When you’re feeling ill, sometimes you need antibiotics or other medication that you simply can’t get over the counter. When that happens, you’ll need to see a doctor and have them prescribe something to treat your condition. According to U.S. law, no one can obtain a prescription without having a doctor’s appointment/consultation first. Prescription laws also govern what types of medicine can be prescribed and what substances can or cannot be refilled. So, how do you get a prescription to treat an ongoing chronic illness or antibiotics to cure a cold? There’s a perfectly legal and incredible viable alternative to seeing a doctor in person: do it online. Online doctors are licensed, board-certified, knowledgeable, and can readily diagnose/treat many illnesses just as well as physical doctors. Here’s what you need to know about getting a prescription online.
Consult With An Online Doctor
When it comes to getting a prescription (or any kind of healthcare) online, you need to find a reputable provider. After that, you’ll need to consult with a doctor. Set up your consultation simply by browsing for available licensed doctors and time frames for doing the appointment. After choosing a time, you’ll need to supply insurance information, medical history, disclose any medications you’re using, and inform them of the reason for your visit. The visit itself typically consists of speaking with the doctor over the phone or through some sort of video conferencing software. It is a private and secure connection that will not violate your HIPAA rights/protections. Be sure to carefully describe your symptoms and be as honest/accurate as possible when speaking with the doctor. There is no room for white lies or exaggerations when it comes to your health.
Available Medications
After you follow the necessary steps to get your condition treated, you may wonder what kinds of medication a telemedicine doctor can prescribe. It’s actually quite varied. Do you need an inhaler? You can get Albuterol and several others through some providers. Need allergy meds or treatments? Blood pressure medications like Beta Blockers and the like? How about antibiotics, antifungal meds, or antidepressants? Telemedicine can handle those too. Everything from birth control to diabetes medication and more are usually accessible through telehealth/Telemedicine providers.
Getting A Prescription
Upon completing your virtual doctor’s appointment, getting the prescription is actually pretty easy. If the doctor determines you need one, they’ll discuss it with you beforehand. After making sure you understand what the medicine is, why it’s being prescribed, and how to use it, the doctor will send the prescription to your desired local pharmacy. When it’s ready, you can pick it up and pay for it at your convenience. Sometimes, prescriptions can cost less going this route or doing them via the mail. It all really depends on your insurance and how the provider chooses to handle prescriptions in general.
Prescription Refills
Prescription refills can be tricky sometimes, but fortunately, a doctor can prescribe or refill a prescription depending on how they assess your needs. Several providers have a system in place to help you with prescription refills, like Everyday Dr. and Plushcare’s affordable online prescription refill program. Through a combination of accessible and affordable appointments, you can access a professional, certified doctor to discuss your prescription refill and access it quickly. World class care and better health is only a few clicks away when you use providers like these for your telehealth needs.
Prohibited Prescriptions
As with many other heavily regulated things, online prescriptions do have a few restrictions. Controlled substances like Adderall, Ambien, Ritalin, Lunesta, Ativan Morphine, Xanax, Oxycodone, Klonopin, and Vicodin are all usually prohibited from being prescribed (although the DEA did make some exceptions during the Covid-19 pandemic). Usually, patients need to meet with a doctor in person at least once prior to receiving these types of medications. There are other medications that may require in person visits prior to being able to be prescribed via telemedicine, so make sure you discuss the details with your doctor and ask plenty of questions during your consultation.
