examination is needed, for example, to investigate new or unclear symptoms they will let you know and refer you accordingly. Your safety always comes first.
Are there medications your doctors cannot prescribe online?
Yes. While we can prescribe the vast majority of medications via telehealth, two categories are subject to strict legislative controls that make online prescribing inappropriate or unlawful without additional in-person assessment, specialist involvement, or state authority approval.
Schedule 8 — Controlled Drugs (Drugs of Addiction/Dependence)
These medications have a recognised therapeutic use but carry a high risk of misuse, abuse, and dependence. They require permits, state authority approvals, and ongoing in-person monitoring that cannot be safely managed via telehealth alone.

Our doctors cannot prescribe the following via telehealth:

Opioid analgesics: morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, tapentadol, methadone, buprenorphine (when used for pain management), and codeine in high-dose formulations.

CNS stimulants (used for ADHD and narcolepsy): methylphenidate, dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine. These require specialist initiation typically by a paediatrician or psychiatrist and state-specific prescribing authority before a GP can co-prescribe.

Benzodiazepines classified as Schedule 8: alprazolam and flunitrazepam, which carry additional controls due to evidence of illicit use and dependence risk.

Opioid dependence treatments: methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone when used for opioid replacement therapy, which require specific ORT prescriber approval and in-person dispensing arrangements.

Other Schedule 8 substances: sodium oxybate, nabiximols (cannabinoid medicine), methylamphetamine (when used therapeutically), and amphetamine.

Schedule 4 Appendix D — Restricted Drugs of Dependence

These are prescription-only medicines that carry a significant dependence or misuse risk and are subject to additional prescribing controls.

Our GPs will not initiate these medications via telehealth and can only continue existing, stable treatment in limited circumstances, always in consultation with the patient’s usual prescriber:

Benzodiazepines (not already listed as Schedule 8): diazepam, temazepam, oxazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, nitrazepam, midazolam, triazolam, zopiclone, zolpidem.

Opioid analgesics classified as Schedule 4: tramadol and codeine-containing compound analgesics above certain thresholds.

Gabapentinoids: pregabalin and gabapentin, which are increasingly monitored across Australian states and territories due to misuse concerns.

Anabolic steroids and androgens: testosterone (including for testosterone replacement therapy), nandrolone, stanozolol, and related compounds.

Other monitored substances: quetiapine, when monitored under state real-time prescription monitoring programs.

What should I do if I need one of these medications?
If you are currently stable on one of these medications and have an established relationship with a prescribing specialist, please contact us and we will discuss whether we are able to assist with continuity of care.
For new assessments or initiations, we can provide a referral to the appropriate specialist or service. We will not leave you without a clear path forward.
Is my information kept private?
Your consultation notes, prescriptions, and personal health information are stored securely and only accessed by your treating practitioners. Our practice complies with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and all relevant legislation.
Is it legal and safe to get a prescription online?
Yes, when conducted properly. The Medical Board of Australia and AHPRA confirm that telehealth is a legitimate and valued part of Australian healthcare.

Doctors can lawfully issue new and repeat prescriptions following a real-time video or phone consultation.
What is not considered acceptable practice is prescribing without any live doctor-patient interaction, for example, through an automated questionnaire or chat-based system with no real-time consultation.
Our doctors will ensure every prescription is preceded by a genuine consultation with a registered practitioner.

Do you prescribe semaglutide for weight management?

Yes. Our GPs can prescribe semaglutide as part of a medically supervised weight management plan, following a thorough real-time telehealth consultation. See our weight management page here.

Our GPs are registered with AHPRA and practise in accordance with the Medical Board of Australia’s Good Medical Practice guidelines and Telehealth Consultations with Patients guidelines. Prescribing rules for Schedule 8 and Appendix D medicines vary by state and territory; this document reflects the general national framework and should be reviewed against the specific jurisdictions in which seedoc.com.au  operates.