Ask an Expert: Can I Refill My Prescription Early?

Prescriptions are refilled based on the number of “days supply” in the prescription. For example, a prescription for a 30-day supply can generally be refilled at day 27 or day 28. This assures that patients don’t run out of medications when they take them routinely.

Patients often ask if they can refill their prescriptions early. It’s a question that pharmacists regularly hear for a variety of valid, and invalid, reasons. The answer is “it depends.”

Why Early Refills are Sometimes Not Allowed

The primary reason drug refills are regulated is to prevent the abuse and misuse of controlled substances , like opioids or other addictive medications. If those substances were not closely regulated, a patient could theoretically visit multiple pharmacies asking for “early refills” simply to feed their addiction or to trade the drugs on the black market.

Separately, some insurance companies also regulate patients’ ability to refill prescriptions earlier than scheduled. There are a variety of reasons for this, which vary by the type of drug. For example, a patient who takes medication to manage diabetes may have different guidelines to follow than a patient who regularly takes narcotics to manage their pain. Most insurance plans have “vacation exceptions” or “emergency exceptions” to cover common reasons why a patient may need a prescription early.

Valid Reasons for Refilling Your Prescription Early

There are only a handful of situations where you may be allowed to refill your prescription early :

• You will be traveling and need to bring a supply of your medication for your trip
• If your medication has been stolen and you have a police report to show your pharmacist, doctor, and/or your insurance company
• There is a weather emergency expected (e.g. a hurricane ) and you need to keep a supply of your medication at home in case you can’t make it to the pharmacy

In all situations, documentation and early planning is key. It is likely that both your doctor and your pharmacist may need to be involved (in cases where a doctor’s note or updated prescription is required). In some situations, your pharmacist will simply follow the “travel exception” or “emergency exception” guidelines provided by your insurance plan, if you have one. In other cases, they may need an updated prescription, where your doctor specifies a 60-day supply versus a 30-day supply.

If you use a controlled substance, an early refill may not be possible. In that case, speak with your prescribing physician about your specific situation.

Questions to Ask Your Pharmacist About Early Rx Refills

If you think you’ll need an early refill of your prescription, start asking questions right away:

• Is it possible for me to refill this prescription early before I travel?
• Is it possible for me to keep an emergency supply of this medication at home?
• What information do I need to provide?
• When does my medication expire?
• Is it safe to travel with my medication?

Paying for Medication Refills

Vacations and emergencies happen. Your doctor and pharmacist want to help you continue your treatment as safely as possible.

One thing that shouldn’t be affected when you refill? The cost of your prescription. Comparing prices across pharmacies and using free prescription discount programs are always highly effective ways to reduce how much your family spends on medications.

This post is part of our “Ask an Expert” blog series by Ken Majkowski, Pharm.D, the Chief Pharmacy Officer at FamilyWize. Ken brings more than 40 years of healthcare experience to the FamilyWize team, including 14 years of clinical pharmacy experience in retail, hospital, and home care. Read his full bio here.

Sources:

• Humana.com, “Travel Prescription Coverage”
• NaplesNews.com, “Hurricane Irma: Early prescription refills allowed before storm.” September 6, 2017