“What happens to my medication?” is one of the most common questions we’re asked before admission. Here our nursing team explains, step by step, how medicines are handled safely during your stay – and how we help you manage them confidently when you go home.

Clinically reviewed by Bongeka Chamane (Nursing Manager, Registered Nurse, SANC 16268179)
Review date: 12 October 2026

Why medication is managed by nurses in rehab

In a residential treatment centre, nurses store and give all medication. This isn’t about taking control away from you. It is about:

Safety – especially during detox, when doses change and medicines need careful monitoring;
Protecting everyone in the house – some medicines can be harmful, or misused, if they end up in the wrong hands;
Accuracy – making sure you get the right medicine, at the right dose, at the right time, every time;
Taking the pressure off you – so you can focus on your recovery.

Step 1: On admission – handing over your medication

When you arrive, you will be asked to hand over all medicines you have brought, including:

prescription medicines;
over-the-counter painkillers, sleep aids and allergy tablets;
vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies;
inhalers, creams, injections and eye drops.

A nurse will then carry out what is known as medicines reconciliation: checking each medicine against your prescriptions or doctor’s letter, recording the name, strength, dose and how often you take it, and noting any allergies. This is a recognised safety process in healthcare, and it helps the doctor make informed decisions about your treatment.

The doctor will then review your medication. Some medicines will continue as before; some may be adjusted; and some – for example medicines that could interfere with recovery – may be reduced or changed safely over time. Any changes are explained to you.

Step 2: Safe storage

Your medicines are kept in a locked, secure medication area that only authorised staff can access. In South Africa, certain medicines (such as some sedatives, strong painkillers and other scheduled medicines) are subject to stricter legal controls, including secure storage and a register that records every dose received and given. Some medicines must also be kept in a locked safe. We make sure medicines are stored at the right temperature – out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry cupboard, or refrigerated where required.

Step 3: Administering your medication – carefully, every time

Medication is given at set medication rounds during the day: at 07:00 (medicines taken before meals), 08:30–09:00 (after breakfast), 14:00 (afternoon doses), 18:00 (evening doses) and 20:30–22:00 (night-time medication). Nurses follow established safety checks before every dose – often described in nursing as the “rights” of medication administration:

the right person;
the right medicine;
the right dose;
the right route (for example, by mouth or injection);
the right time;
and the right documentation – every dose is recorded once it has been given.

Nurses usually stay with you while you take your medicine. Please don’t take this personally – it is standard practice in treatment settings, and it helps make sure medicines are taken as prescribed and not saved up or shared.

What are blister packs and why do we use them?

Many people in treatment have their medicines dispensed by a pharmacy in blister packs (also called compliance packs or multi-dose packs). Each sealed pocket contains the medicines for a particular day and time.

Blister packs help by:

making it easy to see at a glance whether a dose has been taken;
reducing the risk of mix-ups when someone takes several medicines;
providing a clear, tamper-evident record.

Once you are stable on a fixed dose prescribed by the GP and psychiatrist, your medication may be dispensed in blister packs. Nurses still give any “as needed” medication, and monitor any dose changes after a follow-up consultation where the doctor has adjusted your medication. Not every medicine is suitable for a blister pack – for example, liquids, inhalers, some medicines that are sensitive to moisture, and medicines whose doses change often during detox – so these are given from their original packaging.

“As needed” medication

Some medicines are prescribed “as needed” (for example, for pain, headache or nausea). Simply ask a nurse. We will check how you are feeling, make sure it is safe to give, and record it.

Side effects and questions

If you notice a side effect, or are unsure why you’re taking something, please tell us. Understanding your medication is part of your recovery, and we are always happy to explain.

Step 4: Building good habits for home

Taking medication consistently – what healthcare professionals call adherence – can be harder once you are back in everyday life. Before discharge, we help you prepare by:

going through your current medication list with you, including any changes made during your stay;
explaining what each medicine is for and how to take it;
discussing practical tools, such as weekly pill organisers, phone reminders or pharmacy blister packs at home;
making sure you know not to stop any medication suddenly without speaking to your doctor.

On discharge, any remaining medication you brought with you is returned as appropriate, and you will receive information about your current medication to share with your doctor at home. On discharge, the GP and psychiatrist write a two-month travelling prescription, so you have enough medication to last until your next appointment with a psychiatrist at home. You will be discharged with these medications and the prescriptions to accompany them. Any benzodiazepines going home are limited to a short supply, as prescribed by the doctor, so please arrange a follow-up with your own doctor soon after you return home. A referral letter from our psychiatrist to yours will follow.

Travelling to Cape Town with your medication

If you are coming from the Netherlands, Belgium or the UK, a little preparation makes things easier:

Carry medication in your hand luggage, in its original packaging with the pharmacy label.
Bring a copy of your prescription and a letter from your doctor, in English, listing your medicines, doses and the reason you take them.
Bring enough for your journey and the first days of your stay, plus a little extra in case of delays. We usually ask clients to bring at least a one-week supply of all their medication.
Check the rules for controlled medicines. Some medicines (for example certain sleeping tablets, benzodiazepines, strong painkillers, ADHD medication and opioid substitution treatment) are controlled internationally and may need extra documentation. Dutch travellers can check the requirements with the CAK, and UK travellers with the Home Office guidance on travelling with controlled drugs. This one-week guideline applies to controlled medicines too; our doctor will prescribe what you need for the rest of your stay. If you are unsure, ask our admissions team at the enquiry stage and they will confirm with the nurses for you.
Tell our admissions team what you take before you travel, so we can plan ahead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep any medication in my room?
Generally no, for safety reasons. Exceptions may be made for emergency medicines such as asthma reliever inhalers.

What if I need a medicine in the middle of the night?
A nurse is on duty 24/7. Just ask.

Will my regular medication be stopped?
Not automatically. The doctor reviews everything you take. Any changes are discussed with you and made safely.

What about contraception?
Please tell us what contraception you use so that it can continue as normal – and let us know if you have any concerns. Contraceptives continue as prescribed.

What if I’ve brought medication that wasn’t prescribed to me?
Please hand it in and tell us honestly. Our concern is your safety, not judgement.

A closing note

Medication management in treatment is about safety, accuracy and peace of mind – for you and for your family. Our nursing team at Liberty Home handles your medication carefully throughout your stay and helps you leave feeling confident about managing it at home. If you have questions about your medication before you come, please contact us – we’re happy to help.

This article is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. Never stop or change prescribed medication without speaking to your doctor.