When your doctor decides you need medication, they will write you a prescription that can be filled at a pharmacy. In most cases, you can pick up your prescription at any pharmacy, but some drugs are rarer or more dangerous than others. If you have cancer, an immune disorder, or another rare condition, you may need medication that can only be picked up from a specialty pharmacy. Here are four things you should know, which will help the process go more smoothly:
1. You may not be able to pick up your prescription in person.
Specialty pharmacies are fewer and farther between than traditional pharmacies, and there may not be one located near you. Fortunately, most specialty pharmacies offer mail-order prescription services. Your doctor can call or fax the pharmacy a prescription, and after you pay for your medication, you will receive your medication in the mail. Even if the nearest specialty pharmacy is in driving distance, you may still choose to have your prescription mailed to you for convenience's sake.
2. You may ask your pharmacist questions.
Pharmacists are very knowledgeable about the prescriptions they fill. In many cases, they know more about the medication and correct dosages than doctors. If you have any questions about dosage or the correct way to take your medication, you may ask your pharmacist. If your specialty pharmacy isn't local to you, you can still call your pharmacist during their hours of operation. If there are any questions your pharmacist can't answer, they may choose to consult with your doctor to find out more information before getting back to you.
3. Your pharmacist may communicate with your doctor.
The medication you retrieve from a specialty pharmacy may require close monitoring by a medical professional. The staff at specialty pharmacies often take a more active role in patient care. They may work with your doctor to help you find a medication that treats your symptoms with the fewest side effects. This degree of care can be very helpful for patients dealing with health conditions that are particularly devastating or difficult to treat.
4. You may be able to pick up your medication at your doctor's office.
If you don't have an address where you can receive mail, you may be able to pick up your medication from your doctor's office. Specialty pharmacies sometimes send prescriptions directly to doctors. Your doctor may specifically request this if the medication you need must be injected into your muscle or given intravenously.
