Health · official-source review · reviewed 2026-10-10
People wait until the last pill to request refills and run out over weekends, holidays, or prior-authorization delays.
Calculate the date to request a refill based on days supply and pharmacy/insurance lead time.
Adults managing ongoing prescription medications.
Use the source document or official route that applies to your situation. This guide does not contact another person or verify external information.
Check the label for the days supply on your current fill.
Add time for pharmacy processing, insurance review, and any prior authorization.
Add 2–3 days buffer for weekends and holidays.
Put the refill request date on a calendar so you do not forget.
A 30-day supply with 5 days lead time and 3 days buffer means request the refill 8 days before you run out.
Use your own source and details. The example is not a record about a real person or organization.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration · reviewed 2026-10-10
What this source supports: Patients should plan refills ahead of time to avoid running out of essential medications over weekends and holidays.
Source limit: Pharmacy lead times vary; call your pharmacist well before you run out.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
This App counts days from numbers you enter. It does not contact a pharmacy or request refills.
Pharmacy lead times vary; call your pharmacist well before you run out.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Count how many days before running out you need to request a refill.
This counts days. It does not request refills or replace your pharmacist's guidance.
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
Count how many days before running out you need to request a refill.
Free · no account · no upload
Open Medication Refill Lead Time CalculatorThe App runs in this browser. It does not send or save entries. Copy, download, or print only when you choose.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.
Companion App: Medication Refill Lead Time Calculator. It runs in this browser and does not upload your entries.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.