Have you ever gone to the pharmacy to fill your prescription, only to find out you’re out of refills? This is a common and frustrating experience for many clients. On top of busy schedules and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to forget scheduling an appointment with your prescriber about your treatment.
Running out of refills can be stressful, especially if you rely on necessary medication to stay well. But understanding how prescriptions and refills work, and knowing how your pharmacy can support you, will make the process much smoother and keep you on track with your medication.
When a prescription is written, it’s usually for a total quantity that is meant to last over a specific period of time. For example, a once-daily medication may be prescribed as a one-year supply, or 360 tablets.* Most benefit plans cover a three-month supply at a time for maintenance medications, which means:
- 90 tablets are dispensed for the first fill
- The remaining 270 tablets stay on your pharmacy file for future refills
*When a prescriber writes for three months, it is generally interpreted as 3x30, or 90 days. A year supply is generally interpreted as 360 days.
Once the total prescribed quantity has been fully dispensed, the prescription is then considered ‘exhausted.’ Before reaching that point, it’s a good idea to follow up with your prescriber to confirm that ongoing treatment is still appropriate for your health goals.
But in the event you visit the pharmacy and realize your prescription has no refills left, don’t panic! First, the pharmacy team will ask how much medication you have remaining to assess how urgent the request is and determine the best way to assist you. Depending on the circumstance, there are a few different options to help ensure you don’t miss a dose.
How ARTARx can help resolve ‘exhausted’ prescriptions
1. Prescribing an extension supply
In some cases, your pharmacist may be able to prescribe a short extension supply. This is ideally done through an in-person assessment where they will ask questions, review your medication history, and maybe collect clinical information such as blood pressure readings or lab results.
Using their professional judgment, they will then determine whether an extension is appropriate, and how long it should be. During this extended period, your pharmacist is taking on prescribing responsibility to help bridge the gap until the next time you can see your prescriber.
2. Contacting your prescriber on your behalf
As a courtesy, your pharmacy can send a fax or electronic message to your prescriber requesting prescription renewals. However, it’s important to note that some clinics do not accept renewal requests from pharmacies and will require you to book an appointment. Some clinics may also charge an out-of-pocket fee for processing renewal requests.
Response times can vary and depend on the prescriber’s availability. While the pharmacy team does their best to follow up, turnaround times cannot be guaranteed.
3. Accessing telemedicine on MyARTA.net
If you’re an ARTA member with Extended Health Care coverage, you also have the option to book a virtual appointment using Telemedicine, a virtual physician service available through Green Shield Canada. This is available on the MyARTA.net platform.
With this route, a prescriber can assess you virtually and prescriptions can be faxed directly to the ARTARx pharmacy. This option can be helpful when in-person appointments are difficult to schedule, especially if a quick turnaround is needed for a prescription refill.
How to avoid running out of medication
1. Plan ahead with your prescriber
During your appointment with your prescriber, ask for enough medication to last until your next follow-up. If it’s an annual physical, request a one-year supply. If there are medication adjustments planned, ask for enough to carry you through to your next review. This can help prevent gaps in care, reduce last-minute refill stress, and ensure you stay consistent with your treatment plan.
2. Consider medication synchronization
But what if your prescriptions run out at different times? No problem – ARTARx can simplify the refill process by synchronizing your medications so they’re due all at once. Here’s what you need to do to get the process started:
- Count how much medication you have on hand
- Note how often you take each medication (once daily, multiple times daily, or as needed)
- Record the date you completed the count
With this information, the ARTARx pharmacy team can create a synchronization plan and even provide documentation for your next prescriber visit so you can request the correct quantities.
A note about medication deliveries
The ARTARx pharmacy offers free home delivery service to clients who maintain regular in-person visits. However, without a valid prescription or remaining refills on file, ARTARx is unable to dispense or deliver medications for patients. Our pharmacy team will always explain expectations clearly so there are no surprises at your next visit.
If you’re ever unsure about the process of refilling your prescription, please reach out with your questions and concerns. The ARTARx pharmacy team is here to help you stay informed and feel supported every step of the way.