How do I get a repeat prescription?

How to get a repeat prescription online in Australia

To get a repeat prescription online in Australia, book a brief telehealth consult with an AHPRA-registered Abby clinician. They review how your medication has been working, check for any side effects, confirm the dose is still right, and — if it is clinically appropriate — issue a fresh e-script token. Repeats are not automatic; the law and good practice require a clinical review. Most Abby repeats are completed in under 10 minutes.

Why do repeats need a review?

It is tempting to think of a repeat as a rubber stamp. In Australian primary care it is not, and it should not be. The same medication that was right for you three months ago may need a dose adjustment, a switch, or a fresh look at side effects. Australian prescribing guidance, summarised by the RACGP, asks clinicians to think before they re-prescribe, not just refresh the paperwork.

The review is brief. Your clinician will ask how the medication has been working, whether you have noticed side effects, whether anything has changed in your health since the last script, and — for chronic conditions — whether you are due any monitoring (blood pressure, bloods, weight, mood). If everything is stable, the e-script lands within minutes.

Continuity of care makes repeats faster

Around 71% of Abby patients book back with the same clinician they saw originally (Abby Health internal data, Q1 2026). For repeats this matters more than for any other consult, because the clinician already knows your story.

Abby AI, our medical decision-support tool, surfaces your prior consults, your current medications, and any results since the last review before the appointment begins. Your clinician sees the picture without you having to re-tell it. Read more in how Abby remembers you.

What if my medication needs an in-person review?

For most repeats, online is fine. Some are not — typically Schedule 8 medications, stimulant ADHD medications, benzodiazepines, and Z-drug hypnotics, which need an in-person GP or specialist review under Australian rules. Your clinician will say so directly and help you find the right pathway. See can I get painkillers, ADHD medication or sleeping pills for the full picture and what Abby can and can't prescribe online safely for the broader list.

What does the e-script repeat look like?

Your repeat lands as a fresh e-script token by SMS or email. You take the QR code to any Australian pharmacy — show it in person, forward it for delivery, or store it in your Active Script List. Each token covers one fill. After dispensing, the pharmacy issues you a new token for the next repeat in the cycle, automatically. For more on tokens, see how do e-scripts work.

If you would rather have an automated reminder before your next repeat is due, look at auto-renew repeat prescriptions.

How long should a repeat last?

The number of repeats and the interval depend on your medication, your condition, and your monitoring plan. For stable chronic conditions — high blood pressure, thyroid, contraception — clinicians may issue several repeats with a longer interval. For newer prescriptions or anything where the dose is being adjusted, repeats are usually shorter and more frequent. Your clinician will explain the plan during the consult, including when the next monitoring is due.

To learn more about what telehealth covers under Medicare and which item numbers apply to repeat consults, see Medicare and telehealth: what eligible Australians can access or browse MBS Online.

What does it cost?

The repeat consult itself is bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Your medication is paid for at the pharmacy, with PBS subsidy for medications listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Our clinicians' registrations are publicly verifiable on the AHPRA register.

Can I switch pharmacies on a repeat?

Yes. An Australian e-script is not tied to a particular pharmacy — the QR token can be presented at any pharmacy registered to dispense PBS medications. This is a real shift from the paper-based system, where a physical script lived behind one pharmacy's counter once it had been left for filling. With the e-script model:

• You can change pharmacies between repeats: Use one pharmacy for this fill, a different one for the next, with no extra paperwork. Each new token issued after dispensing can go anywhere.
• You can transfer mid-cycle if you have moved: If a script with remaining repeats is currently held by a pharmacy you no longer visit, that pharmacy can transfer the remaining repeats to a new one. See transferring prescriptions between pharmacies for the full process.
• You can choose home delivery: If a delivery option suits you better than walking in, the same token can be forwarded to a delivery-capable pharmacy.

The medication itself is the same wherever it is dispensed, and PBS pricing is set nationally — so switching pharmacies should not change what you pay at the counter for a PBS-listed medication.

What if my pharmacy can't fill my repeat?

Occasionally a pharmacy will tell you they cannot fill the repeat today. The most common reasons are a temporary stock shortage, a national supply shortage flagged by the TGA, or a token that has already been redeemed. Your options:

• Try a different pharmacy with the same token — most stock issues are local.
• Ask the pharmacist to suggest a clinically equivalent alternative on the PBS, then book a brief Abby consult to update the script if needed.
• If the script has expired or been used up, book a new repeat consult to get a fresh e-script token.

How Abby can help

If you are about to run out of a medication you have been on for a while, an Abby clinician can usually see you in minutes through the First Available queue. Book the consult before your last fill so there is no gap. Start at abbyhealth.app/services/prescriptions. Abby appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card.