Renewing Prescriptions Online: What Do I Need to Know?

More than 4 billion prescriptions are filled in the U.S. each year, and this number is expected to reach almost 5 billion by 2025.

Around 66% of adults in the U.S. use prescription drugs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 860.4 million drugs were prescribed during physician office visits in 2018.

With six in 10 Americans living with at least one chronic disease, more people are starting to renew their prescriptions online to save time and avoid long waits at the doctor. 

The number of web-based prescriptions grew from around 13 million in 2009 to almost 30 million in 2018.

Prescription Refills vs. Prescription Renewals: What’s the Difference?

When a doctor writes you a prescription, they include the number of refills on the prescription or the electronic prescription record. 

For example, if a prescription has five refills, it means that you can visit a pharmacy to purchase more of that medication or order a new supply online up to five times.

A prescription renewal is what needs to happen once you’ve run out of refills on your prescription.

So, if you have a prescription for blood pressure medication that has five refills, your doctor will need to renew that prescription by the time you’ve been issued all those refills. 

In some instances, the doctor who prescribed your medication may choose to send you for tests to make an assessment about how well the medication has worked so far before renewing your prescription. 

Certain medications – like birth control pills – may require annual checkups before prescriptions can be renewed.

Other times, you may be able to call or email your doctor to request a renewal.

How Do I Renew My Prescription Without Going to the Doctor’s Office?

There are two options you can use to renew your prescription without a doctor’s visit.

Contact the doctor and request a renewal

In the event that your doctor does not need to conduct an in-person reassessment of your condition, you may be able to renew your prescription with an email or telephone call to their office.

Use a telehealth or telemedicine platform

The COVID-19 pandemic changed many things, including primary healthcare practices. During the height of COVID-19, many checkups and doctors’ appointments were conducted online or via telephone.

Depending on the telemedicine provider you choose, you may be able to easily obtain prescription renewals for medications that treat mild conditions like acne or acid reflux, or ongoing treatments like thyroid medication or birth control.

For medications that treat more serious diseases, you may need to see a doctor in-person or have a virtual consultation. 

If you need a lab test done to assess or diagnose a condition, you may be able to do this at a facility near you or use an at-home test. The doctor may then renew your prescription based on the test results.

How Do I Get a Prescription Refill Online?

Some telemedicine platforms provide mail-order prescription deliveries. This means you can request a prescription refill online and have your medication delivered straight to your door.

You can also order medication online via online pharmacies. Just be sure to place your order a few days ahead of time so that you don’t run out of medication before your order arrives.

When Would I Need to Renew My Prescription?

Once you’ve been issued all your refills, you may need a prescription renewal—especially if you’re on chronic medication.

If your prescription has expired, you may also need to renew it. 

Your doctor may or may not renew your prescription once they’ve reassessed your condition. They may decide to prescribe a different medication or stop the treatment altogether—this may happen if you’ve been prescribed medication for an infection that has cleared, for example.

What Types of Prescriptions Can I Renew with LifeMD?

You can get an online prescription for most medications with LifeMD. However, we do not prescribe controlled substances.

Controlled substances are tightly regulated by the government as they could lead to addiction. 

Examples of controlled substances include:

• Opioids — used for pain relief

• Benzodiazepines — used to treat seizures, tremors, and panic attacks

• Hypnotics — used to treat insomnia

• Stimulants — used to treat ADD/ADHD, depression, and narcolepsy

Read the full list of controlled substances before booking an appointment with LifeMD.

What are Some Advantages of Renewing Prescriptions Online?

Renewing prescriptions online is cheaper, more convenient, and more practical than visiting a physician to renew your prescription.

Here are some reasons to sign up to a telemedicine platform and renew your prescriptions online:

• You save time, money, and gas

• You can enjoy hassle-free, instant prescription renewals 

• It’s safe and discreet

• You can see your doctor from the comfort of your home or while you’re traveling

• You can skip the waiting room at the doctor’s office

The convenience of telehealth has also eliminated the aspect of putting off going to the doctor’s. Because of this, patients are more likely to seek medical advice at the first sign of symptoms, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment. This proactive approach can help identify conditions before they worsen, improving health outcomes and preventing complications.

What Does LifeMD Offer?

You can easily renew most of your prescriptions online with LifeMD. Board-certified doctors can write prescriptions and you can collect your medication from the pharmacy of your choice.

If you sign up for a LifeMD membership, you can also enjoy a discount of up to 92% on medications with your Prescription Discount Card.

Need imaging, bloodwork, or other tests done before you can get a prescription? Go directly to our lab partners: Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp.

Where Can I Learn More About Online Prescriptions?

LifeMD makes it easy for you to get quality medical care from wherever you are. 

Getting a prescription or prescription renewal shouldn’t inconvenience you. Make an appointment to learn more about online prescriptions.

LifeMD makes it easy to stay on top of your health because talking to a doctor, filling your prescriptions, getting your labs done—and more—are all easy and cost-effective. Come discover a healthcare solution built around you and your life.

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