Do not wait silently: ask for the restock date and chain stock, transfer to a pharmacy that has it (per a 2023 DEA rule, even controlled-substance electronic prescriptions can transfer once at your request), ask for a partial fill, or get a therapeutic alternative from the prescriber.
During the big shortages this is routine pharmacy work. Two cautions: never stretch by skipping doses without telling the prescriber, and never fill the gap from a no-prescription site - the FDA's BeSafeRx guidance exists for exactly this moment.
What to do
Common questions
What if my pharmacy is out of my medication?
Do not wait silently - shortages are common right now and there are real moves. First: ask the pharmacy for their expected restock date and whether another location in the chain has stock - a same-chain transfer is usually instant. Second: have the prescription transferred to a different pharmacy that has it - and note the recent rule change: per a 2023 DEA regulation, electronic prescriptions for controlled substances can now be transferred between DEA-registered pharmacies once at your request, so even a controlled medication is not necessarily trapped; your pharmacist handles the mechanics. Third: ask about a partial fill - most pharmacies can dispense what they have and owe you the rest. Fourth: call the prescriber for alternatives - a different strength, a temporary therapeutic substitute, or a different medication in the same class (during the big shortages this has been routine). Two cautions: do not stretch by skipping doses without telling the prescriber, and never fill the gap from a no-prescription online pharmacy - the FDA's BeSafeRx guidance on counterfeits exists for exactly this desperation moment. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you find the fastest legitimate route.