An Ingenious Way to Stockpile Prescription Medicines

useful in emergencies and having them at home can help save lives and in other cases prevent health complications. Remember, that in the past year people have suffered losses that could have been prevented if they only had some or all of these medical supplies in their homes. Venezuela as we know is experiencing an economic crisis that has made foods and medical supplies very scarce. People have died due to the absence of these simple medical supplies in Venezuela. So yes, there is a very strong need for us to equip our homes with medical supplies and stay prepared.

If you’re like many Americans these days, it’s likely that you have at least one medication that you need to take regularly. It is also likely that this medication is one that is essential, meaning that being without it may constitute an emergency. Things like insulin, inhalers, and blood pressure medications are part of daily life for millions of people; yet most of those people do not have a plan in place for what they’d do if the medication were suddenly unavailable. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are seeing that this scenario is becoming closer and closer to reality. Between the public scrambling to fill prescriptions out of fear for their health to pharmaceutical production being halted due to quarantines and shut downs, many medications became temporarily scarce. While pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies have done their best to mitigate the effects of various shortages, the situation highlighted for many that they would be in nearly immediate danger if their medication became suddenly and indefinitely unavailable. Becoming suddenly unable to acquire necessary medication is certainly a frightening thought, but there are some ways in which you may be able to build a stash of emergency medication. It may take a while to stockpile a reasonable supply – prescription medications are relatively well-controlled, both by pharmacies and health insurance companies.

Some “easy” methods for stockpiling meds (like purchasing illegally online or skipping doses) should be avoided for safety reasons, but the following are a few ways to start building a stash of your medication safely and legally:

1.) Refill Your Prescriptions as Soon as Possible

It is standard practice to have prescriptions refilled a day or two before they run out, but most insurances will allow for refills to be filled and covered up to a week in advance of the current supply running out. The best way to find out when you can get a refill is to call your insurance directly, as medical providers typically don’t know the ins and outs of insurance coverage. Building up a backup medication supply this way is slow but takes minimal effort. By refilling prescriptions three to five days before they run out you can put aside three to five days of medication for emergencies. This method is slow, and if you want to have more of a supply for peace of mind you may also be able to get a full refill if you claim to have lost your medication. Most insurance companies only allow full replacement of a lost prescription once or twice a year, but even once is enough to have a full month worth of your medication for a stockpile. It can’t hurt to ask at your pharmacy whether they are able to replace a lost prescription.

2.) Manage Symptoms Alternatively when Possible

This is not to say “stop taking your meds and try alternative treatments”; rather, it is just to say that many conditions requiring pharmaceutical management can also be greatly affected by lifestyle changes as well. Take insulin for example – while it is less the case for type 1 diabetics, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can benefit from dietary changes and more physical activity. Consuming fewer sugars and processed carbohydrates can result in a more stable blood sugar, often requiring less insulin. If you use insulin on a scale according to blood sugar readings, try making some lifestyle changes and you may see that you have more insulin left over at the end of each month. If this becomes the case, refill as soon as possible but continue using the existing supply before opening the refill. Try to keep the newest supply as your backup or stockpile supply, keeping in mind that expired insulin is better than nothing but may be less effective as time passes. Managing conditions alternatively can also be useful in setting aside some medications for things like pain or heart conditions. With pain, many alternative therapies have been proven effective – things like ice, relaxation techniques, certain foods, and even music can curb the need for medication, allowing you to save as many doses as you’d like for a stockpile. Skipping doses of pain medication, unlike other medications, is not harmful and can even have a positive effect on pain tolerance in general. For things like blood pressure or heart rate, calming routines and managing stressors can result in less frequent need for medication. Doses of things like metoprolol or lisinopril should absolutely not be skipped without physician approval, but these medications are often used within parameters which means that if your heart rate or blood pressure is within an acceptable range, there is no need for the dose.

3.) Ask Your Doctor about Using Your Medication with Parameters

As previously mentioned, sometimes medications for heart rate and blood pressure are used with parameters. This is also the case with some insulin use, referred to as being on a “sliding scale”. If you feel that your medication may be able to be used on an as-needed basis, ask your physician! Putting parameters on the use of a particular medication involves more work in the short term; to use parameters you will need to be checking things like heart rate, blood pressure, or blood glucose (sugar) levels more frequently. However, by doing this you may also notice that taking your regular dose as scheduled might not be needed. Your doctor can tell you what the appropriate parameters are for your condition and personal circumstances, and monitoring your numbers closely may mean that you’re able to skip and stockpile quite a few doses of your daily medications. Just be sure to refill your prescription at the usual rate, even if you aren’t using it all.

4.) Always Say Yes to Antibiotics

Many people have heard that taking antibiotics too frequently can have negative side effects. While this is certainly true, most physicians are still happy to offer and prescribe them if they see a potential need. Things like ear infections, sinus infections, and some minor skin infections are indications for taking antibiotics, however they are also pretty easy to manage without medication and often go away on their own. Never hold off on taking a prescribed antibiotic if your condition is getting worse, but if it seems to be getting better and alternative treatments at home are working, it’s likely that you won’t need it. If you find yourself in one of these situations and think antibiotics are unnecessary, you’re probably right – but you should still see a doctor and if they are willing to write a prescription, take it! There’s no harm in filling an antibiotic prescription as they are generally quite inexpensive with and without insurance, and if you don’t end up needing them you will have a nice, unopened course of