Your doctor should ask if you’re taking any other medications or dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbs) in order to avoid potentially harmful reactions. If she doesn’t ask, make sure to volunteer such information. Health professionals other than your doctor can give you a prescription. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, podiatrists, psychiatrists, optometrists, naturopaths, osteopaths, veterinarian and even some chiropractors (in some areas) can give prescriptions for a limited number of medications. Note that the laws regarding what they can actually prescribe vary widely by state.
Not all doctors or health care professionals offer this type of service because it’s time consuming and dependent on the cooperation and efficiency of participating pharmacies. However, it never hurts to ask — it may save you some time and prevent mistakes. Recent research indicates that about 1/3 of people who get a prescription from a health care provider for the first time don’t get it filled. Reasons why may include misunderstandings, mistrust and/or differing opinions on the safety of prescription drugs.
Any computer network that shares private and confidential information has a potential for abuse. Ask your doctor about the security of your health information in such networks before deciding to participate. You will sign a release before anything is automatically shared through this network. With the advent of electronic health records and online prescribing, doctors can easily find out if you’ve filled your prescription or not. Your doctor may also be able to send e-prescriptions directly to pharmacy of your choice through most electronic medical record systems.
You may be required to make a co-payment at the pharmacy. The pharmacy won’t get reimbursed from insurer for a few weeks, so they ask for co-pay so that they can have some cashflow coming into the business. Patients most likely not to get a prescription filled include: middle-aged and younger adults, patients not covered by health insurance, and those prescribed expensive drugs. In contrast, elderly patients with longstanding relationships with their doctor are most likely to fill and take their prescriptions.
To find a pharmacy that accepts your health coverage, call the number on the back of your insurance card and talk to a representative or call the pharmacy directly and ask if they are contracted with your insurance plan. To help the pharmacist fill your prescription, make sure all the information is filled out correctly and have your personal identification and health insurance card with you to show.
In order to perform a DUR, the pharmacist must clarify your gender, age, known allergies, previous drug reactions, chronic conditions and the names of all the drugs you’re taking. Remember the drug name your doctor prescribes to you and for what reason, so you can confirm that information with the pharmacist before you start taking the medication. Mistakes happen, so it’s best to be proactive and make sure things are clear.
As an added bonus, your prescription medication may cost less if you get it delivered to your home due to a lack of storage fees. On the other hand, the medication may take a week or more to arrive. Because of the time delay, it’s best to use mail-order services for chronic or less serious conditions, and not acute problems with significant symptoms needing quick attention. Drugs that need to be maintained at specific temperatures should not be mail ordered. Pick them up from the local pharmacy instead.
Reputable internet pharmacies require that you have a prescription from your doctor before they sell you any medication. Their sites have instructions of how to transfer or prove your prescription. Avoid any website that claims they can send you a controlled drug without a doctor’s prescription — it’s illegal and you could get in trouble. The drug distribution centers that internet pharmacies use are often outside of the United States, so it may take more time to receive your medication(s).
