Get Your Prescription From a Rexall Pharmacist
Pharmacists in Ontario are able to prescribe certain medications for different medical conditions known as "minor illnesses". These are medical conditions that are short-term, require minimal treatment and don’t require lab tests.
Rexall Pharmacists can assess and help you treat your symptoms with a prescription or alternative approaches and can recommend measures to help reduce symptoms and/or prevent them from occurring again. They are accessible and have the knowledge to recognize signs and symptoms that require referral to your doctor, other primary care provider or emergency facilities.
See below for a full list of minor illnesses your Rexall Pharmacist can help treat.
Urinary tract infections (or UTIs) are very common, especially among women. Bacteria causes the lining of the bladder and urethra to become red and irritated.
The viruses that cause cold sores lie dormant until triggered by factors such as stress. Cold sores can be painful and cause unsightly sores on your lips and around your nose.
Nausea and vomiting or “morning sickness” occurs in about 60-80% of pregnancies. It occurs much more often in early pregnancy and usually resolves by the 20th week.
Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny and itchy nose, and congestion can be bothersome. If you suffer from hay fever, we can help you control your symptoms.
Oral thrush is an infection in the mouth that is caused by a yeast called candida that produces a thick, white coating on the tongue, the inside of the cheeks and lips, or gums.
A Rexall Pharmacist can help you manage a skin rash such as eczema and contact dermatitis (from poison ivy or other sources).
Menstrual cramps (or dysmenorrhea) can become severe enough to interfere with your enjoyment of life. There are medications and non-medicated strategies that can help.
Heartburn and indigestion often occur together. Prolonged abdominal pain can cause long term harm, but can be prevented.
Nearly 50% of Canadians experience hemorrhoids by age 50. Hemorrhoids are the result of swollen and irritated veins. Medications are available to help relieve the discomfort.
Impetigo is a contagious skin infection that occurs mostly in infants and children and begins with red, itchy sores most often on the face.
Insect bites can cause itchy bumps on the skin known as hives that can be quite uncomfortable. Your Rexall Pharmacist can help you find relief.
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that can be passed on to humans by a tick bite. Your Rexall Pharmacist can help you to prevent this potentially serious disease.
Sprains result from a stretch or tear of a ligament that connects one bone to another. Strains occur because of pulling or tearing of muscle fibres, for example in the leg.
Acne is a condition that usually begins at puberty when the skin becomes more oily. If acne is not managed, it may lead to severe acne, which, in turn, may cause scarring.
Canker sores occur inside the cheeks or lips, on the side of the tongue, on the soft palate, or on the floor of the mouth and last about 7-10 days.
Pinworms, also known as threadworms, are parasites that can cause itching in the anal area. Pinworm infestation is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 14 years.
Irritant diaper rashes, caused by infrequent diaper changes or harsh detergents, generally do not affect skin folds. Those caused by yeast infections can affect skin folds.
How it works
No appointment is necessary. Simply find a Rexall Pharmacy near you or book an appointment now to speak to a Pharmacist about treatment, including prescriptions, for minor illnesses.
The Ontario government recognizes that pharmacists have the training and expertise to help manage medical conditions that are short-term, require minimal treatment and don’t require lab tests. Pharmacists are accessible and also have the knowledge and resources to recognize signs and symptoms that require referral to your doctor, other primary care provider or emergency facilities.
Certain medications, including some that were previously only available through a prescription, can now be prescribed by pharmacists, as appropriate, for certain minor conditions, after an assessment of your symptoms and history. After an assessment, the pharmacist has a few options to provide treatment from recommending over the counter medications to medications that previously required a prescription.
Minor illnesses are described as health conditions that can be managed with minimal treatment and/or self-care strategies. Additional criteria include:
- Usually a short-term condition
- Lab results aren’t usually required
- Low risk of treatment masking an underlying condition
- No medication or medical history red flags that could suggest a more serious condition
- Only minimal or short-term follow-up is required
Pharmacists can assess and prescribe a prescription level medication when necessary rather than recommending a milder over- the-counter treatment for specific, less serious conditions, as outlined by the Ontario College of Pharmacists.
Minor, or common, illnesses refer to conditions that can initially be managed with non-prescription therapy, such as allergies or skin irritations. All pharmacists can assess minor illnesses symptoms and recommend self-care or over-the-counter treatments. Pharmacists in Ontario can now also prescribe medications for certain minor illnesses, as identified below:
- Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies)
- Candidal stomatitis (oral thrush)
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye, bacterial, allergic and viral)
- Dermatitis (atopic, eczema, allergic and contact)
- Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, heartburn)
- Hemorrhoids
- Herpes labialis (cold sores)
- Impetigo
- Insect bites and urticaria (hives)
- Tick bites, post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease
- Musculoskeletal sprains and strains
- Urinary tract infections (uncomplicated)
- Acne
- Canker Sores
- Yeast infection
- Pinworms (Threadworms)
- Diaper Dermatitis
- Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
No, you don’t need to make an appointment to speak with your Rexall pharmacist.
If our store is open, you can consult with the pharmacist. We’re accessible and ready to see you.
To find your nearest Rexall store hours, click here.
Assessment and prescribing for minor illnesses are covered by Ontario's Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). To be eligible for this service, you’d need to have a valid Ontario Health Number.
Pharmacists, through their training and formal education, possess in-depth knowledge and strong clinical skills that are a critical part of the healthcare system. Pharmacists are highly trained, educated and trusted health care professionals. They are medication experts. Their university curriculum includes training on the assessment and treatment of these minor illnesses. The minor illnesses program includes mandatory regulations that oversee the scope of what a pharmacist can do.
In addition, all Rexall pharmacists completed mandatory training on the processes and standards they are asked to follow before they can offer you this service.
After the pharmacist assesses a patient they, in conjunction with the patient, determine the appropriate course of action. This could be a prescription or a recommendation for an over-the-counter medication. If a pharmacist assesses your condition but feels it is serious or requires follow-up, he or she will refer you to a doctor for additional assessment.
Yes. Pharmacists are required to inform your primary physician when they write a prescription for you.
Yes. If the condition and treatment required are within pharmacists' prescribing limits, you may still receive treatment even if you do not have a doctor. This service is intended to improve access to health care.
If your illness becomes more serious or you are not seeing improvements with the medication prescribed by your pharmacist, you will be referred to your doctor for a diagnosis. Your pharmacist is trained to recognize when an illness requires additional assessment and care beyond their scope.
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