How long is a French prescription valid?

How long does an ordonnance (medical prescription) remain valid for?

An ordinary prescription for medicines remains valid for three months – after this a pharmacist no longer has the right to dispense them to you.

There are exceptions for certain less commonly-prescribed drugs, such as some narcotics, which may be limited to just three days. 

A repeat prescription is often for six months and generally not more than a year, however there are shorter maximum periods for drugs such as sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety drugs, of two to 12 weeks.

Prescriptions for medical devices and supplies (bandages, crutches...) last 12 months.

Glasses prescriptions last from one to five years depending on your age. See Chapter 7.

A prescription for tests, examinations (such as an X-ray) or sessions with ‘medical auxiliaries’ such as nurses and physiotherapists has no specific limit; however, blood test labs generally do not allow people to make use of prescriptions more than a year old. 

Your healthcare caisse may refuse to reimburse tests or care sessions that are done too long after they were prescribed.