Feeling the dreaded tickle in your throat or a congested nose that doesn’t quit?
Maybe you’ve already Googled your symptoms and surprise, Dr. Internet has been suggesting all sorts of medicines and remedies all at once.
‘How about I just walk into urgent care clinic but do they even prescribe antibiotics?’ you’re thinking.
Let’s find out right now! Because no one’s got time to be sidelined by the pesky infection, right?
Does Urgent Care Prescribe Antibiotics For Bacterial Infections?
Yes, urgent care doctors can prescribe you various medications, including antibiotics. If you suspect you have an illness that needs an antibiotic, you can easily talk to an urgent care clinic to book your appointment or simply walk in.
An urgent care provider will take your medical history, evaluate your symptoms, ask about any allergies or intolerances of any medicine and then prescribe you the appropriate antibiotic for your condition.
However, if further lab test is required to rule out the type of bacteria, your provider may order some specific lab tests first.
So, if you or your loved one has been suffering from any bacterial infection such as STD, STI, UTI, food poisoning, strep throat, sinus or even ear infections, you can contact urgent care providers.
Next, urgent care doctors will transfer your prescription to your preferred local pharmacy. You can then pick it up from your pharmacy and start your medications right away.
You May Not Always Get An Antibiotic at Urgent Care – Here’s Why?
If you take antibiotics when you do not need them, they may be ineffective and cause mild to severe side effects. Therefore, urgent care providers may not write an antibiotic prescription if unnecessary.
For instance, cold and flu symptoms are often mistaken for strep throat infections. You may think that an antibiotic is necessary to recover completely, but that may not be the case.
Cold and flu are often caused by viruses and cannot be treated with antibiotics. Therefore, doctors recommend symptomatic treatment for seasonal flu. On the other hand, strep throat is caused by bacteria that can only be eliminated using antibiotics.
Therefore, urgent care providers have to be very cautious when prescribing medicines so as to give the right medicine for the right disease.
What Happens Due To Unnecessary Use Of Antibiotics?
The CDC reports that almost 28% of antibiotic prescriptions written in doctors’ offices are unnecessary. Due to this overuse and misuse of antibiotics, there has been a rise in antibiotic resistance, especially after the COVID.
To elaborate, if you take antibiotics too frequently or for the wrong illnesses, the bacteria changes itself so much that even the most powerful antibiotics do not work against them.
Not to mention many people also:
- Encounter secondary infections (C. difficile infection) due to overuse of certain antibiotics.
- Experience digestive issues as wrong antibiotics would kill the good bacteria in the stomach.
- Suffer prolong illnesses due to the misuse.
Therefore, urgent care centers may not write an antibiotic prescription if it is unnecessary or if you have a viral or fungal infection.
Can Your Insurance Cover Antibiotics?
Yes! Some health plans have a list of medications, known as formulary, in which they enlist the medicines that are covered by insurance. However, you may need to check with your specific insurance provider.
Even if your antibiotic is under insurance, you may still need to pay some money (copayment) when you fill the prescription.
In some cases, you may also need prior authorization from your insurance company before they cover a certain medication. This happens mostly with those antibiotics which are not prescribed frequently.
Most of the time, people may need to bear out-of-pocket costs as the brand name won’t be included in the formulary.
It’s always a good idea to check with your insurance provider to understand your specific coverage for antibiotics and any associated costs.
Can I Get Antibiotics Without Seeing A Doctor In-Person?
Yes! You can get an antibiotic without seeing a doctor physically. All you need to do is book an online appointment with the provider.
Once you connect with the doctor via telehealth (online video or phone consultation), the doctor will diagnose your infection, review your history, and, if necessary, prescribe antibiotics.
If your prescribed antibiotic is finished but you have not recovered from the infection, you can also get a refill online by following the same steps.
You do not need to rush to the clinic and wait for a long time to get your antibiotic prescription. However, the doctor must evaluate whether you need the medicine or not.
Takeaway
All in all, urgent care providers can only prescribe antibiotics based on a thorough assessment of the patient’s condition, including a proper diagnosis that indicates a bacterial infection.
Prescribing antibiotics without clear evidence of a bacterial infection can contribute to antibiotic resistance and may not effectively treat the patient’s symptoms.
Therefore, urgent care providers follow strict guidelines and consider the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and test results before making a decision.
Looking for an urgent care clinic nearby? You can visit our clinic in Indiana or Illinois right away. Our experienced medical providers are trained to follow the prescribing guidelines and provide accurate diagnosis for various illnesses and injuries.
FAQs
Can urgent care prescribe antibiotics for UTIs?
Yes, urgent care providers can prescribe the best antibiotics to completely recover from UTI. First, the provider evaluates your overall health status, evaluates your symptoms and advise some lab tests to confirm the presence of bacteria, if necessary. Then, the doctor prescribes you antibiotics depending on the severity of the infection.
Can urgent care prescribe antibiotics for tooth infection?
Yes! Ugrent care clinics may prescribe antibiotics if you have a tooth infection caused by a bacteria. However, you may be referred to a dentist to address the underlying issue and prevent recurring infections.
Can urgent care prescribe amoxicillin?
Urgent care providers can prescribe amoxicillin based on your medical condition, type of bacterial infection and severity. However, it is crucial to understand that amoxicillin or any other antibiotic may only be prescribed if you really need it. This is because misuse or overuse of any antibiotic can lead to unwanted side effects.