Mail order pharmacies deliver medications directly to patients’ homes, offering competitive pricing and convenience for those on long-term medication. Urgent medications should be obtained locally, and patients should be cautious of unlicensed pharmacies.
A mail order pharmacy is a pharmacy that delivers medications to patients by mail directly to their homes, rather than requiring patients to come to the pharmacy to pick up their prescriptions. Mail order pharmacies have a number of advantages that make them attractive to patients, with most very competitive pricing that makes using their services cost-effective. Patients can access mail order pharmacies by asking for medical recommendations, finding out if their current pharmacy offers mail order options, or searching for mail order pharmacies online.
These pharmacies are designed for use by people who are on regular long-term medications. For example, mail order pharmacies may stock blood pressure medications, birth control medications, depression medications, pain management medications, and other medications that people will need on a regular basis, with the pharmacy providing a supply that is good for up to three months, depending on medication. Urgent medications such as antibiotics or new drug prescriptions that patients need to start using immediately should be provided at a local pharmacy, although people may be able to arrange for delivery if they have difficulty getting to the pharmacy.
At a mail-order pharmacy, prescriptions can be sent by fax, mail, or phone call. Pharmacy staff check the prescription, look at your medical record to confirm that the prescription will not conflict with existing medications, then dispense and mail it. For new patients, the pharmacy may have an intake process that includes full disclosure of the medications the patient is using, along with information about their medical history.
Prices in a mail order pharmacy can sometimes be cheaper, because they don’t have to bear the overhead costs involved in running a store. Most accept insurance for payment, along with cash payments, and delivery can be expedited if the drugs are needed quickly. Delivery straight to the patient door can also be a major boon for patients with chronic debilitating conditions that keep them mostly housebound.
The quality of the products from a mail order pharmacy is comparable to that of the products offered in other pharmacies. However, patients should be aware that some companies operate mail order pharmacies in a legal gray area, aiming to sell large volumes of drugs and not necessarily provide attentive care to patients. These pharmacies may, for example, allow people without a prescription to fill out an Internet “consultation” with a doctor who will prescribe the drug the patient requires, and some sell out-of-date or counterfeit drugs, which is illegal. Patients should be careful about working with a licensed pharmacy and may seek help from a patient advocacy organization or business office in identifying a safe mail-order pharmacy.
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