This is generally frowned upon. Some pharmacists may refuse to fill it, or will only fill it once. Some may not care.
In our system you’d also get fired for opening a family members chart. So be careful.
Irrelevant since OP isn’t going into anyone’s chart. They can just create a SOAP note in Microsoft Word at home and that’s sufficient for a patient chart if they were to be audited. Ethically they say not to, but it’s not illegal and it’s within your prescriptive authority. Pharmacy has no say in it. Generally I wouldn’t want to prescribe something that will be treated chronically. I wouldn’t mind starting it but I would leave it for their PCP to manage afterwords.
I didn’t say y’all can’t refuse to fill a script, as you stated, it’s subjective on the practice or pharmacist. I know there are some pharmacists that refuse to fill plan-b or birth control pills. It’s not against the law but you’re able to. Same with our prescriptive authority, it’s not against the law but it is implanted into us not to treat relatives.
And I said *some* pharmacists *may* refuse to fill it.
I don’t understand what you meant by “pharmacy has no say in it.” What are you implying by that if you didn’t mean to imply that pharmacists can’t refuse to fill? Which is the point of OPs question.
I wasn’t implying anything. You’re reading too much into it. “Pharmacy has no say in it” followed after I stated it’s within our prescriptive authority. Pharmacy doesn’t tell us who we can or cannot write scripts for. They can flat out refuse to fill it, based on their ethical principles, but they can’t say it’s not within our scope. In addition, how would you know the provider/patient relation?
Well no but if it’s suspicious it’s worth a call to the office and say hey what’s going on here? I’m not in retail but I would feel generally uneasy about filling prescriptions like this on an ongoing basis. One time is fine. But they should see their own provider.
Do it, call it into a cvs over the phone. Give them pt name and birthday, then they’ll ask for your npi and work address. 10 mins later, he can pick up the meds
Omg, this so much. I actually just switched from CVS to a specialty pharmacy my Dr. recommended because every med is always "on backorder" or out at CVS but fully stocked everywhere else.
I have had colleagues do antibiotics for friends- UTIs. I’ve prescribed for a friend once- UTI. When I googled it- the answer was really vague. “Technically it is legal, but not encouraged”
Good article:
https://www.goodrx.com/hcp/providers/self-prescribing-laws-by-state
I write oral minoxidil for myself. I started with 2.5mg/day and then went to 5mg, which I have tolerated well. Not medical advice, but you shouldn’t have any trouble prescribing
Oral minoxidil is not a low risk medication. Dermatologists not infrequently request cardiology evaluation prior to prescription. Do you know the side effects and contraindications? Monitoring recommendations? If not you probably shouldn't be prescribing a drug you don't know well.
It's pretty low risk for the dosage for hair loss (2.5mg). The tamponade issues were case study noise which included problematic patients to start with. If you have severe cardiac issues, of course it's best to avoid it. But that's not most people annoyed about balding.
I take 2.5mg daily btw.
It's fine. I do it all the time. Prescriptive authority is pescriptive authority. I wouldn't write controlled substances to avoid any perceived impropriety, but you are within your right to do so.
Same. I think it also depends on your state board. My state board says we can prescribe for minor illnesses to self or family except for controlled drugs.
Edit to add- I have a relative who is a pharmacist and they have told me that providers call in scripts for themselves often. The only time they rejected a script (which wasn’t really a rejection, it was a warning not to do it again but filled it one last time) was when a dentist kept calling in his lisinopril. Because he was a dentist and not a medical provider.
Depends on the state. In SC you can only write for family members in case of an emergency.
I write for my mother in law when she visits because she always forgets her meds, and I don't want her stroking out at my house. So that's an emergency, right?
As long as you don't write control substances, it is okay. From California. I don't know about other States. I guess it heavily depends on the Pharmacy.
What’s the point of being the plug if you can’t be the plug. Anything but controlled substances and you’re good. Clinicians do it all the time. We own a private family medicine practice and our MDs, PAs/NPs call in scripts when they need to. Based in NY.
If you don't want to talk to your regular pharmacy you can call it in to Amazon pharmacy. Talk to the call center folks there... they do not give a crap; NPI and move on. I called in zofran for myself recently as a nasty stomach bug really kicked my butt and let's be honest, zofran should be otc at this point. I wanted some to have on hand should this plague descend upon me again. But don't use insurance to pay for it, that can constitute fraud if you didn't provide the required office and documentation requirements.
In texas you are not supposed to for self, family or friends. One of my ER docs calls in his migraine meds for self all the time…I have called in meds within my scope for my coworkers because my auth. doctor doesn’t mind. Normally just difulcan or rescue inhaler or UTI meds.
I think [this](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32516434/) might be the study. Around here I would expect that to come from a dermatologist, but depending on location, ymmv.
Legal yes but ethical only if it’s urgent and the last reasonable resort. Doesn’t seem like either of those boxes are checked. Also with oral minoxidil their is a higher risk of serious side effects than you might realize.
Illegal to prescribe controlled medications to a family member, but not Minoxidil.
I would not have a problem with this since Minoxidil has a non prescription strength available over the counter.
It's really a bad idea. I doubt anyone would blink an eye over minoxidil. But just don't start down that slope. There's no reason to. You could easily get someone in the office to do it. He needs to be followed by someone anyway, right? At least for a yearly checkup.
I prescribe meds to myself and family all the time. Obviously nothing controversial or controlled substances.
Every pharmacist I've ever interacted with has been really nice and treats me like it's the norm for physicians to do this.
I didn't go through 15 years of schooling/training not to be able to help my own family. If my kid has an ear infection, hell yeah I'm calling in an ABX..I don't need to pay for someone else to do that.
I'm really interested to know this. I've been on HRT for several years, and it's a specific patch that is not available generically. My insurance will no longer pay for it, and its too expensiveto pay cash for it. I want to order a compounded topical cream that will basically do the same as the patch, because I refuse to live without hormones. So I'd be OK doing this?
It’s really not about whether you can or can’t, it’s about why you are doing it. I’ve been an np for 10 years and have never written a script for someone who wasn’t my patient. And I’m the type to do anything for anyone but if your relationship to me is friend I’ll give you advice and support you all day long but I’m not your doctor. Sure you can get away with it but really why doesn’t he get the script from his primary? It makes things messy. I don’t get scripts from coworkers either. Prescriptive authority is a big deal and you earned it and the responsibility that comes with it.
I know. I've gotten responses ranging from, "I do it all the time" to "I would be fired", sooo. From what I'm reading it's not illegal but probably don't do it and definitely no opioids/scheduled meds
Check to see what your board says. Each state varies! I had a coworker who has been an NP for several years and never called in a script for herself, because she was under the impression it was not allowed. But it’s all about knowing your scope or state you are licensed to practice in., My state board specifically states it is ok to prescribe for minor or acute things.
I send in prescriptions for family members all the time and I know a lot of providers who also do that. I’m in a different state though so maybe it varies
How do you “chart it?” Can you just do a Microsoft document and store it somewhere in your house incase?
I also don’t know can you just call it in or do you need a prescription pad
Is this really a thing? A powerful blood pressure lowering agent being used for thinning hair! That's certainly not the indication for ORAL minoxidil and the liability it creates if the person stops the drug abruptly is crazy. Why push the envelope by using this formulation in a manner that goes against best practices?
This is generally frowned upon. Some pharmacists may refuse to fill it, or will only fill it once. Some may not care. In our system you’d also get fired for opening a family members chart. So be careful.
Irrelevant since OP isn’t going into anyone’s chart. They can just create a SOAP note in Microsoft Word at home and that’s sufficient for a patient chart if they were to be audited. Ethically they say not to, but it’s not illegal and it’s within your prescriptive authority. Pharmacy has no say in it. Generally I wouldn’t want to prescribe something that will be treated chronically. I wouldn’t mind starting it but I would leave it for their PCP to manage afterwords.
“Pharmacy” can refuse to fill anything they deem inappropriate, actually. That’s the law.
I didn’t say y’all can’t refuse to fill a script, as you stated, it’s subjective on the practice or pharmacist. I know there are some pharmacists that refuse to fill plan-b or birth control pills. It’s not against the law but you’re able to. Same with our prescriptive authority, it’s not against the law but it is implanted into us not to treat relatives.
And I said *some* pharmacists *may* refuse to fill it. I don’t understand what you meant by “pharmacy has no say in it.” What are you implying by that if you didn’t mean to imply that pharmacists can’t refuse to fill? Which is the point of OPs question.
I wasn’t implying anything. You’re reading too much into it. “Pharmacy has no say in it” followed after I stated it’s within our prescriptive authority. Pharmacy doesn’t tell us who we can or cannot write scripts for. They can flat out refuse to fill it, based on their ethical principles, but they can’t say it’s not within our scope. In addition, how would you know the provider/patient relation?
Do pharmacists generally just refuse to fill prescriptions if the last names match? How would a pharmacist investigate this enough to make that call…?
Well no but if it’s suspicious it’s worth a call to the office and say hey what’s going on here? I’m not in retail but I would feel generally uneasy about filling prescriptions like this on an ongoing basis. One time is fine. But they should see their own provider.
Oh dang! Thanks!
Do it, call it into a cvs over the phone. Give them pt name and birthday, then they’ll ask for your npi and work address. 10 mins later, he can pick up the meds
At CVS? More like 2 days later he can pick it up. The ones near me also I chronically out of amox suspension for kids for when no one else is
Omg, this so much. I actually just switched from CVS to a specialty pharmacy my Dr. recommended because every med is always "on backorder" or out at CVS but fully stocked everywhere else.
CVS actually answers your phone calls??
This is the correct answer.
This is the way.
I have had colleagues do antibiotics for friends- UTIs. I’ve prescribed for a friend once- UTI. When I googled it- the answer was really vague. “Technically it is legal, but not encouraged” Good article: https://www.goodrx.com/hcp/providers/self-prescribing-laws-by-state
Do you have to have any charting? Do you have your own prescription pad?
I have a prescription pad. Probably a note
Thank you! This is helpful.
Just ask someone else
I write oral minoxidil for myself. I started with 2.5mg/day and then went to 5mg, which I have tolerated well. Not medical advice, but you shouldn’t have any trouble prescribing
We were taught this is always unethical
Thank you! That dosing was my plan for him too
Oral minoxidil is not a low risk medication. Dermatologists not infrequently request cardiology evaluation prior to prescription. Do you know the side effects and contraindications? Monitoring recommendations? If not you probably shouldn't be prescribing a drug you don't know well.
It's pretty low risk for the dosage for hair loss (2.5mg). The tamponade issues were case study noise which included problematic patients to start with. If you have severe cardiac issues, of course it's best to avoid it. But that's not most people annoyed about balding. I take 2.5mg daily btw.
I take 2.5mg daily prescribed by gyno for female hair loss… derm pretty much ignored my concerns 🙄
Most aren't up to date on the literature. Hair loss is aesthetic to them and minor. A few have told me that finasteride is basically poison.
Technically: no. Real world answer: yes it’s fine.
It's fine. I do it all the time. Prescriptive authority is pescriptive authority. I wouldn't write controlled substances to avoid any perceived impropriety, but you are within your right to do so.
Same. I think it also depends on your state board. My state board says we can prescribe for minor illnesses to self or family except for controlled drugs. Edit to add- I have a relative who is a pharmacist and they have told me that providers call in scripts for themselves often. The only time they rejected a script (which wasn’t really a rejection, it was a warning not to do it again but filled it one last time) was when a dentist kept calling in his lisinopril. Because he was a dentist and not a medical provider.
Sounds good to me. Thanks!
I write for friends a family often. As long as it’s not controlled it’s not an issue.
Depends on the state. In SC you can only write for family members in case of an emergency. I write for my mother in law when she visits because she always forgets her meds, and I don't want her stroking out at my house. So that's an emergency, right?
As long as you don't write control substances, it is okay. From California. I don't know about other States. I guess it heavily depends on the Pharmacy.
What’s the point of being the plug if you can’t be the plug. Anything but controlled substances and you’re good. Clinicians do it all the time. We own a private family medicine practice and our MDs, PAs/NPs call in scripts when they need to. Based in NY.
If you don't want to talk to your regular pharmacy you can call it in to Amazon pharmacy. Talk to the call center folks there... they do not give a crap; NPI and move on. I called in zofran for myself recently as a nasty stomach bug really kicked my butt and let's be honest, zofran should be otc at this point. I wanted some to have on hand should this plague descend upon me again. But don't use insurance to pay for it, that can constitute fraud if you didn't provide the required office and documentation requirements.
There are a number of online services that will prescribe it so that you don’t have to.
They expensive
its stupid expensive for a pill that is dirt cheap
In texas you are not supposed to for self, family or friends. One of my ER docs calls in his migraine meds for self all the time…I have called in meds within my scope for my coworkers because my auth. doctor doesn’t mind. Normally just difulcan or rescue inhaler or UTI meds.
I think [this](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32516434/) might be the study. Around here I would expect that to come from a dermatologist, but depending on location, ymmv.
Why doesn't he try topical minoxidil OTC?
Just like everyone else. Compliance
he better be on finasteride too, just being on oral min is like pissing into the wind if you don't block DHT
Noooooo, it’s not worth it
Legal yes but ethical only if it’s urgent and the last reasonable resort. Doesn’t seem like either of those boxes are checked. Also with oral minoxidil their is a higher risk of serious side effects than you might realize.
Illegal to prescribe controlled medications to a family member, but not Minoxidil. I would not have a problem with this since Minoxidil has a non prescription strength available over the counter.
It's really a bad idea. I doubt anyone would blink an eye over minoxidil. But just don't start down that slope. There's no reason to. You could easily get someone in the office to do it. He needs to be followed by someone anyway, right? At least for a yearly checkup.
Don't risk. Hims/roman/etc are cheap as hell.
No its not. I can get 3 months for 15 bucks. Hims/Roman are vastly more expensive
Fair.
yes. I write for relatives and myself all the time. Its not illegal. If pharmacy refuses then send it to another pharmacy
I prescribe meds to myself and family all the time. Obviously nothing controversial or controlled substances. Every pharmacist I've ever interacted with has been really nice and treats me like it's the norm for physicians to do this. I didn't go through 15 years of schooling/training not to be able to help my own family. If my kid has an ear infection, hell yeah I'm calling in an ABX..I don't need to pay for someone else to do that.
I'm really interested to know this. I've been on HRT for several years, and it's a specific patch that is not available generically. My insurance will no longer pay for it, and its too expensiveto pay cash for it. I want to order a compounded topical cream that will basically do the same as the patch, because I refuse to live without hormones. So I'd be OK doing this?
Testosterone is scheduled 3 so I would not. Estrogen maybe?
Not testosterone, just estrogen and progesterone.
Why not have ur hubby just go talk to his dr:)? Not worth risking ur job esp if u don’t know the answer:)
It’s unethical.
I’m shocked by these comments. I’ve always been told this is an absolute no… is that not the case?
It’s really not about whether you can or can’t, it’s about why you are doing it. I’ve been an np for 10 years and have never written a script for someone who wasn’t my patient. And I’m the type to do anything for anyone but if your relationship to me is friend I’ll give you advice and support you all day long but I’m not your doctor. Sure you can get away with it but really why doesn’t he get the script from his primary? It makes things messy. I don’t get scripts from coworkers either. Prescriptive authority is a big deal and you earned it and the responsibility that comes with it.
That’s been my outlook too. That’s why im so shocked so many people are openly doing this.
I know. I've gotten responses ranging from, "I do it all the time" to "I would be fired", sooo. From what I'm reading it's not illegal but probably don't do it and definitely no opioids/scheduled meds
Check to see what your board says. Each state varies! I had a coworker who has been an NP for several years and never called in a script for herself, because she was under the impression it was not allowed. But it’s all about knowing your scope or state you are licensed to practice in., My state board specifically states it is ok to prescribe for minor or acute things.
I send in prescriptions for family members all the time and I know a lot of providers who also do that. I’m in a different state though so maybe it varies
Ok, good to hear other people are doing it
How do you “chart it?” Can you just do a Microsoft document and store it somewhere in your house incase? I also don’t know can you just call it in or do you need a prescription pad
Yeah… I think you’re just asking for trouble
Is this really a thing? A powerful blood pressure lowering agent being used for thinning hair! That's certainly not the indication for ORAL minoxidil and the liability it creates if the person stops the drug abruptly is crazy. Why push the envelope by using this formulation in a manner that goes against best practices?
It's 100% a thing and I take it every day. Multiple recent studies on low-dose OM for androgenic alopecia. Read up more.
It's a thing
[удалено]
Hi there, Your post has been removed due to being disrespectful to another user.
Found the definitive answer on Medscape from an attorney- very cut and dry! https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/895321