By Sabrina Bullock, RN, BSN
Caregivers face many challenges including making
sure medications are refilled and there are many
things which can make this easier. Firstly, do
not wait till the last pill as this may lead to
other problems. You may be able to get the
medication refilled, but you may end up finding the
prescription has expired or has no more refills
left. You will then have to call the
healthcare provider to request a refill or call the
pharmacy to fax the provider’s office a refill
request. Many healthcare providers’ offices say
allow 24 to 48 hours for a refill request, so a
little advance planning can go a long way.
Secondly, it is helpful to have a list of all
medications and supplements being taken, including
the name of the medication or supplement, dose, and
frequency taken. It helps if the dose is
specific, such as how many milligrams per capsule or
tablet, rather than a generic reference such as one
or two capsules or tablets. This is only an
example, so read the label on the medication
container for the dosage information. The list
can come in handy for requesting refills, answering
questions which may come up at the pharmacy or on
visits to a healthcare provider. Another
addition which would be especially useful for
long-distance care providers would be the rx number
from the prescription bottle. Just remember
the rx number may change at times, such as if the
medication is filled at another pharmacy.
Next, consider which method is most convenient
for you to refill medications. When picking up
medications in person at the pharmacy, save yourself
some time by using your telephone. Call in
advance to fill medication prescriptions and to
check if the medicines are ready. Some
pharmacies even offer a service to send a text
message to your cell phone alerting you when your
medications are ready to be picked up. It also
helps to try to pick up medications during a less
busy time of day. You may learn this
through experience or through talking with the
pharmacy staff. If you use the automatic
refill system available at some pharmacies, the
medication will already be filled and ready for pick
up when it is due to run out. Also, taking
advantage of pharmacies offering 90-day refills for
medications taken on a regular basis can decrease
the time spent in line at the pharmacy.
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