Medication Refills

Our policy on medication refills is very simple, straightforward and intended to maximize client health and safety.

Medication issues are always best addressed at in-person appointments with a psychiatrist. In addition, where a client is evaluated via video-chat (e.g. Zoom) and controlled substance prescriptions are indicated, please note that federal law generally requires a prior in-person encounter between the prescribing practitioner and the client, with certain exceptions.

Before you request a medication refill, contact your pharmacy and ask them if refills are available. Often refills are authorized, you simply have to ask the pharmacy to fill the prescription.

Psychiatrists may provide prescriptions for non-controlled substances up to a maximum of 90 days. Widely accepted community standards of care require that a client is evaluated by a medical professional at least once every 90 days to receive a psychotropic medication.

Controlled substances are regulated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Prescriptions for Schedule II Controlled Substances which include stimulant medications require in-person appointments and no refills are allowed by the DEA.

Too often clients remain on medications for longer than is necessary or tolerate unnecessary side effects because they do not meet with a psychiatrist often enough. Our goal as a group is to minimize and optimize the utilization of medication when appropriate.

For these reasons, our psychiatrists do not provide out of appointment refills and we encourage you to meet with your psychiatrist on a monthly basis.

Any requests for out of appointment medication refills will be reviewed by your treating psychiatrist.

However, if you are a client and need to address an issue related to a medication you should schedule an appointment.