When we prescribe medication, we assume that the family will pick it up from the pharmacy that day, and start giving it immediately according to the instructions.

If the medication is too expensive, please call us immediately!  We can usually find another medication that will work as well, more affordably.  But we rarely know which medications are covered by your insurance plan, so we count on families to tell us when the prescription cost is a burden.

If the pharmacy tells you that the medication is not in stock, but that they'll have it delivered in a couple of days, this is not acceptable!  We expect medication to start immediately.  You must ask the pharmacy to call around to other pharmacies, to discover who has it in stock.  Your pharmacy doesn't want to lose your business; but I don't want your child to suffer needlessly.

     --  David M. Epstein, MD