How to get my prescription filled through an internet pharmacy legally?
July 15, 2014 6:30 PM Subscribe
I got a prescription from my doctor for the generic of xanax. Kroger and walgreens rip me off, and I heard a lot of the online pharmacies are cheaper. How do I go about finding a reputable one to give me the generic, at a good price? (I'm in Ohio USA, and I'm willing to wait for it to be shipped)
Thank you.
Response by poster: I heard as long as you have a legitimate prescription, you can get it from online pharmacies. It won't get me a criminal record, I have a prescription for it.
posted by lijiaxiaoniu at 6:47 PM on July 15, 2014
posted by lijiaxiaoniu at 6:47 PM on July 15, 2014
You cannot get xanax legitimately from an online pharmacy. I know because I have a xanax RX and I can use an online pharmacy for all of my other prescriptions except for that one. My doctor won't even submit it to the online pharmacy or fax it to a brick-and-mortar pharmacy; I have to get a paper RX and take it in person to the store.
posted by joan_holloway at 6:48 PM on July 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by joan_holloway at 6:48 PM on July 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Look at goodrx.com for price comparisons. I put in my zip (in NEO) and got Walmart as the cheapest.
And I don't think you can get it through the mail either. I have to take a paper script into the pharmacy for Klonopin.
posted by kathrynm at 6:49 PM on July 15, 2014
And I don't think you can get it through the mail either. I have to take a paper script into the pharmacy for Klonopin.
posted by kathrynm at 6:49 PM on July 15, 2014
First, do you have your legally mandated health insurance? If so, alprazolam is pretty much in the value tier of absolutely any insurance.
If not: Keep calling around. Pharmacy prices vary wildly, but there's no reason anyone should be paying more than $10/month for this. Rite aid is cheaper, as is Costco (pro-tip: you don't need a membership to use their pharmacy). If neither of these is an option, just keep calling around. Local non-chain pharmacies sometimes have good prices on the basics.
Also: not insured? Explore discount cards, especially state gov't subsidized ones. Way under a minute worth of googling turned up this. I don't know where you are, but if you're near Columbus, CVS will fill a 30 day prescription for 2mg alprazolam (double-pro-tip: you absolutely don't need that much) for $10 and some change. Even if you're not near Columbus, you probably have a CVS near you.
And lastly, don't screw around with non-legit online pharmacies. If you were looking for something interesting, then maybe, but this is very much not worth the risk.
On preview: allow me to quadruple that last warning. Please don't use an online pharmacy that doesn't have a 100% legit presence somewhere in your state.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 6:53 PM on July 15, 2014 [6 favorites]
If not: Keep calling around. Pharmacy prices vary wildly, but there's no reason anyone should be paying more than $10/month for this. Rite aid is cheaper, as is Costco (pro-tip: you don't need a membership to use their pharmacy). If neither of these is an option, just keep calling around. Local non-chain pharmacies sometimes have good prices on the basics.
Also: not insured? Explore discount cards, especially state gov't subsidized ones. Way under a minute worth of googling turned up this. I don't know where you are, but if you're near Columbus, CVS will fill a 30 day prescription for 2mg alprazolam (double-pro-tip: you absolutely don't need that much) for $10 and some change. Even if you're not near Columbus, you probably have a CVS near you.
And lastly, don't screw around with non-legit online pharmacies. If you were looking for something interesting, then maybe, but this is very much not worth the risk.
On preview: allow me to quadruple that last warning. Please don't use an online pharmacy that doesn't have a 100% legit presence somewhere in your state.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 6:53 PM on July 15, 2014 [6 favorites]
And just to be completely clear: if you order a controlled substance from an online pharmacy that isn't completely authorized to operate in your jurisdiction, you absolutely could end up with a criminal record for it.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 6:57 PM on July 15, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 6:57 PM on July 15, 2014 [5 favorites]
And having just looked at your posting history (sorry, this post raised some flags for me), it looks like you're not a US citizen. Please, for the love of god, don't mess around with sketchy online pharmacies just to save a couple dollars on your xanax. This isn't worth a deportation.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 7:03 PM on July 15, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 7:03 PM on July 15, 2014 [6 favorites]
I order my BC through Medco. You can sign up and try. Your doctor will have to fax the Rx to them, but I've ordered lost of Rxs from them and never had a problem. I have not, however, ordered Xanax.
posted by Brittanie at 7:04 PM on July 15, 2014
posted by Brittanie at 7:04 PM on July 15, 2014
In case online pharmacies end up not being an option due to the type of drug, you can also try Costco. You don't have to be a member to buy from the pharmacy. I think that they list their prices on their website as well.
posted by quince at 7:07 PM on July 15, 2014
posted by quince at 7:07 PM on July 15, 2014
I have a prescription for another drug on the same schedule. I have to get a paper prescription and physically take it to the pharmacy, it cannot be called/faxed in. My doctor's office has a pharmacy in the waiting room. When I get a refill, I have to go get it from the receptionist and walk it across the waiting room to the pharmacy.
Doctors absolutely cannot call/fax in one of these schedule of drugs, evidently some federal laws passed a couple years ago. They can call in my pain meds - hydrocodone, but not my ADD meds.
Lucky me, the last time I went to see the doc and get everything refilled, I had to get a blood test (some new federal reg) so they could see I wasn't an abuser.. somehow...
posted by rudd135 at 7:35 PM on July 15, 2014
Doctors absolutely cannot call/fax in one of these schedule of drugs, evidently some federal laws passed a couple years ago. They can call in my pain meds - hydrocodone, but not my ADD meds.
Lucky me, the last time I went to see the doc and get everything refilled, I had to get a blood test (some new federal reg) so they could see I wasn't an abuser.. somehow...
posted by rudd135 at 7:35 PM on July 15, 2014
And if you are a Costco member and you don't have prescription coverage you can join their own plan free of charge and get your meds at an even lower price. It might be worth joining just for that. I'm on my phone but you can search their site or my recent posting history for links.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:41 PM on July 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 7:41 PM on July 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
I have to get a paper RX and take it in person to the store.
Within the US this must vary by state, because I have never had to do anything other than have it sent in from the doctor's office.
But if we are talking outside the US, the the asker should ignore any answer that talks about US drug laws because they are obviously not relevant.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:45 PM on July 15, 2014
Within the US this must vary by state, because I have never had to do anything other than have it sent in from the doctor's office.
But if we are talking outside the US, the the asker should ignore any answer that talks about US drug laws because they are obviously not relevant.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:45 PM on July 15, 2014
The asker lives in Columbus, Ohio, Dip Flash.
posted by Justinian at 7:58 PM on July 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 7:58 PM on July 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you don't have insurance, check out various pharmacies' discount programs. You pay a small annual fee and have access to a huge list of generics at a lower price.
posted by radioamy at 8:10 PM on July 15, 2014
posted by radioamy at 8:10 PM on July 15, 2014
Medco will fill benzos.
I used to get clonazepam from medco and you had to put the physical paper prescription (including prescribers DEA number) into the mail to get the rx filled. All other scrips could go through the electronic system.
I don't know how you get hooked up with medco as a standalone person, it was just the default option for maintenance medication on my insurance plan at the time. medco is legit and convenient.
posted by crazycanuck at 9:19 PM on July 15, 2014
I used to get clonazepam from medco and you had to put the physical paper prescription (including prescribers DEA number) into the mail to get the rx filled. All other scrips could go through the electronic system.
I don't know how you get hooked up with medco as a standalone person, it was just the default option for maintenance medication on my insurance plan at the time. medco is legit and convenient.
posted by crazycanuck at 9:19 PM on July 15, 2014
Recently there was an article about the rise in the price of generic drugs as well as the patented. You might have to pay the new, greedier price wherever you go.
posted by Cranberry at 11:15 PM on July 15, 2014
posted by Cranberry at 11:15 PM on July 15, 2014
Your insurance probably contracts with a mail order pharmacy. This is usually much cheaper than a regular pharmacy, though they will take forever the first time you order.
posted by munchingzombie at 11:16 PM on July 15, 2014
posted by munchingzombie at 11:16 PM on July 15, 2014
Here's what Goodrx.com say's you'll pay in Columbus, OH. Basically $10 per month. THAT'S a rip-off? Really? That's without using a pharmacy benefit from your health plan.
So rather than have them run it through your health insurance, ask to pay the regular price.
Online pharmacies that aren't run by a legitimate health plan, Merck Medco, Express Scrips or Caremark, who knows what you'll actually get? And by the time you pay postage are you REALLY going to save money?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:15 AM on July 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
So rather than have them run it through your health insurance, ask to pay the regular price.
Online pharmacies that aren't run by a legitimate health plan, Merck Medco, Express Scrips or Caremark, who knows what you'll actually get? And by the time you pay postage are you REALLY going to save money?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:15 AM on July 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
Check to see if your health insurance company has a contract with a mail-order pharmacy. Personally, I know my health insurance company' s mail order pharmacy charges 33% less than retail and ships free--but I have to order a three month supply at once.
Someone here mentioned ADHD medications--I can't refill mine through a mail-order pharmacy either, but that's because most ADHD medications are Schedule II drugs, and thus more regulated than Schedule IV drugs. Your doctor should be able to call in or fax a script for a Schedule IV drug and you should be able to get refills.
posted by inertia at 8:09 AM on July 16, 2014
Someone here mentioned ADHD medications--I can't refill mine through a mail-order pharmacy either, but that's because most ADHD medications are Schedule II drugs, and thus more regulated than Schedule IV drugs. Your doctor should be able to call in or fax a script for a Schedule IV drug and you should be able to get refills.
posted by inertia at 8:09 AM on July 16, 2014
I can;t get Alprazolam from a mail-order pharmacy in my state, but I've been very happy with CVS Caremark for the mail-order prescriptions I do get.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:41 AM on July 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:41 AM on July 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
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