Prescriptions

Prescription drugs are available only after an examination and careful consideration.

Has your doctor included refills on your prescription? Check the label.

If the label shows a number next to the "refills" section, that's how many times you can get more of your medicine without going back to see your doctor.

You may be required to make an appointment with your health care provider before you may refill your prescription.

Refills are limited and monitored for your protection.

Please alert your physician to all medication you are taking, including non-prescription drugs.

 - to help track your medications

 

There are several ways to refill your prescription:

• In person. Go to the pharmacy where you originally filled your prescription and come back to pick it up at a later time.

• By phone. Use the pharmacy's phone number listed on your medication label to call in your refill. Most large pharmacies or chain stores have automated menus that you can use anytime, day or night (though of course you'll have to wait for store hours to pick up your refill). The voice prompts will lead you through the process. At smaller pharmacies, you might speak to the pharmacist or pharmacy technician directly. You also can download smartphone apps that let you refill your prescription without making a phone call.

• Online. If your pharmacy lets you reorder a prescription online, you may still have to go to the store to pick it up.

• By mail. People who take medication regularly (such as every day to manage a health condition) can sometimes refill prescriptions by mail. This option is convenient because you can often get your medication in batches (say, a 3-month supply of allergy pills) if your doctor gives you a prescription for that amount. Ask your doctor about this option. If you want to use the mail-order option, you'll need to plan ahead since it may take up to 2 weeks to receive your medicine.

The pharmacy will then contact our office for authorization.

Please allow four to six hours to approve a refill request.

We recommend that you call the pharmacy before going to pick up your prescription, to make certain they have received/filled the prescription. Often, your insurance plan may allow 90-day mail-in prescriptions for chronic medications. Remember that these mail-in prescriptions may take two to three weeks to be filled.

Please bring containers of all your current medications when you come for appointments; this will help us ensure that you are taking the proper medications and dosages. It also will help eliminate confusion that might arise in cases where you may be receiving medication from more than one physician. In addition, always keep a list of current medications with exact name, dosage, frequency and duration of use. It is also advisable to maintain a list of drugs to which you have reacted previously (i.e., drug allergies).