At Scripty, we recognise the anxiety and worry that medication shortages can cause. Let's not panic, let's walk through some friendly tips for managing these shortages while keeping cool and collected.
Take a moment
It can be a stressful experience to find out that your medication is in short supply. Before anything else, let's take a deep breath together.
Kindness goes a long way!
Be respectful and patient
Remember, your local pharmacy staff and doctors are feeling the strain of medication shortages too. It's important we treat each other with patience and kindness – they're doing their best to help out every patient affected by the shortages
Remember, you have options, and understanding them is a powerful step forward.
Know Your Options
Collaborate with your healthcare team
Speak with your pharmacist and doctor when you're getting a repeat script or even when you're prescribed something new. Ask if there's any known shortage or if alternatives are available. This collaboration is crucial; pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are on your team, and they're encountering the same challenges with shortages.
Get informed
By asking the right questions about any suggested alternatives (like how they differ, any side effects, or effectiveness concerns), you'll be well-prepared to manage any temporary changes.
Prepare ahead
Aim to reorder your medication before your supply runs out (but please don't stockpile!). If you're approaching the end of the week and you're running low, consider refilling your script beforehand, in case your pharmacist needs to contact your GP. Your GP's office might be closed over the weekend.
Your pharmacist may put you on a "out of stock" wait list and inform you when they receive stock – make sure you give them the correct contact number. If you've managed to find supply elsewhere, make sure you let the other pharmacy know because that medication could be critical for someone else
Broaden your pharmacy list
You can try calling local pharmacies, or you could check availability at a range of online pharmacies – it's a smart backup plan when your pharmacies near where you live or work are coming up short. You could also try to broaden your search area with the help of another trusted family member or friend.
Stay adaptable
In some cases, you might need to travel a bit further to find a pharmacy with your required medication in stock. For the most current information on medication availability, the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Medicine Shortage Information Initiative provides a searchable database of drugs that are currently in short supply.
Connect to My Script List (MySL) in Scripty
By connecting to MySL, you'll have access to your active eScripts in Scripty. Wherever you are, you'll be able to fulfill your prescriptions without being tied down to a specific pharmacy. You'll need to ask your pharmacist to help you set up your MySL before you can link it in Scripty.
Scripty is your friend!
With the Scripty app in your pocket, you’ve got your e-scripts safe and sound, all in one place. Not only does it keep track of your script needs, but it also makes it easy to share your eScript tokens with someone trustworthy who can swing by the pharmacy on your behalf. Can’t get to the pharmacy yourself? A friend or family member can help.
How to share eScript in Scripty: You can go the script detail screen with the big QR code and tap 'Share' or you can long press on your script to bring up several options including "Send as SMS.'
Having immediate access to your scripts ensures that you're ready to manage your health needs without delay.
Stay well, be patient and take care,
Your pals at Scripty.
Image source: Getty images