Emergency medicines: Mail order pharmacies cannot provide prescription medicines that are needed right away such as in an emergency to treat an acute illness. Usually, local pharmacies can provide emergency medicines within a few hours. For example, certain medicines, such as antibiotics, must be started immediately. In these situations, it is better to fill these prescriptions at your local pharmacy. Local pharmacies can also provide medicines when you are out of a prescription medicine and the mail order prescription has not arrived.
Starting a new medicine: If you are starting a new medicine or know that you need other medical supplies, such as syringes, to use the medicine, consider filling these prescriptions at your local pharmacy.
Lacking face-to-face interaction: Sometimes errors are made by the pharmacy staff when filling the prescription. These errors can be caught and resolved when you pick up the medicine and speak to the pharmacist about the medicine. Information about the medicine will be reviewed, such as the reason for using the medicine, the dose, how it is supposed to be taken, and how often to take it. However, mail order pharmacy services cannot offer the similar face-to-face services to answer questions about your medicines when they are delivered.
Errors in communication and/or delay in delivery: Sometimes, medicines may not always arrive on time or delivery delays may occur. To make sure your medicines are delivered on time, you must order the medicine online or over the phone at least two weeks prior to when the medicine will be needed.
Temperature and delivery concerns: Some medicines are temperature-sensitive, meaning extreme hot or cold temperatures could damage the medicine making it unsafe to use. If the medicine needs to be cold, most prescription bottles or packages will state either, “Store at room temperature” or “Keep refrigerated.” However, when medicines are delivered by mail, you may not know if the medicine was properly refrigerated. In addition, if the medicine needs to be refrigerated and is left on the doorstep or in the mailbox for several hours, it may be damaged if it is hot outside.
If you have any questions or concerns about your prescription plan, contact your health insurance company. If you can choose a local pharmacy or a mail order service, it is important to carefully weigh the “pros” and “cons” prior to signing up for this service. Mail order pharmacy services provide many benefits. If you receive some of your medicine from a mail order pharmacy and others at your local, community pharmacy, be sure to keep an updated list of all the medicines you take. Let the mail order service and your local pharmacy know about all the medicines you take, as soon as possible, and if there are any changes in your medicine(s).
