The importance of taking your medication as prescribed (medication adherence) cannot be overstated. Your treatment plan can be seriously slowed down if you miss multiple doses because you can’t get to the pharmacy or can’t refill your prescription.
 
There are some prescription refill rules to keep in mind, but it is not as complicated as they may seem.
 
In the event that you no longer have any refills left, you will need to contact your physician. Prescription refills may be approved over the phone depending on your provider and medication. A provider may require you to schedule an appointment for controlled substances and some other health conditions. If you want to avoid delays in your treatment, schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
 
Getting a prescription refill is as simple as coordinating with the pharmacy once you are approved. Your prescription label will likely contain the Rx number and your identity will have to be verified. You can ask your pharmacist to look up the prescription if you have misplaced the label or thrown away the box.
 
Please do not hesitate to ask questions to your pharmacist when requesting a prescription refill. In addition, you should let your provider know if you are experiencing any side effects from the medication. A pharmacist can address your concerns whether you have trouble swallowing pills or if you want to take over-the-counter medicine along with your prescription.

Prescriptions can only be refilled without a provider’s prescription if they still have refills left. Check your prescription bottle or box to see if this is the case. The refills portion should have a number and a date next to it. The number of refills that remain and when they need to be filled can be found here.
 
A prescription refill will need to be approved by your provider if you do not have any refills left or the date has passed. It is possible, however, for some pharmacies to request a refill on your behalf through the provider. Ultimately, talk to your pharmacist about the options you have for refilling your prescription, and they will be able to guide you.
 
In the event that you have already reached the number of refills listed on your prescription label or you do not have any refills left, you will need to contact your provider. You may be able to get a refill approved over the phone in some cases. It’s likely you’ll have to schedule an appointment if you’ve already had multiple refills and it’s been a while since your last check-up. In case you run out of refills or are near the bottom of your bottle, keep this in mind. To avoid missing a dose, make sure you talk with your provider in advance.

How many times you can fill a prescription will depend on your provider’s instructions and the type of medication being used. There is no universal number of prescription refills that will be prescribed because treatment plans are individually tailored to each patient. In certain situations, a pharmacist may be able to extend your prescription for a brief period to avoid an interruption of drug therapy while you seek out an appointment with your provider.

Invara Pharmacy & Clinic offers free prescription delivery. Our pharmacy is open 7 days a week to fill prescriptions and answer any questions you may have about taking or managing your medications. Patients can find interacting with pharmacies stressful, but Invara takes the stress out of the equation with over 50 years of combined experience and 1000s of satisfied patients. We are located at 31111 U.S. Rte 2, Sultan, WA 98294. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Sultan WA, Monroe WA, Startup WA, Gold Bar WA, Woods Creek WA, and surrounding areas.