4 Tips For Picking Up A Prescription For Another Person

When a friend or family member is sick or not feeling their best, they may recruit the help of a trusted individual to help with some of their errands, like picking up their medication from the drugstore pharmacy. Here are a few tips to follow when picking up someone else's prescription. 

1. Confirm That the Prescription Is Ready

Before you make the trek to the drugstore, confirm that the prescription is ready to be picked up. While many prescriptions take less than an hour for the pharmacy to fill, there might be delays if the insurance company won't cover the prescribed medication or if the pharmacy doesn't have the medication in stock in the prescribed dosage.

You can usually call the pharmacy to confirm that the prescription is ready before heading out. If there are any issues (such as a medication that's out of stock or an issue with the insurance coverage), you can let your friend or relative know that there's a problem.

2. Ask Your Friend or Relative for Some of Their Basic Personal Info

Before they can give you the prescription, the pharmacy tech will have you verify some type of personal information to confirm that you're supposed to be picking up the prescription for the named individual. Usually, this verification info includes the name, address, date of birth, and/or the phone number of the individual that the prescription is for.

When providing an address or phone number, make sure that it matches the one that your friend or family member provided to the pharmacist. This is occasionally an issue if they've moved since using the pharmacy or if they own two properties. 

3. Bring Your ID Along

Depending on the state that you live in, you may need ID to pick up a prescription that includes a controlled substance. Controlled substances include medications that have the potential for abuse or dependency, like opioid-based pain medications and pills that produce stimulant-like effects. Your driver's license or state-issued ID should suffice. 

4. Request Any Accessories for Taking the Prescription Medication

Some individuals request accessories to make it easier for them to take their prescriptions. See if your friend or family member needs any of these items ahead of time, and make sure to ask the pharmacy tech for them. For example, if the person that you're picking up the prescription for has arthritis and lives in a home with no children, they might request that the pharmacist replace childproof caps with lids that are easier for them to remove. Or if the prescription consists of liquid medication, you might request a syringe to help with measuring out an exact dosage.