Calling in a prescription

[nick_carraway]

Hopefully this question doesn't break any SDN policies.

I plan on seeing a doctor tomorrow for a nasty cold I have. Assuming s/he prescribes me some syrupy goodness and it looks like the nurses are too busy to phone it into Walgreens, am I allowed to phone it in?

It'd save me time since I'd have to take public transit to the drug store and the ticket only lasts ~1.5 hours.

If I read straight off the script and present the actual prescription to the pharmacist when I pick up my meds, would it cause trouble?

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[146233]

They won't take it. It'd only be a 10-15 minute wait when you show up.

 

[calimed214]

Nope, you can't phone it in yourself, sorry. Either have to get a doctor/nurse to do it, or you just have to present the written prescription to the pharmacy in person when you get there.

 

[nick_carraway]

They won't take it. It'd only be a 10-15 minute wait when you show up.

LIES! 10-15 min is what they tell you... the next thing you know, you've read everything in the magazine aisle.

Nope, you can't phone it in yourself, sorry. Either have to get a doctor/nurse to do it, or you just have to present the written prescription to the pharmacy in person when you get there.

Ah well... it was worth a shot 🙂

 

[Jolie South]

They won't take it. It'd only be a 10-15 minute wait when you show up.

Yea, they'd think you were crazy.

 

[slowbutsteady]

you cannot possibly be serious.

 

[calnation]

You could probably pull it off but it'd be illegal and therefore not worth it.

 

[rx515]

Hopefully this question doesn't break any SDN policies.

I plan on seeing a doctor tomorrow for a nasty cold I have. Assuming s/he prescribes me some syrupy goodness and it looks like the nurses are too busy to phone it into Walgreens, am I allowed to phone it in?

It'd save me time since I'd have to take public transit to the drug store and the ticket only lasts ~1.5 hours.

If I read straight off the script and present the actual prescription to the pharmacist when I pick up my meds, would it cause trouble?

I remember a lot of people trying to do this when I was interning at a pharmacy. Some places will let you fax in copy and bring the original when you pick up the med. Probably not the chains though.

 

[Keona]

Try to go early in the day, if you can usually they're less behind then, and by all possible means avoid their lunch time. They already have to work through it a lot of the time, and going in at a relatively less busy time means they'll hopefully fill it faster. After their lunch is also usually bad, b/c people memorize their lunch schedule and then line up trying to get their stuff first, so it's congested.

 

[talkalot24]

Most pharmacies now take e-prescriptions (submitted over the computer via the internet). Just ask your physician to submit it that way.

 

[mgirl21]

If there's a Target near you w/ a pharm, go there. We really do only take 10-15 mins, (except from 1:30-2, that's pharmd. lunch time). Also, sometimes we will let people fax it to us and then bring in the hard copy when they come in, but if it's for something controlled (etc. most cough meds) that prob won't fly.

End shameless plug. 😀

 

[talkalot24]

You should be able to fax a controlled unless it is a CII.

 

[nick_carraway]

Well thanks for the advice, people. Ends up to be a moot point anyway, since the doctor didn't prescribe me anything. Totally not what I was expecting.

Luckily the student clinic is free, otherwise I'd be pissed to have spent a copay to have a doctor tell me to rest and drink water.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Luckily the student clinic is free, otherwise I'd be pissed to have spent a copay to have a doctor tell me to rest and drink water.

I'm sorry. Did I miss the part where you mentioned you already have a doctorate in medicine and a license to practice? You went in for medical advice, you got some. Paying your premium and copay doesn't mean you get a blank prescription pad, pre-signed by the doc.

Sorry for the vent, but I see this way too much in medical school already. I've precepted with docs who prescribe antibiotics as placebos for viral infections just to pacify the patient, and they freely admit to me that's what they're doing. That's not good medicine in my book. Good customer service maybe, but telling people what they need to hear is my business -- not telling them what they want to hear.

 

[nick_carraway]

I'm sorry. Did I miss the part where you mentioned you already have a doctorate in medicine and a license to practice? You went in for medical advice, you got some. Paying your premium and copay doesn't mean you get a blank prescription pad, pre-signed by the doc.

Sorry for the vent, but I see this way too much in medical school already. I've precepted with docs who prescribe antibiotics as placebos for viral infections just to pacify the patient, and they freely admit to me that's what they're doing. That's not good medicine in my book. Good customer service maybe, but telling people what they need to hear is my business -- not telling them what they want to hear.

Your apology is accepted. For what it's worth, I wasn't going in for a prescription necessarily. I just wanted some ideas for relieving my symptoms. I actually asked for a home remedy for all the mucus in my throat, but she didn't have a suggestion for me.

Resting and drinking fluids is practically all I'm doing. I don't really consider that medical advice, but rather basic sense.

 

[LizzyM]

Your apology is accepted. For what it's worth, I wasn't going in for a prescription necessarily. I just wanted some ideas for relieving my symptoms. I actually asked for a home remedy for all the mucus in my throat, but she didn't have a suggestion for me.

Resting and drinking fluids is practically all I'm doing. I don't really consider that medical advice, but rather basic sense.

My mother swore by black tea with sugar (no milk). Gargle with the stuff, too, when it is lukewarm.

Chicken soup has been shown to decrease mucus viscosity. Drink it from a mug and inhale the steamy goodness.

I am a mother, not a physician, and this is mom advice.

 

[nick_carraway]

My mother swore by black tea with sugar (no milk). Gargle with the stuff, too, when it is lukewarm.

Chicken soup has been shown to decrease mucus viscosity. Drink it from a mug and inhale the steamy goodness.

I am a mother, not a physician, and this is mom advice.

Ooo... I never thought of drinking chicken stock from a cup. I have a dozen cubes frozen in the freezer that I should use.

As for black tea, I've probably been going wrong by adding milk. I'll try it with sugar.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Your apology is accepted. For what it's worth, I wasn't going in for a prescription necessarily. I just wanted some ideas for relieving my symptoms. I actually asked for a home remedy for all the mucus in my throat, but she didn't have a suggestion for me.

Resting and drinking fluids is practically all I'm doing. I don't really consider that medical advice, but rather basic sense.

Well some might say that part of basic sense for a science student is knowing that the only thing you can do for a cold is rest and drink fluids. You should have learned in Bio 101 about viruses so you should have considered that before you wasted the doctor's time and expected a prescription.

 

[dohgrl76]

also consider trying a neti pot. It rinses out your nasal passages with warm, salty water and it feels great. I always do it at the first sign of a cold or allergies and it usually prevents a full blown head and chest cold from developing. I swear by it and it's all natural.

but just to warn you, it's a little gross, you will probably want to do it in a locked bathroom, haha.

 

[nick_carraway]

Well some might say that part of basic sense for a science student is knowing that the only thing you can do for a cold is rest and drink fluids. You should have learned in Bio 101 about viruses so you should have considered that before you wasted the doctor's time and expected a prescription.

Actually, I was looking for relief of my symptoms, not a cure for my cold. Anything that would help to relieve the symptoms while I wait for my recovery was the goal.

I agree that rest and fluids is basic sense, which is what I said earlier. Personally I considered a waste of my time to hear that from a doctor.

Mucinex works pretty well and is OTC, I believe. Good luck 🙂

To be clear, I wasn't asking for antibiotics nor was I expecting them.

As for Mucinex, I've got two bottles--DM and regular--and they do nothing 🙁

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Actually, I was looking for relief of my symptoms, not a cure for my cold. Anything that would help to relieve the symptoms while I wait for my recovery was the goal.

I agree that rest and fluids is basic sense, which is what I said earlier. Personally I considered a waste of my time to hear that from a doctor.

Then you shouldn't have gone to the doctor. Did you really think the doctor was going to offer you more than that for a cold? Have you never had a cold before? It's like going to the doctor for a cut that doesn't need stitches and isn't infected. What do you expect them to tell you?

 

[nick_carraway]

Then you shouldn't have gone to the doctor. Did you really think the doctor was going to offer you more than that for a cold? Have you never had a cold before? It's like going to the doctor for a cut that doesn't need stitches and isn't infected. What do you expect them to tell you?

Like I said, at the very least I wanted some tips for symptom relief. Home remedies? Recommended OTCs?

It was a free visit, so I didn't see the harm in going.

Before you get too irritable, remember that it's just the internet. I hope your day gets better.

 

[202781]

Koko! come on now...That is not your real name!!!

You can't fool me Lil' Wayne. I know you gonna be sip sippin on some sizzurup

 

[TheMagicCookie]

Koko! come on now...That is not your real name!!!

You can't fool me Lil' Wayne. I know you gonna be sip sippin on some sizzurup

by the way Sank...what happened to your avatar...I thought you looked really good in that pic!? Now there's just a boring piece of toast occupying your space...I am very disappointed 🙁

 

[LizzyM]

Here's another idea from my husband: "hot lemon". Basically, boiling water, sugar and juice of half a lemon. Replace the sugar with honey if you wish. It cuts the mucus in the throat, he says.

 

[202781]

by the way Sank...what happened to your avatar...I thought you looked really good in that pic!? Now there's just a boring piece of toast occupying your space...I am very disappointed 🙁

Sounds like you don't like toast? Don't worry my little sugar cookie, I will put the pic back up soon...maybe.

 

[rabidpanda13]

Zipmedic, your avatar is mesmerizing.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Sorry, Koko, I love ya, but after working in a pharmacy for 3 years, your question made me giggle.

 

[nick_carraway]

Sorry, Koko, I love ya, but after working in a pharmacy for 3 years, your question made me giggle.

Yeah, that's why I asked on the forum. I didn't want to be giggled at on the phone 🙁

As for LizzyM's advice, I still haven't tried the chicken stock (that's for dinner when I poach some fish), but the black tea gargling is AMAZING. It helps more than just drinking the tea, which is awesome.

 

[146233]

Zipmedic, your avatar is mesmerizing.

😉

 

[nick_carraway]

😉

In my mind, you'll always be Jim Halpert.

 

[Jolie South]

also consider trying a neti pot. It rinses out your nasal passages with warm, salty water and it feels great. I always do it at the first sign of a cold or allergies and it usually prevents a full blown head and chest cold from developing. I swear by it and it's all natural.

but just to warn you, it's a little gross, you will probably want to do it in a locked bathroom, haha.

the neti pot is genius.

i just squirt a bottle of nasal saline in there though too. i used to do it when i felt a sinus infection coming on.

 

[nick_carraway]

the neti pot is genius.

i just squirt a bottle of nasal saline in there though too. i used to do it when i felt a sinus infection coming on.

What's the difference between a neti pot and saline nasal spray?

 

[Jolie South]

What's the difference between a neti pot and saline nasal spray?

The neti pot you have to mix up the salt and water yourself and put it into the neti pot (it looks like a genie lamp from cartoons).

Nasal saline comes in squirt bottles and is ready to go.

 

[dohgrl76]

the neti pot uses a lot of water, and really cleanses your nasal cavity. I guess it is called "nasal irrigation". Whereas the little saline nasal spray that you buy premixed at CVS just kinda moisturizes and supposedly helps open up the nasal passage. I have had sinus problems for a long time and I have found the neti pot to be the most helpful, and once you get the actual neti pot, you only need to get more refill dry saline packets. Oprah swears by it too, so I guess I'm in good company, haha. Here are some websites explaining it better.

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/sinus-pain-pressure-9/neti-pots

http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm

 

[Jolie South]

the neti pot uses a lot of water, and really cleanses your nasal cavity. I guess it is called "nasal irrigation". Whereas the little saline nasal spray that you buy premixed at CVS just kinda moisturizes and supposedly helps open up the nasal passage. I have had sinus problems for a long time and I have found the neti pot to be the most helpful, and once you get the actual neti pot, you only need to get more refill dry saline packets. Oprah swears by it too, so I guess I'm in good company, haha. Here are some websites explaining it better.

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/sinus-pain-pressure-9/neti-pots

http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm

That's not what I was talking about. You can actually get nasal saline that does the same thing as the neti pot (i.e. is not only a mist). It shoots a jet up there.

I've also used straight up contact lens saline before too.

 

[dohgrl76]

That's not what I was talking about. You can actually get nasal saline that does the same thing as the neti pot (i.e. is not only a mist). It shoots a jet up there.

Oh I know what you are talking about then, my boyfriend uses that kind. He likes the more powerful spray of the bottle. I prefer the gentle wash of the neti pot. But either way, nasal irrigation is def the way to go.