How to buy prescription medicine? Tips for a new player

@TheVorticon

Hi, I buy a lot of prescription medicine and this is what usually happens for me:

1. I get a script from my doctor

2. I take the script to the chemist/pharmacy and ask if they have it in stock. They usually do, if not, I try another chemist or wait for them to order it in for me.

3. The chemist might ask if you are happy to accept a generic brand? This usually means a cheaper PBS brand. I usually say yes, but it can depend on the medicine and what your Dr thinks is best. You might want to check with your doctor that generic is okay for the medicine you are taking. Sometimes there can be differences.

4. The chemist usually asks for my Medicare card to check my details and they put this into their system. So take your medicare card with you.

5. I wait about 10-15 minutes and then I collect my medicine. Depending on what the medicine is sometimes the pharmacist might talk to me briefly to confirm the dose, side effects etc. If I haven't taken the medicine before I sometimes ask for a side effects information brochure about the medicine, which the pharmacist can print out (for free or a small fee like 50cents). It can depend on your pharmacist and what chemist you go to.

Hope this is a bit helpful...

Thanks @girl99 🙂 That's really helpful.

What do you do while waiting the 10-15 mins? Stand at/beside the counter, pretend to browse if it's in a store, go sit outside...? That seems like a long time cause I always feel self conscious in a chemist (or any small store really... I feel as if I must look like I'm trying to steal something when really I just don't know where anything is and I find it hard to process so much visual info about what products are where... Yep, I'm weird.)

Thanks @CheerBear that makes sense. Knowing me, I'd probably forget to go back after the supermarket 😛

Haha, a trolley in a chemist seems like a recipe for trouble. I can just imagine knocking over a whole table of discount slippers and tissues

@TheVorticon I have to be ultra organised before doing something like this too, especially if it's a new place.

Phoning the pharmacy to see if they have the item in stock is something you can do to save wasted trips and anxiety.

I now have a permanent pharmacist, in the same building as my doc, they keep my scripts on hand, and also deliver to me. I now use MedAdvisor, an online system that lets me place an order for a script the pharmacy has on hand, (and other stuf too) I then pay over phone when pharmacist calls, and they deliver to me.

I have all my cards for whatever I might use/ want / need permanently in my wallet or I'm likely to forget something vital.

List:
Medicare Card up to date one - (they'll need to put that into their system)
Pension Card if you have one (again, so they have a record on their system)
Photo ID driver's license/ over 18 card (if you have any codeine meds this seem to be the norm now)
NDSS card if diabetic and your script is for diabetic meds/ tools/ whatever
Debit Card/ payment method/ cash to pay for said items

If I'm in store, I find a hidey place in a secluded corner, or look at stuff, but like you, always worried someone will think I'm stealing stuff.

@TheVorticon

Yes, sometimes 10 minutes can feel very long to just sit and wait. I usually just sit at a chair near the counter (they usually have a few) and wait and play on my phone or just sit quietly and people watch. Or I go and do some shopping and tell them I'll be back in about half an hour or so to collect it. They will keep the medicine behind the counter for you to pick up, just tell them roughly what time you'll be back. I like the idea made in the comments about phoning up beforehand to check.

You can also order online if you like, but you have to send in your script to them, if you like to use the post and are in no hurry.

E.g - see Chemist Warehouse information below on prescriptions:

http://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/prescriptions

I think other chemists can do this too. It might be good for people who live in rural/remote areas, elderly people, those with social anxiety or those who cannot leave the house for whatever reason...

Hope it goes okay for you 🙂

Thanks everyone for your input.

My experience ended up being a bit different so I was a bit confused while it was happening.

• I called to ask if they had it in stock. They didn't but could get it by the next day... But then wanted me to bring my script in that day.
• I took the script in, they checked it and kept it and said to come back the next day.
• The next day I went, paid and picked it up.

It wasn't a thing that comes under medicare so they didn't check ID or cards.