Getting a prescription filled

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Pharmacy alternatives

Internet pharmacies are another option for long-term medications or buying general pharmacy supplies. The website should clearly explain the steps for filling or transferring a prescription. Make sure that the website has clearly-stated privacy policies and other procedures. AVOID any website that claims a doctor can prescribe the medication without actually seeing you.

To assist the pharmacist in filling the prescription, make sure the following information is clearly printed on the prescription: name of the patient, address, phone number, and health care provider's name. A sloppy prescription may not include all of this information, or it may be illegible.

When phoning the pharmacy for a refill, the following information is helpful: prescription number, name of medication, and name of the patient.

Normally, the busiest times in a pharmacy are at opening, during lunch hour, and immediately after work (3:30 p.m. to about 7:30 p.m.). If it is possible to avoid these hours when dropping off or picking up a prescription, your wait may be shorter, depending on the pharmacists' backlog.

Once you choose a pharmacy, it is best to fill all prescriptions with that pharmacy. This way an accurate drug history can be maintained. With an accurate drug history, the pharmacist can more easily check for drug interactions that may be potentially harmful to you, or that may decrease the effectiveness of your medications.

Review Date: 01/18/2007
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.