Lost prescription in Puerto Rico, or forgot your medication? What to do

If you left your medicine at home, ran out or lost the prescription, Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a Puerto Rico-licensed general practice physician with several years of emergency-department experience, can see you by video. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. We do not prescribe controlled substances.

A refill of a medicine you already take is a US$49 follow-up visit, and anyone can book it, even if we have never seen you before. Read more about prescription refills.

• Request your visit. On the booking page, choose Follow-up visit. Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text.
• See the doctor by video. We send you a secure video link; it works on your phone, tablet or computer. You must be in Puerto Rico during the visit, and visitors are welcome.
• Pick up your medicine. If the doctor prescribes, we send your prescription to the pharmacy you choose.

The doctor decides based on your history and situation; this may mean enough to bridge you until you are back with your own doctor. If what you need turns out to be a new medicine or a full evaluation, the doctor explains why and, only with your consent, you pay the difference up to the US$79 online doctor visit. For a medicine you've never taken, see new prescriptions by video. If the visit can't take place, you get a full refund.

If your prescription has refills left at your usual pharmacy, another pharmacy can sometimes request a transfer. The rules depend on the medicine, the pharmacy and your plan, so ask at the counter. Bring the bottle or a photo of the label, your usual pharmacy's name and phone number, the prescription number if you have it, and your ID.

We do not prescribe controlled substances, such as some medicines for pain, anxiety, sleep or ADHD. If you left one of those at home, call the doctor who prescribed it or your usual pharmacy and ask about your options.

Several Walgreens stores in the San Juan metro area are open 24 hours, but their pharmacy counters are not. In Condado (1130 Ave Ashford), for example, the store is open 24 hours and the pharmacy is not. In Isla Verde (5984 Ave Isla Verde), the pharmacy is open Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm.

The nearest 24-hour pharmacy counter we verified in the metro area is in Guaynabo, 2505 Carr 841 (787-287-0528); it closes from 1:30 to 2am. Confirm hours before you go, and pick an open pharmacy when you request your visit.

We see adults and children of all ages. If the medicine is for a child, have their recent weight ready, since many doses depend on weight. If the patient is under 21, a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian stays on the video for the whole visit and shows photo ID.

Carry medicines in your carry-on, in their original containers, with a few extra days' supply, and keep a photo of each label and a medication list on your phone. More tips in bringing medication to Puerto Rico. Visiting? See sick on vacation in Puerto Rico. On a cruise? See the cruise passenger guide. Before hurricane season, read medications for a hurricane.