Can an Urgent Care Prescribe Medication?

Published Jul 10, 2018

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Updated Dec 17, 2024

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Est. reading time: 1 minutes

Key points

  • Urgent care facilities can prescribe a range of medications, including antibiotics and pain relief.
  • Not all medications are available at every facility, with narcotics often excluded to prevent drug abuse.
  • Long-term pain medication is typically not prescribed at urgent care facilities.
  • Urgent care facilities usually do not provide prescription refills, requiring a visit to a primary care physician.
  • After receiving a prescription from an urgent care facility, it's important to note that refills will likely need to be obtained from your primary care physician.
Can an Urgent Care Prescribe Medication?

Medications Can Be Prescribed

If you're headed to an urgent care center, it is likely that you are in pain or are sick. The severity of the sickness or injury is going to vary from incident to incident. However, because of the nature of urgent care facilities, those who run them understand that medications need to be prescribed occasionally.

Not All Medications Are Prescribed At All Facilities

It's important to note that not all urgent care facilities offer the same services and medications. Because of this, you may find that some medications will not be prescribed at some facilities. In general, if an urgent care facility will not prescribe a medication, it will be narcotics. This is to help cut back on the abuse of drugs.

Long-Term Pain Management

Though some urgent care facilities will prescribe pain medications, it is unlikely that you will be prescribed long-term pain medication. If you deal with chronic pain, this is something that you should discuss with you primary care physician. In addition, if you have an increase in your chronic pain, this is something that should be discussed with a pain management physician or primary care physician.

Antibiotics and Other Medications

If you come into the urgent care with a bacterial illness, you will likely be prescribed an antibiotic. This medication will help you get better more quickly and effectively. In addition, you may be given some of this medication while at the facility. In some cases, urgent care centers are adding medication-dispensing terminals that can be convenient access points for common prescriptions.

Prescription Refills

After you have visited an urgent care facility and received a prescription, it is important to note that it will probably not have a refill available. Instead, you will need to check with your primary care physician for refills. Otherwise, you may need to visit the urgent care center again to get another prescription.

FAQs

Can urgent care facilities prescribe medication?

Yes, urgent care facilities can prescribe a variety of medications, including antibiotics and pain medications.

Will all urgent care facilities prescribe the same medications?

No, the range of medications prescribed can vary between facilities. Narcotics are often not prescribed to prevent drug abuse.

Can I get long-term pain medication from an urgent care facility?

No, long-term pain medication is typically not prescribed at urgent care facilities. Chronic pain management should be discussed with a primary care physician.

Can I get a prescription refill from an urgent care facility?

No, prescription refills are typically not provided by urgent care facilities. You would need to visit a primary care physician for refills.

Can I receive antibiotics from an urgent care facility?

Yes, if you have a bacterial illness, you will likely be prescribed antibiotics at an urgent care facility.

What types of professionals can I expect to see at an urgent care center?

At an urgent care center, you can expect to see either a nurse practitioner or a medical doctor. Both are capable of prescribing necessary medications.

Are there any medications that are typically not prescribed at urgent care centers?

Yes, narcotics are generally not prescribed at urgent care facilities as a measure to prevent drug abuse.

Are there any services that provide convenient access to common prescriptions at urgent care centers?

Yes, some urgent care centers are adding medication-dispensing terminals, which can provide convenient access points for common prescriptions.

Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD, is a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine physician and urgent care executive. He earned his MD from Jefferson Medical College, currently serves on multiple boards and is Solv’s Chief Medical Officer.

How we reviewed this article

Medically reviewed

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History

Solv’s team of medical writers and experts review and update our articles when new information becomes available.

  • July 10 2018

    Written by Solv Editorial Team

    Medically reviewed by: Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD

Solv’s team of medical writers and experts review and update our articles when new information becomes available.

  • July 10 2018

    Written by Solv Editorial Team

    Medically reviewed by: Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD

Topics in this article

IllnessPrimary CareInjuriesMedicationUrgent Care

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