Can online therapists prescribe medication?

Felix Gussone, MD - Contributor Avatar

Reviewed by Felix Gussone, MD, Ro, 

Written by Health Guide Team 

Felix Gussone, MD - Contributor Avatar

Reviewed by Felix Gussone, MD, Ro, 

Written by Health Guide Team 

last updated: Mar 23, 2022

3 min read

The internet has revolutionized countless aspects of modern life, and that includes mental health services. If you’ve wondered, can online therapists prescribe medication? The answer is yes, in some cases. 

Just as not all therapists can prescribe medications in-office, not all can prescribe drugs online. A therapist is an umbrella term for someone who has a license to practice therapy, but not all therapists have the same background. Only some healthcare providers (like licensed physicians and nurse practitioners) can prescribe drugs, whether in-person or online (NAMI, 2020). 

Here’s what you need to know about consulting with a telehealth provider and getting a prescription online. 

Ro

Improve and support your health from the comfort of home

What is online psychiatry or telemedicine? 

Telehealth, a form of direct-to-consumer healthcare, is growing by leaps and bounds. 

The coronavirus pandemic has also supercharged the online migration of many health services including psychiatric care, which is sometimes called telepsychiatry (HHS-b, 2021). It refers to medical services (like mental health care) that are conducted over the phone or online, as opposed to in-person (HHS-b, 2022). 

In many cases, your provider offers all of their normal services over the internet. This includes psychotherapy (talk therapy), behavioral therapy, and if you see a psychiatrist online, prescriptions and renewals. 

Here are some of the benefits of telehealth and online therapy services (HHS-b, 2022):

  • Receiving healthcare from the comfort of your own home

  • Improved access for people who can’t make in-person visits

  • The ability to work with specialists who live far away 

  • Reduced wait times for appointments

  • Increased privacy

  • Health insurance still covers care

While there are many benefits, telehealth isn’t right for every individual.  

Can an online psychiatrist prescribe medication?

Yes, psychiatrists and other licensed therapists can prescribe medications online (NAMI, 2020). These include antidepressants and drugs commonly taken for mental health conditions like anxiety and bipolar disorder (Cornell, n.d.).

However, different states have different rules about telehealth prescriptions. It’s possible that your home state may have restrictions that prevent you from getting or refilling a prescription online. 

What are the regulations for online therapists prescribing medication?

Right now, only an authorized telehealth provider can write you a prescription or refill as long as they’ve performed a consultation that’s in real-time––meaning it involves two-way audio and video chat between you and a medical expert. 

Basically, this means you must have a live video meeting with your healthcare provider before they can write or renew a prescription. You can’t simply message them to ask for a new prescription or refill (DEA-b, 2020). 

Before COVID-19 swept the globe, U.S. psychiatrists providing services online were not allowed to write or refill certain prescriptions. Specifically, drugs classified as controlled substances (more on those below) couldn’t be prescribed without an in-person visit (Haque, 2021). 

Since then, regulations have changed. Authorized healthcare providers who are registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are allowed to issue prescriptions for some controlled substances without an in-person visit (HHS-a, 2022; HHS-a, 2021). 

Controlled substances prescribed to treat psychological conditions or mental illnesses include (Preuss, 2021):

Even though licensed psychiatrists can issue telehealth prescriptions for controlled substances, it’s important to note that these are drugs come with a high risk of addiction or abuse (DEA-a, 2020). 

Of course, your online provider can also write or refill prescriptions for most drugs that are not controlled substances. Examples of these include (HHS, 2020):

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (, which are often used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions

  • Wellbutrin (generic name bupropion; see Important Safety Information), a common antidepressant 

  • Mood stabilizers like lithium used to treat bipolar disorder

What does the overall process look like? 

You can arrange a telehealth appointment with a provider you’ve met with in person before, or you may meet online with someone completely new.

In any case, the process is straightforward. During an initial consultation, they’ll ask questions about your medical history and symptoms over an online video platform. 

If they determine you need prescription medication, they may issue it directly to you or send it to your pharmacy. In the future, you can get prescription refills after an online follow-up consultation. If you have an online psychiatrist, they can also write referrals to other medical specialists (DEA-b, 2020).

Even before the pandemic, mental health treatment was moving online at a rapid pace. Going forward, online psychiatry is sure to have a big place in the U.S. healthcare system. 

DISCLAIMER

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.


How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

March 23, 2022

Written by

Health Guide Team

Fact checked by

Felix Gussone, MD


About the medical reviewer

Felix Gussone is a physician, health journalist and a Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.