Please reach us at helixpharmacyinfo@gmail.com or (249) 220-0344 if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Switching prescriptions to Helix Pharmacy is easy. Most medication refills can be transferred simply by calling us at Helix Pharmacy or submitting a request from the main page. We will collect a few bits of personal information and then we will take care of contacting your previous pharmacy to facilitate the transfer. Please note that some medications cannot be transferred by law, please ask for details.
Most prescriptions can be filled within 15minutes. Some prescriptions, however will take longer such as in the case of special orders for rare medications or in the cases where we may need to intervene on or clarify information with your prescriber. At all times we endeavor to provide a clear and reasonable estimate of the time that we will need to attend to your needs.
Compounded medications can take a little longer – anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the formulation and supply of ingredients. We will always provide our best estimate of when your Compounded medication will be ready for pickup.
A "brand name" medication is one produced and marketed by the company that in most cases developed that medication and brought it to market. These companies are given a set time limit on their patents and after that time lapses, generic manufacturers will produce versions that are less costly. In most cases the generic version is equally effective. Canada has a very robust and safe drug supply chain and generic medications are considered to be very safe. There are some few instances where a brand name medication may be better for you but we will always be available to discuss your options with you.
Prescription drugs do indeed expire. We document the expiry of your drugs in our system at the time of dispensing and can recall that information at your request. Different medications have differing shelf lives, please check with us if you are not sure whether your medications will be safe to use.
Disposing of medications is best done by emptying the pills or capsules into a bag and returning them to the pharmacy for safe destruction. Please leave liquid medications in their original containers. Don't forget to remove your name from the bottles first!
By and large most prescription medications should be stored at room temperature (average 23C or 73F). Some medications require refrigeration but you will be advised of these. Medications generally do not do well with high humidity so the bathroom or near the stove is actually NOT the optimal location.