It seems like you can get pretty much anything on the internet. The list of things you can buy is growing and growing. Something that's becoming more and more popular is filling prescriptions online.
Some of the most popular pharmacies, like CVS, Walgreens and Rite-Aid, allow patients to refill their prescriptions online. CVS even allows you to add a new prescription online and research the medications you've been prescribed.
The thing these services have in common is that they still require you to go to the store and pick up your prescription. Sure, the online ordering part saves some time, but going to pick up the medication makes up for the time you saved. Some people may not have time in their busy schedules to wait in line at a pharmacy for their prescriptions or may not be physically able to. But, there is a solution.
A web service that is becoming increasingly popular is PillPack. This service delivers your medication to your house. But, that's not all. They send individual packs that contain each pill that you need to take at a certain time. For example, if you need to take four pills in the morning, all four of those pills will come in one pack. Each pack has the date and time right on the front, along with the names of the medications that are inside.
PillPack doesn't just deliver pills, however. You can also get inhalers, creams, vitamins, supplements, as-needed and over-the-counter pills and refrigerated products delivered from PillPack.
The PillPack service itself is free of charge and there is no delivery fee either. All that you pay for is the copay that you would normally pay at the pharmacy. The service operates similarly to other subscription services. They send out refills every two weeks.
They also are very user-friendly. The service allows for you to text their support to make changes, like what time you want to take your pills. There is also an online dashboard that allows you to see all of your information easily and pay your copays online.
Probably one of the best parts of the service is their app. It gives reminders when it's time for you to take your medications. Once you have taken your medication, you open the app and let it know that you've taken it. Any iPhone user may find the app to be helpful, not just PillPack customers. Their app is also available for Apple Watch, so you don't even need to be near your phone to get a reminder to take your meds.
This sounds almost too good to be true. So, how does it really work?
PillPack is actually a full-functioning pharmacy. To make sure that everything is sent out right, they have robots that scan barcodes to make sure the right medications are in the right packages and pharmacists that double-check the robots' work.
You can send your current prescriptions from your pharmacy to PillPack. Your doctor can also send your new prescriptions right to PillPack.
This could prove to be incredibly helpful for those who have to take multiple pills at one time and elderly people who may forget when to take which pill. It can also be useful for caregivers.
With this service in existence, it begs the question: could this new technology be the demise of local pharmacies?
While it could happen eventually, right now it's a bit of a stretch, and we're not quite there yet. Only a few pharmacies allow you to start a new prescription online and have it shipped to your home.
If you choose to order online, you'll have to be careful. There are fake pharmacies that you'll have to watch for. The FDA advises that you order from pharmacies that appear under the state's database only. You should also avoid any website that claims a doctor can prescribe you medication without seeing you.
