Prescription delivery after surgery

How it generally works

Surgeons often send discharge prescriptions — the medications you'll take at home — on or before the day of your procedure. Where they go is up to the surgeon's team, usually based on what you've told them about your preferred pharmacy.

If your prescriptions go to a pharmacy that delivers, medication is delivered to your door, so you don't have to stop on the way home or send someone out later. For surgery related to a work injury or car accident, the pharmacy will usually need your claim details.

Rules differ by state and by claim, and some post-surgical medications can't be mailed. Planning ahead lets you know which prescriptions will be delivered and which, if any, need another arrangement.

If your surgery follows a work injury, the claim may need to approve the surgery itself and, separately, the medications that follow. Ask your adjuster whether anything needs to be in place before the day of the procedure, so discharge prescriptions aren't held up.

Questions to ask

Ask before surgery where your discharge prescriptions will be sent. If you'd like delivery, ask whether they can go to a delivery pharmacy, and confirm the surgeon's office has your correct address.

Call your surgeon's office with questions about your medications — before and after the procedure.

It's also worth asking how long you're likely to be on each medication and whether refills are expected, so you know whether to plan for more than one delivery.

• Surgeon's office: Where will my discharge prescriptions be sent?
• Surgeon's office: Can they go to a pharmacy that delivers?
• Surgeon's office: Will any medication need to be picked up locally?
• Pharmacist: What should I know about each new medication?
• Adjuster or insurer: Is anything needed before my surgery for prescriptions to be covered?

What to have ready

Arrange for someone to be home, or ask about delivery options, so a package isn't left on the doorstep while you're resting. If you'll be recovering at a relative's house, give the surgeon's office that address.

Set up a recovery spot at home before surgery with your medication list, water, phone charger and the numbers you'll need.

• Claim number and adjuster's contact for a work or auto injury
• The address where you'll be recovering
• A phone number you'll answer
• Your current medication list and allergies
• Surgeon's office and after-hours numbers
• Someone to help in the first days, if possible

About the Prescriptions.plus Home Delivery Program

Prescriptions.plus is an educational site, not a pharmacy. Through the Prescriptions.plus Home Delivery Program, doctors can send prescriptions to our licensed partner pharmacy, and medication is dispensed by our licensed partner pharmacy and delivered to the patient's door.

Ask your surgeon whether your prescriptions can be sent to our partner pharmacy. A $5 dispensing fee applies, and a delivery fee applies. Eligibility depends on the prescription, the doctor and the claim.

Some medications, such as Schedule II controlled substances, may not be available by mail — your partner pharmacy will advise. That often applies to some post-surgical pain medications, so ask your surgeon's team how those will be handled. The prescribing doctor decides refills.

If something goes wrong

If a discharge prescription hasn't arrived when you expected, call the pharmacy first, then your surgeon's office. Don't wait until you're out of medication.

Report fever, wound changes, sudden severe pain, calf swelling, chest pain or shortness of breath to your surgeon right away. Medical emergency? Call 911.

If you have nausea, itching, dizziness or other side effects from a new medication, call your surgeon's office or pharmacist.