How Fast Can You Really Get a Prescription Online?
For a common, uncomplicated infection, often within a couple of hours. With Starfish.com, you answer a short questionnaire, a licensed clinician reviews it, and if a prescription is appropriate it is sent to the pharmacy you choose. From questionnaire to prescription usually takes 1 to 2 hours.
“Same day” means the prescription reaches your pharmacy the same day, so you can pick up the medication that day as long as the pharmacy is open and has the medication available.
A few things can slow it down, and a few situations mean an online prescription is not the right route. Both are covered below.
How It Works, Step by Step
| Step | What happens | What can slow it down |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose your treatment | You pick the condition you need help with, such as a UTI, BV or a yeast infection | Not knowing which one it is. If you are unsure, say so in the questionnaire |
| 2. Answer the questionnaire | You describe your symptoms and health history, and choose your pharmacy | Missing details. Clear, complete answers help the clinician decide |
| 3. A clinician reviews it | A licensed clinician reviews your answers and decides whether a prescription is right for you | A short phone call first, if your state’s telehealth rules require one |
| 4. The prescription is sent | If appropriate, it goes to the pharmacy you chose | The clinician may decide you need to be seen in person instead |
| 5. You pick it up | You collect the medication at your pharmacy | Pharmacy hours, whether it has your medication, and how busy the counter is |
Steps 1 and 2 take a few minutes, and steps 1 to 4 together usually take 1 to 2 hours. Step 5 depends on your pharmacy.
Need Treatment for a UTI Today?
Answer a short questionnaire. A licensed clinician reviews it and, if it is appropriate, sends a prescription to the pharmacy you choose.
Is It a Visit With a Doctor?
It covers the same ground as a visit, without the travel or the waiting room. You describe your symptoms in a questionnaire, and a licensed clinician reviews it and decides on treatment. The clinicians include board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners and other licensed healthcare professionals.
If your state’s telehealth rules require it, a clinician will call you briefly before prescribing. Starfish.com arranges the call at no extra cost. It can add a little time, although clinicians often call earlier than the scheduled time.
What “Same Day” Can’t Cover
A fast online prescription works well for common, uncomplicated infections. It is not the right route when you need to be examined or when something might be serious.
Go to urgent care or an emergency room if you have signs that an infection may be spreading, such as a fever, chills, pain in your lower back or side, or nausea and vomiting with urinary symptoms. The CDC lists these as possible signs of a kidney infection[1], which needs prompt care.
See a clinician in person if a treatment you have already taken has not worked, or if you may be having a first genital herpes outbreak. The CDC says a first diagnosis should be confirmed[2] by testing a sample from the sore.
If you are pregnant, contact your obstetrician. Starfish.com does not treat anyone who is pregnant, because infections in pregnancy need extra care.
Starfish.com treats adults aged 18 to 80, in all 50 US states.
What You Pay For
The Starfish.com fee covers the clinician’s review and the prescription. You pay for the medication at the pharmacy, the same way you would with a prescription from your own doctor.
You can use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) card, and you can ask for an itemized receipt to submit to your insurer yourself.
Which Conditions Are a Good Fit?
Common, uncomplicated conditions that a clinician can assess from a clear description of your symptoms. The clinician makes the final call, and if your answers suggest you need an exam or a test, they will tell you rather than prescribe.
Conditions Starfish.com treats online include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- Yeast infections
- Herpes outbreaks, once you have had a diagnosis
FAQ
Can I get a prescription online the same day?
Often, yes. With Starfish.com, the prescription usually reaches your pharmacy within 1 to 2 hours of starting, and you can pick it up once the pharmacy has filled it.
Do I have to talk to a doctor?
Usually not. The standard route is a questionnaire reviewed by a licensed clinician. If your state’s telehealth rules require a short phone call first, Starfish.com arranges it at no extra cost.
Is the medication included in the price?
No. The Starfish.com fee covers the review and the prescription. You pay for the medication at the pharmacy, the same way you would with a prescription from your own doctor.
Is my information kept private?
Yes. Starfish.com follows HIPAA privacy rules, and your health information is kept confidential. You can read more in the Starfish.com FAQ.
Get Started in a Few Minutes
Choose your treatment and answer a short questionnaire. A licensed clinician takes it from there.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Urinary Tract Infection Basics.” https://www.cdc.gov/uti/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Genital Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection.” Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/herpes.htm
