Visiting a pharmacy is something you will probably need to do multiple times in your life. However, if this is your first time doing so alone as an adult, you may not know quite what to expect or how to go about things. Here are some dos and don'ts to adhere to in order to ensure the experience goes smoothly and productively.

Do: Bring your health insurance information.

Even though you probably provided your health insurance information to the doctor who prescribed the medication, you will need to provide it again to the pharmacist. Most health insurance plans cover prescriptions, at least to some degree. Your pharmacist will need the member number and plan information that is on your card in order to bill you appropriately.

Don't: Leave before reading the instructions.

Read the instructions for taking the medication while you are still at the pharmacy. This way, if you have any questions about the dosing or timing, you can ask the pharmacist in-person rather than having to call them or your doctor later on. Remember, pharmacists are experts in the medications they prescribe, and they are fully qualified to answer your questions. In many cases, they may be even better equipped to answer your questions than your doctor.

Do: Ask for a generic option if your medication is too expensive.

If the medication you are prescribed ends up costing more than you can afford to pay, bring this to the attention of your pharmacist. Ask if there is a generic option, and how the price of that medication compares. Often, generic medications work just as well and are sold at a fraction of the price of the name brands. Sometimes insurance companies also offer a much lower copay on generics. Your pharmacist may have to reach out to your doctor before making the change, but this is part of their job.

Don't: Expect your prescription to be ready immediately.

Sometimes the doctor will have called in the prescription for you. They will tell you this is the case. Otherwise, you will be given a script that you need to drop off. If the pharmacy is not busy, they may tell you to just wait a couple of minutes for them to fill the prescription. But don't be surprised if they tell you to come back in an hour or two. This is simply how they have to operate when things get busy.

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what to expect and how to act when visiting the pharmacy. It will soon become routine.