How to prescribe, store, order and dispose of controlled drugs

The Shipman Inquiry has lead to a number of changes in the regulations that govern controlled drugs. Some of these changes, in particular the change in schedule of midazolam from Schedule 4 to Schedule 3 and the introduction of private controlled drug prescriptions, which are now mandatory for all private prescribers, have implications for dentists. This paper aims to outline the current regulations governing controlled drugs that are relevant to dentists and covers how to obtain, prescribe, store and dispose of them.Controlled drugs are the most highly regulated medicines and recent changes in the regulations governing them have implications for dentists in both private and NHS practice.