Medication Prescriptions & Refills
Medication questions and refill requests are stressful, especially when you are worried about running out. We want to be clear about how this works so you know what to expect and so there is less last-minute panic, confusion, or miscommunication.
Medication management is part of medical care. That means prescriptions, dose changes, refills, and certain medication questions often require provider review, follow-up monitoring, and sometimes an appointment before anything can be sent in.
How refills work
We do not offer same-day medication refills or crisis refills.
If you think you will need a refill, request it well before you run out. Refill requests are handled during scheduled appointments, not between visits. Please allow several business days for review, and know that some requests require provider approval, confirmation of pharmacy details, or a follow-up appointment before they can be completed.
In general:
Refill requests should be made before you are almost out of medication
Some refill requests can be handled between appointments
Some refill requests require you to schedule and attend a follow-up appointment
Refill timing may depend on the type of medication, how long it has been since your last visit, and whether monitoring is needed
When an appointment is required
You may need an appointment before a refill is sent if:
You are overdue for follow-up
The provider needs to check how the medication is working
You are having side effects or want to change the dose
The medication requires closer monitoring
The medication is a controlled substance or has stricter prescribing rules
The provider determines it is not clinically appropriate to refill without seeing you first
This is not us being difficult. It is part of safe prescribing and responsible medication management.
Different medications have different rules
Not all medications are handled the same way. Some types of medications have stricter rules, shorter refill windows, or more frequent follow-up requirements.
Depending on the medication, you may need:
More regular appointments
Additional monitoring
A follow-up before each refill or after a certain number of refills
More time for the prescription to be reviewed and sent in
This is especially important for medications that are more tightly regulated or require closer oversight. If you are unsure what applies to your medication, ask your provider or the med team so you know what to expect.
What we do not do
To keep medication management safe and consistent, there are some things we do not do:
Same-day refill guarantees
Crisis refills because someone waited until they were fully out
Automatic refill approval without review
Dose changes without provider involvement
Medication decisions made only through brief back-and-forth messages when an appointment is clinically needed
What you can do to avoid refill problems
The best way to avoid stress around prescriptions is to stay a little ahead of it. We strongly recommend that you:
Keep track of how much medication you have left
Request refills before you are almost out
Schedule follow-ups when your provider recommends them
Pay attention to whether your medication has special refill rules
Let us know early if your pharmacy changes or there is a problem filling a prescription
If you are taking a medication with tighter rules, it is especially important not to assume a last-minute request can be handled immediately.
If you are having a hard time
We know people do not usually ask for a last-minute refill because they are calm, organized, and having a great week. Usually it is because life is a mess, symptoms are flaring, something got missed, or you are already overwhelmed.
We will do our best to communicate clearly and help you understand the next step. Sometimes that next step will be a refill request going to the provider. Sometimes it will be scheduling an appointment. Sometimes it will be explaining why a medication cannot be handled the way you hoped.
How to request a refill or ask a medication question
If you need a refill or have a prescription-related question, contact the office as soon as possible so the med team can help route your request appropriately. If you are already a client, your client portal may also be part of how communication and follow-up are handled.
When you reach out, it helps to include:
Your full name
Your date of birth
The medication name
The dose, if you know it
Your pharmacy
Whether you are completely out or how much you have left
Whether you are asking for a refill, a change, or an appointment
Emergency and urgent concerns
The client portal is not for emergencies. If you or someone else is in immediate danger or having a mental-health or medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
If your concern is urgent but not a 911 emergency, contact the office as soon as you can so we can help direct you to the right next step. Just know that urgent does not automatically mean same-day prescribing, especially for medications that require an appointment or additional review.