I have just bought, from my vet, a repeat bottle of Metacam, the 180 ml size and they charged me £52.52      Out of interest, I checked the cost of the same size bottle on line and to my horror, find I could have bought at anything from just under £20 up.   Some difference.   But obviously need a prescription from my vet.    Can anybody give me a ballpark figure, before I go back to my vet about this.   I haven't started the new bottle yet and could, at a pinch take it back!!
Thanks.

I don't think they're allowed to take any medication back, even if it appears unopen as it could have been tampered with. So you're stuck with that bottle but for the future you could ask for a prescription. I had a collie who was on metacam most of her life. The problem I've found is that you may get charged a consultation charge and a prescription charge so it ends up not being cheaper at all. My vet charged me £10 for a prescription, and £32 for the consultation, they wouldn't give me a repeat prescription without another consultation so I was cheaper buying repeat bottles from them.

My vet charges  £8:50 for prescription

That sounds about the price I would be charged at my vets.  Because I have so many dogs I, at one time, was paying out more than £100 per month for drugs (for dogs on long term medication.)  It was a member of the admin staff that took me to one side and said that I was their best dog customer, and should push for a discount.

I approached one of the partners and asked (nicely) what it would cost me for a prescription, as I was paying out so much every month.  I was told to hang on and he would speak to the rep of these drugs to see if they would give me a discount.  Eventually I was given a permanent 10% discount on all my bills (including boosters.)  It's not an easy decision for me to buy from them, but I buy a lot of different meds, and would be charged a prescription fee for each and every one.

In your case, if it's the only drug you need, then it would be much more economical for you to pay £10 for a prescription.

> My vet charges  £8:50 for prescription

Woah.   That has made me even more upset about this.   And they were so full of what 'saving' I'd be making buying a 180 ml bottle and not the previous 100 ml. size.    But yes, I'd have been charged a repeat consult. as I was, plus the cost of more pain meds, other than the Metacam.   The total bill was £104. and change.   Oh this boy and his vet costs.    And yes, taking the bottle back wouldn't probably be possible as, like with my human meds. once sold they can't be taken back.    But it is one for the future if £8.50 is a good ballpark figure.    I needed to know whether getting a prescription and buying online was going to be the saving it appeared to be.   So thanks.

£20, but no consult,  so many things won't end up cheaper.  Wish they hadn't ended the ban on charging.

£18 valid for up to three repeats. No further consultation fee though.

£8.50 and will do repeats up to 6 months as from then they need to see the animal again as per rcvs requirements.

Realise I must be very fortunate but pay for meds only no prescription
Otto on Rimadyl & Cytotec (Remend I buy on line), when getting low either ask when we see our vet, often twice a month or ring through & they're sent out 2/3days later to the local surgery in the village.
Oh & they'll take unopened meds back.

£15 at mine, other local vet was £17 last time I checked.

£17.50 inc VAT for a prescription; and they can't legally take back the meds, even if not opened.

Thanks all for the comments.   I have decided to lower the amount of Metacam I'm currently giving him and see what happens.   I can always bump it up again to the max. dose if it seems he's not comfortable.   Ditto, eventually, with the pain relief (Gabapentin) although I'm only altering the Metacam dose, for now.   Giving him less Metacam means the big bottle I now have will last and last   So I won't need to go to the vet for a prescription to buy online in the immediate future!!   Reading the leaflet with the Metacam, it does suggest that the dose can be adjusted to meet needs.    I'm not denying what I've seen on x-rays but do wonder how long he's been like that with, for the most part (the odd bout of lameness apart, which is now explained), no problems.   If I can keep him pain free, and able to keep exercising to keep his muscle-tone up, he should be able to carry on ......

£7 plus consult fee for a 6 month repeat for my dog