Archive for the ℺Health℻ Category

Online Pharmacy vs. Traditional Pharmacy

Thursday, July 30, 2009@ 12:20 PM
Author: Mike S

Online Pharmacy vs. Traditional Pharmacy

When it comes to purchasing prescription medication, some individuals will not use anything other than the traditional pharmacy that they have used for years, while others are having wonderful results by switching their medications to an online pharmacy. There is even a small portion of the population who use both a more traditional local pharmacy and an online pharmacy. So the question is, which is better, an online pharmacy, traditional pharmacy or a combination of the two?

Depending on an individual’s prescription needs, any combination could be the best answer. If that does not sound very definitive, that is because there is not a single answer that will work for every person in every situation; for the most part, a combination of traditional pharmacy and online pharmacy will be the answer for most individuals. If you have a medication that is taken daily, then a quality online pharmacy may be the best solution, however if you have a new medication that is only temporary, such as an antibiotic, then a local pharmacy may be the best answer.

Since online pharmacies need to ship your medications to you, filling a prescription for a temporary medication is not always the best idea; however, the online pharmacy may be able to give you a better price on prescriptions that are taken daily such as blood pressure medications. That is why some physicians and other health care professional may suggest using a combination of online and more traditional pharmacies. This way, if you are prescribed a medication for an illness, such as a sinus infection, you will be able to go to a local pharmacy and get your medications the same day. However, if you need to refill your blood pressure medication, that can be done through an online pharmacy because the shipping period will not affect your ability to take your medication.

It may be even a better idea to use one of the many companies that provide both an online and physical pharmacy, such as Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite Aid or Walgreens. This way, all of your prescriptions are handled by the same company, and you may still be able to pick up medications that are ordered online the same day at the retail location. Depending on your situation and the types of medications that you require, the best advice you will be able to get is to use a combination of pharmacies depending on when and how you need your prescriptions filled.

It is always a good idea to be able to reach a real pharmacist that understands possible drug interactions and allergies. While most quality online pharmacies do provide customer support through a phone number, it may be more beneficial to be able to talk face-to-face with your pharmacist so that if there are any problems, they will be able to adjust your medication with your doctor’s approval. A more traditional pharmacy offers an individual a more interactive experience when it comes to purchasing the medications, and a pharmacist is always on hand to answer any questions that may arise.