What Conditions Can Be Treated with Online Prescriptions?

Telehealth, also known as telemedicine, allows you to meet with a healthcare provider online instead of going into a doctor’s office. Telehealth appointments, such as those offered by PlushCare, are held through a video chat using the PlushCare app. They can be accessed from a smartphone, computer, or tablet. When appropriate, a voice-only chat is possible. 

In addition to discussing your health concerns with your online provider, you also can obtain many prescription medications during a telehealth visit. Common ailments that patients get treated for during telehealth appointments include allergies, asthma, cold and flu symptoms, infections, anxiety, depression, pink eye, digestion problems or stomach aches, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, migraines or headaches, mental health, and sleep troubles. You can see a telehealth physician about conditions that are either chronic or urgent-care related. 

PlushCare’s board-certified doctors can write new prescriptions online as well as refills of existing medications for most non-controlled substances. Appointments usually last around 15 minutes, and your practitioner can also provide a free doctor’s note for you to take to work or school if needed. 

Obtaining prescriptions online offers you more flexibility in scheduling doctor appointments at your convenience without the stress of a commute to a practitioner’s office. Online prescribing can be especially beneficial if you are potentially contagious or immunocompromised1, as you can take the appointment from any location so long as you have access to a phone or computer. 

Some of the typical medications that PlushCare doctors and other telehealth physicians write online prescriptions for are antibiotics, anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications, birth control and high blood pressure (hypertension) prescriptions. 

While telehealth doctors can prescribe these and other medications for both new or existing prescriptions, your doctor will decide what treatment option is best for you—prescription or otherwise—based on your virtual visit and their medical judgment. 

Please note that, like other telehealth services, PlushCare does not write new prescriptions or refill prescriptions for controlled substances. Please also note that PlushCare is unable to manage long term prescriptions of medication including those for HIV treatment, autoimmune disorders, and other complex conditions. These types of disease require in-person management. Your PlushCare physician will be able to guide you to understand which medications are safe and appropriate for long-term management over telehealth, and which are not.  

Controlled substances are the most regulated prescription medications in the United States. They are medications that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies as having a high potential for abuse, misuse, or addiction.2 Common controlled substances include pain medications and narcotics, such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Methadone; sleep medications, including Ambien; ADHD medications, like Adderall and Ritalin; and anxiety medications, such as Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin. 

If you think you need a prescription or refill for a controlled substance, you should make an in-person appointment with your primary care doctor to inquire about obtaining such a prescription.  

If you are interested in speaking to an online physician at PlushCare, but you are not sure if your medication is a controlled substance or not, feel free to contact us by phone at (800) 221-5140 or via email at info@plushcare.com. Additionally, if you think you may be struggling with misuse or overuse of controlled substances, telehealth visits can be a great place to start. Your doctor can talk to you about your symptoms and experiences, and they can help direct you to a clinician that will be able to provide further assistance. 

When using telehealth services, it is important to read about them thoroughly before making an appointment to ensure your insurance plan is accepted. PlushCare takes most insurance but you are not required to have insurance in order to obtain online prescriptions. If you do not use insurance, you would pay out of pocket for the medication your doctor prescribes.  

PlushCare also offers a Prescription Discount Card in partnership with SingleCare, which can save you up to 80% on prescription costs. 

If PlushCare’s board-certified doctors determine that an online prescription is a suitable option for you, they will send the prescription to the pharmacy of your choice electronically. 

You can also refill your prescription online thereafter. PlushCare’s board-certified physicians can typically prescribe refills of medications up to within 90 days (3 months) of the initial prescription date. Please note, however, that you may need to get lab work done to obtain the refill depending on the medication. 

If you have run out of refills, you will need to book another in-person or virtual visit with your doctor to discuss getting a refill prescription sent to your pharmacy. No doctor, in-person or virtual, can guarantee that they will prescribe any specific medication, even if you have taken it in the past. At PlushCare, our licensed doctors will work with you to discuss your medical history and the most appropriate treatment option for you. 

In the case of emergencies, such as severe breathing trouble, broken bones, or any other life-threatening condition, please go to your nearest ER. If you need a new or refill prescription for controlled substances, you should make an appointment with your primary care doctor for an in-person consultation instead of telehealth. 

You can book an appointment online with PlushCare today to discuss your health and inquire about online prescriptions. Appointments usually last around 15 minutes, and you can take them from work, school, or any other location so long as you have access to a smartphone or computer.