How Long Will Walgreens Hold A Prescription In 2022? (Guide)

Walgreens has thousands of prescriptions filled every day and it is America’s largest drugstore chain. At times, you may be unable to collect your filled prescriptions promptly due to various reasons.

Perhaps you are wondering how long Walgreens will keep a prescription. Here is what I’ve found out through my research!

How Long Will Walgreens Hold A Prescription In 2022?

Walgreens stores hold a prescription for seven days after filling it, during which they make two to three courtesy calls to remind customers. Returned prescriptions for controlled substances can be kept on file for six months while other medicines may remain in their records for up one year.

Read on to discover what will happen if you fail to collect your prescription and how to proceed after it expires.

What Happens if You Forget to Pick up Your Walgreens Prescription

Walgreens will refill your prescription. You have seven days from when you receive it to be picked up at the store.

However, your prescription will not be available for pick-up if it’s not picked up within this seven-day time frame.

Note that although seven days is the official policy for Walgreens, some stores may hold prescriptions for longer than that for certain reasons.

This Walgreens store locator can help you find your closest Walgreens stores and to inquire about their policies.

Walgreens Reminds You To Fill Prescriptions

Walgreens pharmacies offer up to three complimentary calls for customers reminding them to bring their filled prescriptions to the stores.

These can be made within the seven-day period Walgreens keeps filled prescriptions.

While the exact number of calls depends on where you live, most stores will send at least two courtesy phone calls to anyone with a prescription they have not picked up.

What happens if you don’t have the time to fill your prescriptions?

Walgreens then returns the prescriptions to their shelves once the seven day period is up.

If you want to get them filled after this period, you can simply call up Walgreens and ask them to fill the prescriptions again.

Note that Walgreens keeps the records of unfilled prescriptions for a limited time, so if you call up after the record has been removed, you will need to send a new prescription to Walgreens.

Do Walgreens need to retain prescription records for longer than they do?

Walgreens maintains two-year records on filled prescriptions. For unfilled prescriptions however, Walgreens keeps records for only one year following the date that the prescription was written.

Unfilled prescriptions for controlled substances such as hydrocodone are not kept longer than six months from the date they were written. Walgreens may be called at any point during this time to fill your prescriptions.

Once the six-month (for controlled substances) or one-year period has passed, Walgreens removes the record for the prescription.

If you need to fill the prescription after this, Walgreens will require you to submit a brand new prescription.

My guides on early Walgreens prescription filling and Walgreens prescription delivery can be viewed to learn more.

If you’re a regular Walmart shopper, it might interest you to find out how long Walmart keeps prescriptions.

Conclusion

Walgreens can keep your prescriptions for up to seven days. Then, it will return them back to you. The store will contact customers twice to three times to remind them to take their prescribed medications to the pharmacy.

Walgreens stores unfilled prescriptions for one year. You can call Walgreens anytime to have your prescription filled. Records of unfilled prescriptions, including controlled substances like Hydrocodone, are retained for six months.

.How Long Will Walgreens Hold A Prescription In 2022? (Guide)