Avoidable Mistakes Of Urgent Care Patients
Yes, urgent care centers can write prescriptions for medicine, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers and acne medication however, there will be a cap on the number of pills, and you wont be able to get a refill unless you make another appointment at the center, and the practitioner finds it sensible.
What Types Of Medications Can Urgent Care Centers Prescribe
Urgent care centers are able to prescribe many different types of medications to treat your condition. Some drugs may include:
Allergy and Asthma Medications If you see a physician at an urgent care center for allergies or asthma, your doctor will be able to prescribe medication such as Advair or Symbicort. Your doctor may also offer you a prescription and recommendations for long-term allergy or asthma medications.
Antiviral Medications If you have the flu, you may get a prescription for an antiviral medication such as acyclovir or Tamiflu. If you think you have the flu, you should see your doctor as soon as possible in order for any antiviral medication to be most effective.
Antibiotics If you go to an urgent care center because you think you may have an infection, a doctor can prescribe you antibiotics for your treatment. Urgent care centers have all of the common antibiotics such as penicillin and azithromycin in stock and can fill your prescription when you are done with your appointment.
Medication for Stomach Issues Patients seen at an urgent care center with stomach conditions such as acid reflux or constipation may be able to get a prescription for a short-term medication that will last 30 days or less. Your urgent care physician may refer you to a gastrointestinal specialist or have to ask you to follow up with your regular primary care physician.
Can Urgent Care Write Prescriptions For Blood Pressure
Yes. Blood pressure medication can be prescribed by an urgent care doctor, but it will likely be a one-time dose or not re-filled. Monitoring high blood pressure, or hypertension, is an ongoing condition that requires you to keep up with your medication, so it is best to work with your doctor on a long-term plan.
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Treatments For Sleep Disorders
Regardless of the type of sleep disorder you have, we are able to offer you a variety of treatment options that will help you get back to a solid sleep schedule.
Our doctors can prescribe over the counter or homeopathic supplements in addition to more invasive methods for the most serious sleep conditions.
- Sleeping pills
Sleep Deprivation From Medications
Some people are sleepless from a variety of medications includingprescribed medications. Ask your family care doctor if you are taking OTC drugsor prescription medicines and experience sleep problems.
Common medications include:
- like pseudoephedrine, especially if taken too late inthe day
- Alphaor beta blockers for high blood pressure.
- Corticosteroids used to treat lupus, arthritis and gout.
- SSRIantidepressants, these are best taken in themorning upon awakening.
- Aceinhibitors for high blood pressure, kidneydisease or diabetes
- Glucosamineand chondroitin as these can cause intestinalupsets
- OTCcold medications, especially iftaken more than directed
To ensure your sleep in uninterrupted, follow your doctor’s instructions onmedication doses and times. For OTC drugs, read the directions or ask apharmacist.
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If You Know Its Anxiety
If youve already been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and are sure thats the cause of the current anxiety, then the considerations are different. Ask yourself what you hope to accomplish by visiting urgent care. Are you hoping to get a prescription for a fast-acting anti-anxiety medication? Are you hoping theyll refer you to inpatient care? Or do you just generally want help for what feels like an unsustainable level of anxiety?
Some of these hopes are more likely to be realized than others if you visit urgent care. It is entirely possible that you would be prescribed a fast-acting anti-anxiety medication, combined with a recommendation for continued care. Its unlikely, however, that you would be sent to a hospital for anxiety alone. And its unlikely youll leave your urgent care visit feeling like youve made irreversible and substantial progress against anxiety.
How To Recognize Sleep Issues
Many people say they suffer from insomnia when in fact, their sleepingpatterns or slumber environment may be to blame.
On average, people fall asleep within 15 to 20 minutes after lying down. Ifyou find you are tossing and turning, you may be getting too much sleep. If youfall asleep too quickly, you may need more rest.
Waking up before the alarm goes off may mean your brain is sending signalsthat your body has gotten enough sleep. If you find yourself dozing off duringthe day, you probably aren’t getting enough sleep.
Your slumber space can also be to blame. Do you always fall asleep on thesofa instead of heading to a more comfortable bed? If you work the night shift,does your bedroom have black-out drapes so your body thinks it’s nighttime? Doyou leave on the television and noise prevents you from sleeping?
Even with recommended sleep hours, if you experience difficulty in sleeping,start a sleeping log on what time you went to bed, how long it took you to fallasleep and the hour you awoke. Sleeping logs can help physicians determine thecause of your sleeping issues.
Michael is an experienced healthcare marketer and father of two. He has worked alongside healthcare leader at Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, St. Luke’s, Baylor Scott and White, HCA, and many more, and currently leads growth marketing at Solv.
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Learn More About Prescription Sleep Medications
Getting good sleep is crucial to staying healthy and happy. If you have been struggling to get a restful nights sleep for a while, you might be considering prescription sleep medications.
Common questions include: What are the best sleep medications? Which one has the fewest side effects? Can you get prescription sleep medications online? Here is what you need to know.
Can Urgent Care Prescribe Blood Pressure Medication
Yes. An urgent care doctor can prescribe blood pressure medication, but it will likely be a one-time dose or non-refillable prescription. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is an ongoing condition that requires monitoring, so it is best to have a long-term treatment plan with your doctor in place.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Insomnia
From your job to your interactions with others, not getting enough sleep can affect every aspect of your life. Common symptoms of insomnia, include:
- Fatigue or low energy
- Difficulty focusing or trouble concentrating
- Increased errors or accidents
- Constantly waking up throughout the night
- Waking up too early
- Consuming large amounts of alcohol and nicotine
- Eating large meals right before bedtime
- Staring at digital screens right before bed as they emit blue light that can make it difficult to fall asleep
- Napping during the day, so your body can become accustomed to being awake during the day and asleep at night
Thinking You Can Get Refills On Prescriptions
Yes, urgent care centers can write prescriptions for medicine, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers and acne medication however, there will be a cap on the number of pills, and you wont be able to get a refill unless you make another appointment at the center, and the practitioner finds it sensible.
Whats more, if you already take meds, such as Adderall, an urgent care clinic cannot refill that prescription for you. They do not know your medical history and cant take on that responsibility. This will require assistance from a primary physician.
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Expecting To Be Seen By An Md
First offjust because youre not guaranteed to see an MD, it doesnt mean youre in mediocre hands. On the contrary, the nurse practitioners and assistant physicians at urgent care centers are fantastic and highly knowledgeable. They can offer a diagnosis, treatment plan, and direct support right when you need it.
Just make sure youre aware of who will be seeing you and to not expect a different level of degree.
Recommended Sleep By Age
The Mayo Clinic says sleep needed accordingto age is:
- Infants: 9 to 10 hours with daily naps of 3 hours or more.
- Toddlers: 9 to 10 hours with up to 3 hours of naps per day.
- School-AgedChildren: 9 to 11 hours each night.
- Teens: 8.5 ours to 9.25 per night.
- Adults: 7.5 hours to 8 hours.
Infants who sleep too much or too many hours may need physician family careto determine the reason, especially since they are unable to communicateproblems.
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How Can A Psychologist Prescribe Medicine
Prescribing benefits In both states, psychologists must earn a masters degree in psychopharmacology, which is the study of how psychiatric drugs act on the body, and then must work for one year under supervision. Psychologists in the military can also prescribe medications if they complete the appropriate training.
Can psychologists prescribe medication in New York?
Needless to say, NYSPA will marshal all its resources to defeat any attempt to permit psychologists to prescribe medication. As a result of NYSPA and MSSNY efforts in the past, New York is currently the only state in the nation with a law specifically prohibiting psychologists from prescribing medication.
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Can Urgent Care Write Prescriptions
Physicians who practice in these urgent care centers will administer medicines much as a general practitioner can. Certain drugs need supervision, which may include extra medical follow-up visits or referrals to a general practitioner. Patients should be confident that, if they can see a nurse assistant or a doctor in emergency care, the clinician will be able to administer medicine to examine the patient as soon as possible, while with the patients safety in mind.
Among the many wonderful comforts of emergency, clinics are that plenty of them have their medication, which removes the need for a patient to go to another hospital during a stay.
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What We Do And Do Not Prescribe
K Health-affiliated clinicians can prescribe most medications to treat acute and chronic needs as well as to manage some mental health conditions. There are several types of medications we will not prescribethose that are considered high risk or those that require ongoing physical evaluation.
Medications we do not prescribe include:
- We do not prescribe controlled substances including:
- Weight loss medications such as phentermine
- Stimulants for shift work disorder, such as Provigil
- Anti-anxiety or sedative medications, such as Xanax , Ambien , Lunesta , and Ativan
- Prescription pain relievers and muscle relaxers such as carisoprodol , Butalbital, tramadol , gabapentin , or any narcotic medication, such as codeine or hydrocodone
- High-risk medications that require a Drug Enforcement Administration license, or are subject to abuse such as Xanax
When To See A Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses. There may be instances where a PCP decides a psychiatrist is the right provider for a given situation or patient.
Kakish says if he tries two or three medications and the patient doesnt improve, or if the patient experiences debilitating side effects, he considers involving a specialist. Or, if hes running out of medications he feels comfortable prescribing, due to a patients allergies or pre-existing conditions, Kakish might recommend seeing a psychiatrist instead. Many times, psychiatrists can find an equivalent medication that will avoid complications or unwanted side effects, he says.
Acute anti-anxiety meds might warrant psychiatrist involvement, too. Kakish says PCPs sometimes prescribe fast-acting benzodiazepines as a bridge treatment until drugs that need time to build up start working. If youre relying on benzos to manage anxiety symptoms, your PCP might refer you to a psychiatrist to develop a long-term treatment plan.
Psychiatrists might also be best equipped to handle issues that are complex to treat, says Hamilton. Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and personality disorders, for example, often involve several drugs with potentially significant side effects. Figuring out the right medication combo can take trial and error, and might require specialized knowledge of mental health disorders.
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Doctor No Longer Willing To Prescribe Ambien
Things got better. My city’s health care program helped me get back on ambien. I’ve been on ambien for about 5 years now and am making enough money to pay for insurance. The problem is thismy doctor’s office has recently had a shake-up. My doctor left and it seems like the office no longer believes that I need ambienthey think I’m an addict.
When Should You Go To An Urgent Care Facility For A Sore Throat
Sore throats are uncomfortable and definitely a nuisance, but as weve seen, not all result from conditions that require immediate care.
So when should you make an appointment with your doctor or go to urgent care? Generally, you should seek immediate treatment if you experience any of the following along with your sore throat:
- Severe pain that interferes with eating, talking, or sleeping
- A high fever of over 101°F
- Swollen glands
- Difficulty turning your head
- Pus on the tonsils
Contact our doctors as soon as possible for an urgent care appointment if you experience any of these symptoms, especially if you suspect a strep infection, so they can take a throat swab. If the test comes up positive, they can treat it with antibiotics. At the least, they can give you symptom relief so you can be more comfortable until you can schedule a regular primary care appointment.
If youre having difficulty after hours or on weekends, go immediately to our nearest urgent care facility. We can take a throat swab, make note of other symptoms to form a diagnosis, and provide first-line treatment. Well also recommend that you follow up with your doctor within the next day or so, so youll be back in familiar hands.
Are you feeling under the weather and need to know if your sore throat warrant a trip to urgent care? Call Medinet Family Care Clinic at 281-564-3300 or contact us online today.
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What Can You Do If You Have Trouble Sleeping
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the U.S. Acute insomnia occasionally losing sleep or having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep typically doesnt require medical care or treatment.
Sleep problems such as chronic insomnia can lead to depression, anxiety, lack of energy, irritability, and difficulty focusing. It can get in the way of social, work, and family life.
Its important not to dismiss sleep problems. People may try and push through the fatigue or turn to coffee, soda, or energy drinks for extra energy to get through the day. However, chronic sleep problems like insomnia are often a symptom or sign of another problem. Ignoring this sign keeps you from getting the appropriate care that you need.
If you notice that you have trouble sleeping, start keeping a sleep diary. A sleep diary helps identify your normal sleep patterns and sleep habits.
Improving your sleep hygiene is a good place to start if you have trouble sleeping. Even small changes such as turning off electronics before bed, not drinking caffeine in the afternoon or evening, and exercising regularly may help you sleep better, and get better sleep quality.
When To Go To The Emergency Room Vs An Urgent Care Clinic
Its Saturday, and the cold youve been nursing for the past few days seems to be getting worse. Youve vomited once and have a fever. Should you head to a hospital emergency room or an urgent care clinic?
If youve ever wondered whether to go to an ER or an urgent care clinic, youre not alone. As an emergency medicine physician, Im often asked by family, friends and patients if their symptoms warrant an ER visit, a trip to an urgent care clinic, a call to their primary care doctor or simply management at home.
Especially now as we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of flu and cold season, its important to listen to your body and assess the severity of your symptoms to prevent overwhelming hospital emergency rooms with mild illnesses or injuries that could be managed elsewhere. You could also avoid a long wait in an ER waiting room when an ER may not be the level of care you need.
If you are experiencing mild symptoms, such as a temperature below 100 degrees, aches and pains, a mild cough, etc., that could be caused by the flu, COVID-19 or hundreds of other viruses, I would start by doing what your mom used to tell you rest, drink plenty of fluids, take over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, if needed, and monitor your symptoms.
Always remember, if the urgent care provider thinks you need a higher level of care, they will get you to the ER.
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Medications An Urgent Care Clinic Can Prescribe Familywize
Can Urgent Care Facilities Fill or Refill Prescriptions Onsite? In some cases, yes, Urgent Care facilities may have onsite pharmacies to fill basic prescriptions. Typically, onsite pharmacies may only fill prescriptions written by the clinics healthcare providers patients may not bring in a prescription from an outside doctor and therefore their stock is limited.
