What to do if…
you miss a dose of important medicine and symptoms are starting

What to do now

1. Check for emergency warning signs. If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting or collapse, a seizure, new severe confusion, a severe allergic reaction, or you are rapidly worsening, call 911 now.

2. Get the exact medicine details in front of you. Grab the bottle, box, injection pen, blister pack, or medication guide. Write down the drug name, strength, usual dose, how often you take it, when the missed dose was due, and what symptoms have started.

3. Check the medicine’s own missed-dose directions. Look at the label, medication guide, patient handout, written action plan, or prescriber instructions. Many medicines say not to double a missed dose, but some critical medicines have specific instructions, so use the directions for your exact medicine rather than a general rule.

4. Contact a real person for medicine-specific advice today.

   • Call your pharmacy and ask to speak with the pharmacist.
   • Tell them the medicine name, strength, usual schedule, when the dose was missed, whether you took any dose late, and what symptoms are starting.
   • If you cannot reach the pharmacy quickly, call the prescriber’s office, after-hours line, nurse line, or patient portal and ask what to do about this missed dose now.

5. If you may have taken too much, took the wrong medicine, took a dose twice, or cannot tell what you took, contact Poison Control. Call 1-800-222-1222 or use online Poison Control. If the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened, call 911 instead.

6. If you have run out, start the urgent refill route now.

   • Call the pharmacy and ask whether an urgent refill, partial supply, transfer, or prescriber authorization is possible today.
   • Contact the prescriber for a new prescription or approval if the pharmacy needs it.
   • Some medicines may have legal, safety, or insurance limits on early refills, especially controlled substances. Even if a refill cannot happen immediately, the pharmacist or prescriber can help identify the safest next step.
   • If symptoms are worsening and you cannot safely wait, go to urgent care or an emergency department, or call 911 if symptoms are severe.

7. Reduce risk while you wait for advice.

   • Sit or lie somewhere safe.
   • Keep the medicine container with you.
   • Ask someone nearby to stay with you or check on you if symptoms could worsen.
   • Write a short timeline: missed dose time, any doses taken since, symptoms, and when symptoms began.
   • If you normally use a home monitor or written action plan for this medicine or condition, such as a glucose meter, peak-flow meter, blood pressure monitor, seizure plan, asthma plan, or steroid plan, follow that plan and record the result.