If you are on medication, you likely need to understand what refills and renewals are and the difference between them. This is especially true if you are on long-term and maintenance medication. Understanding all of this will help you save time, money, and the hassle of constantly visiting your pharmacy or scheduling a doctor’s appointment.
Individuals having problems with refills and renewals is not an uncommon problem that doctors need to deal with. This can often get quite frustrating for patients.
This is why we have compiled this guide to help you understand everything about refills and renewals. Through this, you can stay prepared beforehand, plan ahead, and avoid any roadblocks to consuming your medication consistently and on time.
What Are Medication Refills?
When the doctor writes a medication prescription, they will likely include the number of refills you are eligible for, if any. These are specific numbers and indicate the number of times you can go to the pharmacy to get your medication refilled when it runs out.
After you get your medication refilled the number of times you are allowed to, you will then need to speak to your doctor and have them write another prescription for you.
However, it is important to note that not all medications require refills, especially those treating acute conditions like flu and pink eye.
How to Get Your Prescription Refilled
If you have run out of your medication and need to get it refilled, there are several ways you can do that, depending on your convenience. These include the following:
At the Pharmacy
You can visit the pharmacy where you got your medication from and ask them to refill it. The pharmacist will contact your doctor to confirm your prescription so that the refill will take a few days.
Online
You can visit your pharmacy and get your medication refilled online if your pharmacy has a website. You could also get in touch with a virtual care platform like TelMDCare, which has trained doctors who can refill your prescription.
On the Phone
You could also call the pharmacy for a medication refill. Most large pharmacies have a number mentioned on the medication label where you can call them. The call is typically automated and will include prompts for you to follow to get your medication refilled. Often, large pharmacies also have a smartphone application that you can use for medication refills.
Via Mail
Individuals with chronic conditions who require medication regularly can often get their medication refilled via mail. However, this option is not always available, so you should speak to your doctor about it beforehand.
What Are Medication Renewals?
Medication renewal is different from a refill and is typically for maintenance medication people take in the long run for chronic conditions. You can contact your doctor for a medication renewal when your refill runs out. This is essentially when you get a new prescription for a medication from the same physician.
However, for a medication renewal, the doctor will likely carry out tests to see if you need to continue taking that medication. This is often the case for individuals with conditions like diabetes and blood pressure.
This typically takes more time than refills because you must schedule an appointment with your physician and get your tests taken.
How to Get Medication Renewed
There are three main ways you can get your medication renewed:
In-Person or Online Doctor Visit
The most common way to renew your medication is by visiting the doctor via an appointment. This can be an in-person appointment or an online appointment at TelMDCare. Most physicians don’t charge for these appointments.
By Messaging the Doctor
You can also message your doctor on their number or website if they have one. If they don’t need to carry out any tests, you can get the medication renewed. This is a great option if you don’t want to be seen while getting medication renewed.
By Calling the Doctor
Alternatively, you can also call your doctor and have them renew your medication. This is by far the quickest way of medication renewal if you need one.
Tips To Avoid Refill and Renewal Issues
If this is your first time on a maintenance and long-term medication, you should follow these tips to avoid any issues with refills and renewals. This will help you stay on top of your prescriptions so that you never miss them or run out of your medication.
Consider following these tips to avoid any problems with renewal and refills:
- Stay on track of your refills and contact your doctor beforehand when the time for refill is close
- If you have misplaced your medication or prescription, you should contact your pharmacy, doctor, or whoever prescribed you the medication
- You can get your prescription paid for via your insurance plan, so you should contact your insurance provider for details
- If you are leaving for a long time, you should speak to your healthcare provider to give you more medication for an extended period of time
- In case your medication has been discontinued, you should contact your doctor for an alternative medication
- You should visit other pharmacies if your medication is finished at the regular pharmacy
How TelMDCare Can Help You with Medication Refills and Renewals
At TelMDCare, we understand how difficult it can be to get your medication prescribed, refilled, and renewed. Sometimes your medication runs out, and you cannot visit the pharmacy or your regular doctor for a prescription. In this case, a telemedicine doctor could be quite helpful.
TelMDCare is a leading virtual platform with trained and licensed telemedicine doctors who can provide medical assistance to patients. They can also refill your prescription online and answer any questions you might have.
For more information and to book an online appointment with an online doctor, visit our website today!
