Have you ever had trouble getting a medication because your pharmacy says they are “out of stock” or suggests that the medication is “not available” to them? One of our patients recently told us about a service that he found very helpful.
It’s called Medfinder, and it helps you locate nearby pharmacies that have your prescribed medication in stock.
If you’ve ever spent hours calling around only to be told “we’re out,” you know how frustrating that process can be—especially when it’s a medication you need to stay well. And if the medication you need is a controlled substance, sometimes pharmacies won’t even tell you if they have the medication.
What Is Medfinder?
Medfinder is a web-based service (not an app) that helps people locate pharmacies with their prescribed medications currently in stock. It’s especially valuable for finding treatments that are often in short supply or frequently backordered.
The service is fast—often providing results in under 24 hours—HIPAA-compliant, and designed to be extremely easy to use.
Why We’re Sharing This
Our patient was very relieved to find Medfinder—it helped him get his prescription filled within two days and with minimal work on his end, after weeks of calling pharmacies and having his doctor send in a prescription to a pharmacy, only to learn that they no longer had the medication. One of the staff, Cara Hoepner, has been recommending it as a helpful option for patients struggling to find their medications during supply shortages for a couple of years.
We don’t have any affiliation with Medfinder, but we think it’s a smart tool worth knowing about.
How It Works
- Visit medfinder.com.
- Enter the name of your medication and your location.
- Medfinder searches nearby pharmacies.
- You’ll get a message (usually in a few hours) with a match—where the medication is in stock and ready to fill.
There is a service fee—which may cost as little as $30 per medication search—to help cover the cost of accessing pharmacy-level inventory. For many patients, the peace of mind and reduced wait time are well worth it.
Worth Considering If…
- You’ve had trouble getting your prescription filled lately
- You’re on a medication with known shortages
- You’re tired of calling around and just want a faster option
We know how important it is to stay consistent with your medication, and we hope this helps anyone who’s run into challenges with pharmacy availability.
You can check it out here: medfinder.com