> they will only give you three months of it at a time and the freaking GPs office charges $20 each time to receive a "please can I have some more" request on their web site / app and forward the order to the pharmacy.
I take it you are outside of the US? For all the criticism of the American health system, this has never been a problem.
For most maintenance medications, which this sounds like it is, the doctor will authorize one year's supply, for which you pick them up every 30 or 90 days at a time. When you run out of refills the pharmacy will usually contact your doctor for re-authorization, typically at no charge.
Often the doctor wants to see you anyway to check your progress before you run out.
During your yearly visit there is usually a short conversation about getting medication refilled.
The exception to this are when the doctor wants to order tests to see how you are reacting to the medication, or periodic tests for long term medications (in case they need to adjust the dosage).
Things like pain medications or for urgent issues are dispensed as a one-time thing.
I take it you are outside of the US? For all the criticism of the American health system, this has never been a problem.
For most maintenance medications, which this sounds like it is, the doctor will authorize one year's supply, for which you pick them up every 30 or 90 days at a time. When you run out of refills the pharmacy will usually contact your doctor for re-authorization, typically at no charge.
Often the doctor wants to see you anyway to check your progress before you run out.
During your yearly visit there is usually a short conversation about getting medication refilled.
The exception to this are when the doctor wants to order tests to see how you are reacting to the medication, or periodic tests for long term medications (in case they need to adjust the dosage).
Things like pain medications or for urgent issues are dispensed as a one-time thing.