Medication Information

Obtaining medications from the pharmacy

Getting medications from your pharmacy can require some planning and communication. Always use trusted and secure ways to obtain your medications to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Here are some strategies you can use to safely get your medications:

  • In-Person Pickup: Visiting the pharmacy in person is the most direct way to pick up your medications.
  • Curbside Pickup: Many pharmacies offer curbside pickup services. This allows you to order your medications ahead of time and have them brought out to your car.
  • Medication Delivery: Most pharmacies offer home delivery services.
  • Online Pharmacy Services: Verified online pharmacies may deliver medications directly to your doorstep.
  • Express Scripts or Mail-Order Pharmacies Pharmacies that dispense and deliver medications to the patient’s home. : Some pharmacies offer mail-order services, allowing you to receive your medications by mail.
  • Automatic Refill Programs: You can register for automatic refill programs offered by pharmacies. This way, your medications can be refilled and prepared for pickup or delivery (with a valid prescription) without you having to go to the pharmacy each time you need a refill.
  • Rideshare or Taxi Services: If you are comfortable using rideshare or taxi services, you can arrange transportation to and from the pharmacy. Some rideshare apps also give you the option of scheduling a trip in advance.
  • WheelTrans or Similar Transportation Services: Specialized transportation services can provide transportation to healthcare-related appointments (including picking up medications).
  • Friends and Family: Consider asking family or friends to pick up your medications for you and provide them with any information they need (e.g. prescription details). A controlled substance, like an opioid, can also be picked up by someone you have designated. Most provinces and territories have additional measures in place when you need to pick up medication for someone else.
    • For example, you may be required to specify who this designated person will be by calling the pharmacy ahead of time or providing information about the patient (e.g. name, birth date, health card number).

When you ask someone to pick up medication for you, they may be required to show their ID to the pharmacist at your pharmacy.

List of approved forms of identification include:

  • Ontario health card or other health card issued by a province or territory in Canada
  • Valid driver’s license or temporary driver’s license (issued by a Canadian jurisdiction)
  • Ontario photo card, birth certificate from a Canadian province or territory, or government-issued Employee Identification Card

There are also programs that give patients the opportunity to ensure safe and clear guidelines for usage of several types of medication. For example:

  • MedsCheck at Home A service in which a pharmacist comes to your home to review your medications with you, provide advice on how to use medicines safely and effectively, and check for any issues or concerns. : Individuals who are unable to make it to a pharmacy and are taking three or more chronic prescriptions may benefit from the MedsCheck at Home A service in which a pharmacist comes to your home to review your medications with you, provide advice on how to use medicines safely and effectively, and check for any issues or concerns. program. The MedsCheck at Home A service in which a pharmacist comes to your home to review your medications with you, provide advice on how to use medicines safely and effectively, and check for any issues or concerns. program is a one-to-one consultation between pharmacists and patients once a year to help individuals manage their prescription medications A medication that is only available with written instructions from a healthcare provider (e.g., doctor, dentist, pharmacist). and better understand medication interactions A reaction between two or more drugs, or between a drug and food, drink or supplement. A medication interaction can delay, decrease or increase the action that can prevent the drug from performing as expected. . Currently, this program is available in Ontario.
  • Interprofessional Primary Care Teams: Many Interprofessional Primary Care Teams collaborate with family doctors and healthcare professionals to provide free in-home and virtual care to patients with chronic conditions. Adults living with chronic diseases or medical complexities are eligible for this program. Services include assistance in managing medications, monitoring chronic diseases, and transitioning from a hospital to home setting.