How Long Does Walgreens Hold Prescriptions? Answered

Walgreens holds filled prescriptions for seven days at most locations. Some locations may hold them for longer, such as Walgreens-owned Duane Reade pharmacies, which generally hold prescriptions for 10 days. Unfilled prescriptions are held for six months to one year from the date they were written, depending on the medication. Below, we have more details answering “How long does Walgreens hold prescriptions?” and “How long does Walgreens keep prescription records?”

How Long Does Walgreens Hold Prescriptions?

Walgreens will hold a prescription for around seven days after filling it, two representatives from Walgreens’ corporate customer service department told us. We called Walgreens pharmacies in Arizona, Florida, and New York — as well as Duane Reade pharmacies (owned by Walgreens) in New York and New Jersey — to confirm. Two out of the three Walgreens pharmacy representatives we spoke with said they hold prescriptions for seven days; the third said they hold prescriptions for 12 days. Representatives from Duane Reade said prescriptions are held for 10 days. So while seven days is the standard at most Walgreens locations, there may be some that hold a filled prescription longer. The best way to find out how long your local Walgreens holds filled prescriptions is to give your local Walgreens a call.

If a filled prescription is not picked up, it will be put back on the shelf. Walgreens pharmacy offers courtesy calls to remind customers to pick up their prescriptions before it puts them back. The number of calls made varies by location. Walgreens corporate customer service representatives said that two courtesy calls are typically made, while the three pharmacy representatives we spoke with in Arizona, Florida, and New York informed us that they make three courtesy calls before a filled prescription is put back. A Duane Reade pharmacy representative noted that text message reminders are also available. Once a prescription is back on the shelf, if you still need it, you can call the pharmacy and request that it fills the prescription again.

How Long Does Walgreens Keep Prescription Records?

Walgreens and Duane Reade keep prescription records for two years. However, they only hold unfilled prescriptions for six months to one year from the date the prescription is written. The hold time for unfilled prescriptions was consistent with 100% of the Walgreens and Duane Reade locations we called as well as Walgreens’ corporate customer service.

Unfilled controlled substances, such as hydrocodone, are only held for six months. Walgreens holds all other unfilled prescriptions for one year. You can call Walgreens at any point during that time to request that the prescription is filled. Once the six-month or one-year period has passed, you will need to have a new prescription sent to the pharmacy to have it filled.

In Summary

Most Walgreens pharmacies will hold a filled prescription for seven days and usually offer two to three courtesy calls or text messages before putting the prescription back on the shelf. Some locations, including Walgreens-owned Duane Reade locations, may hold prescriptions for longer than seven days. A re-shelved prescription can be filled again by request. Walgreens and Duane Reade will keep records of unfilled prescriptions for controlled substances for six months. Other unfilled prescriptions will be held for one year.

If you frequently use Walgreens pharmacies, you might also be interested in receiving your free flu shot. We also have articles detailing Walgreens receipt lookup policy, film developing prices, and available gift cards.