What to do if you run out of medication

You try to take your medication on time and manage your health condition, but mistakes happen. You may find yourself out of medication unexpectedly at some point. Whether you’re on vacation and forgot to pack your Rx or you just forgot to call your pharmacy and order the next month’s supply, you may be able to get an emergency supply of your prescription.

Obtaining an Emergency Supply of Your Medication

The best thing to do when you realize you’re going to run out of medication is call your doctor. They may be willing to contact the pharmacy of your choice so you can get a prescription filled there. Even if it’s after-hours, call anyway and leave a message explaining the situation.

If you cannot get in touch with your doctor or you are in immediate need of your medication, go to a nearby pharmacy and tell them you need an emergency supply. You may be required to provide proof of your Rx, so bring your prescription bottle with you. If the pharmacist determines that going without the drug will endanger your health or wellbeing, they are able to dispense an emergency 72-hour (three-day) supply.

Another option is to go to an urgent care clinic. A doctor there may write you a prescription for a one-time dose to hold you over until you can get in touch with your primary care physician.

Medications Eligible for Emergency Supply

Keep in mind that the pharmacist will only dispense an emergency supply if they determine that your health will be harmed by going without the medication. This is usually the case with medications for chronic illnesses and life-threatening conditions like high blood pressure or seizures.

Laws about emergency prescription refills vary by state. Some states only allow emergency prescriptions to be dispensed during a state of emergency and/or natural disaster. Many states also have regulations about dispensing an emergency supply of Schedule II drugs and other substances with a high potential for abuse.

Getting an Emergency Prescription During a Natural Disaster

A natural disaster often leaves people without their normal supply of prescription drugs. Residents may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Their current supply of medication may be left behind or destroyed by flood waters or power outages.

Many states allow pharmacists to dispense up to a 30-day supply of medication in the case of a natural disaster or other emergency. If you’re still at home but your medication has been destroyed or has run out, contact your pharmacy for an emergency prescription. For evacuees, the best option may be to transfer prescriptions to another pharmacy until they can return home.

If you are unable to reach a pharmacy due to flooding or other bad road conditions, try to get medication mailed to you, or transfer to a pharmacy that offers mail-order services. You can always transfer back when the emergency passes.

Save on Medication Costs for Chronic Conditions

Plan Ahead When Possible

Although many of these situations arise unexpectedly, try to plan ahead to make sure you don’t run out of medication. Make sure you create an emergency preparedness plan. If you know you’re going to need a refill while traveling, you may be able to order it in advance. Some health insurance plans allow for prescription overrides so that you can get a prescription filled early, or obtain more than a 30-day supply.

If your insurance doesn’t allow this, you may be able to get the extra medication you need by paying out of pocket. However, not all prescriptions are able to be filled early, especially for medications that have a high potential for abuse. Talk to your doctor about what you should do if you know you’re going to be traveling but cannot fill a prescription early.

Save on Emergency Prescriptions

You may have to pay for an emergency prescription out of pocket, especially if your Rx requires prior authorization with your insurance company. Make sure you always have savings in your pocket by downloading the ScriptSave WellRx app. You can search for pharmacies near you and compare prices instantly to get the best discount.

We’re here to help you find out how to get an emergency prescription when you need it, whether you’ve run out of medication or your GP surgery is shut. The steps you can take to get an emergency prescription differ if you already have a prescription or if you need a new prescription. We can also help if you are visiting the UK from another country, read on to find out more about how emergency prescriptions work and how you can get one in urgent circumstances.

How do I get an emergency prescription?

If you already have a prescription and need to get the medication urgently you can:

• Visit your local pharmacy. If your nearest pharmacy is closed, you can get your prescription from any other pharmacy, as long as they have the treatment you need in stock.
  
  
• Call your GP surgery if you need your medication urgently, if they are closed their answer machine should explain other out-of-hour services you could use. However, every surgery is different, and the services available outside of opening hours and on public holidays may vary. This option should only be used when you need an emergency prescription and not when you need a doctor’s appointment.
  
  
• Call NHS 111 for non-emergency medical advice or help. Only call them if your pharmacy is closed, and you are not in a life-threating situation or in need urgent medical care. They will be able to find an out-of-hours pharmacy with late opening hours, or another NHS service such as a walk-in centre that can give you your medication, if you have a prescription. Please note some walk-in centres will want a consultation with you before they give you your medication to ensure it is right for you.

If you have tried and failed all of the above options to find a service to obtain your prescription, then your final option would be to find your nearest A&E department via the NHS website and visit the healthcare team there. This should only be used if it is a real life-threatening emergency.

If you don’t have a prescription and need one in a hurry you can:

Visit a healthcare professional including a pharmacist or your doctor. If you can, you should contact the healthcare professional who prescribes your medication to give you a prescription. If you are unable to do this, you can get medication from a pharmacist in emergency circumstances. Visit your local pharmacy store for help, you can find your nearest LloydsPharmacy. 

If you can, try and take an old prescription, your medication or the medication packaging with you when you see a pharmacist. You may want to call your local pharmacy before you visit to make sure they can help you and that you have everything you need to request your emergency prescription.

To get an emergency prescription from a pharmacist they will need:

• To see you face-to-face
• Evidence that you have had a prescription for the medication you are requesting before. They will want to know that this was from a doctor, dentist, nurse independent prescriber, optometrist independent prescriber, pharmacist independent prescriber or another healthcare professional registered in the UK.
• To agree that you need the medication urgently and immediately
• Make sure that the dose you need is right for you

The pharmacist will then be able to supply a prescription to you in an emergency; however, the pharmacist may not prescribe the medication if they think the medicine or dose is not right for you. If the medication is provided you may need to pay for it, even if you don’t normally. Your pharmacist will be able to explain any costs.

Can I get an emergency prescription?

Yes, if you’re away from home and run out of your medicine, you may be asked to register at your nearest doctor’s surgery as a temporary patient. You can then book an appointment to get a prescription for a limited amount of your medication. You’ll then need to visit a pharmacy that is open to get your medication. Please bear in mind that this may not be the quickest way to have your medication dispensed. If you’re unsure what would be best for you, a pharmacist can advise you based on your individual needs.

You may also be able to get an emergency prescription out of hours, as many pharmacies offer late opening hours as well as Sunday opening. A supermarket or local shop might be able to assist, many stock over-the-counter medicines including ibuprofen or indigestion tablets.

Can you get an emergency prescription as a visitor to the UK?

Yes, you can get an emergency prescription when you’re in the UK, however there are certain criteria that you need to meet to be able to collect an emergency prescription from a UK pharmacy. So that you can receive a supply of medication the pharmacist will need to ensure that:

• The medication you need has been prescribed to you before by a doctor or dentist registered in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. The pharmacist will request evidence of this from you, as prescriptions from the US or Canada can’t be supplied in the UK.
• The emergency prescription has been requested by a doctor or dentist registered in the EEA or Switzerland. Prescriptions prescribed by other healthcare professionals including nurses are not valid.
• Your prescription, from a doctor or dentist registered in the EEA or Switzerland, is valid.
• Your medication has UK marketing authorisation and is not a controlled drug. Medicines in these categories will not be dispensed as a emergency medication.
• The prescription request is readable and written in a language that the pharmacist understands.

Please note, a faxed prescription is not valid or legal, only a printed paper prescription signed with ink will allow the healthcare professional to dispense your prescription medication.

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