After the third time this month the chain on 181st told me they'd have my prescription ready by 2 and then it wasn't in the system at 4, I'm done. I know this is a citywide thing with the big chains—understaffed, phones off the hook, refrigerated items just sitting in totes—but I'd like to give an independent a shot.

I live on 190th near Bennett and work from home, so I can walk to Broadway or up to Dyckman easily. I've seen a few storefronts that look like pharmacies but I don't want to transfer scrips blind. Specifically looking for somewhere that:

• Actually answers the phone or has a working app/online refill
• Keeps common generics in stock (mine are boring—lisinopril, atorvastatin, albuterol as needed)
• Takes an Empire Plan / NYSHIP card without a fight
• Doesn't close at 5:30 on weekdays

I've tried the one on 187th near Wadsworth about two years ago; they were nice but their wholesaler was always back-ordered on my inhaler. Is that still the case? And there's a place on St. Nicholas by the A express stop that always has a sign about $5 flu shots, but I can't tell if they're actually a full pharmacy or just a vitamin shop.

Any reliable spots up here? I'd rather support a place where they know your name than keep refreshing the CVS app hoping the line moves.

Oh I just moved to 181st and I've only used the big CVS there, mostly because I didn't know there were independents nearby. Do they take all insurance? I have Medicaid managed care (Healthfirst). Also do they have things like children's Tylenol or is it just prescriptions? I'd love to not stand in that line again.

I'm in Kingsbridge so not exactly the Heights but I think there's a spot on 231st near the 1 train that might be independent? It's next to the bakery? The guy behind the counter always remembers my mom. I don't know if they take insurance though because we always paid cash for her blood pressure meds. Might be far for you but worth calling. Also the one on 207th near the A looks shady from outside but my coworker said it's okay.

big_city_beth, most independent pharmacies in the neighborhood do take Healthfirst and other managed Medicaid plans, but the trick is which PSAO/pharmacy network they're in. You can call and give them your BIN/PCN, but sometimes the pharmacist will just say 'we take it' then run it later—so I'd confirm before transferring.

bronx_newbie, the 231st place you're thinking of is probably the one near the Kingsbridge armory? I haven't used it but I've heard it's small and reliable for maintenance meds. Cash-only for some things doesn't necessarily mean they don't take insurance—some older shops keep a cash list for uninsured customers because it's cheaper than the discount card.

The place on 187th near Wadsworth: I went by last week and there's a sign saying they're now doing deliveries, so maybe worth another try. The one on St. Nicholas by the A express stop is actually a real pharmacy, but it's tiny and half the shelves are vitamins and homeopathic stuff. They do fill prescriptions but their hours are weird—closed for lunch like 1:30–2:30 and closed Sundays.

For Dyckman, there are two: one near Sherman and one closer to Seaman. I've heard the Sherman one is better for inhalers because they have a relationship with a different distributor. The Seaman one is more of a DME supplier with a pharmacy counter.

I'll try the Dyckman/Sherman one on Monday and report back. If anyone has used them recently, let me know if their phone actually gets picked up.

Thanks bike_lane_lou! I called the Dyckman/Sherman place after reading your post and the pharmacist actually answered on the second ring. He asked for my med list and said they could transfer the albuterol script, but I have to bring a paper copy from my doctor for the controlled one? It's just ADHD med, so maybe that's why. I might go tomorrow. Do they have a counter for OTC stuff or just prescriptions?

I used the 231st place for my mom again today. They do take insurance! I was wrong, my mom just likes paying cash because her co-pay was like $2 and she thinks it's easier. They had her losartan ready in 15 minutes. They also have a small OTC section—bandages, Tylenol, some vitamins. Not a huge selection. Parking around there is tough but I just double-parked and the owner kept an eye out.

bike_lane_lou did you end up going to Dyckman? I need a pharmacy that can do pre-packaged pill packs because my mom gets confused with all the bottles.

big_city_beth, for ADHD meds, most small pharmacies can fill them but they're strict about the hard-copy rules. If your doctor sends e-scripts, that's usually okay, but some older independents want a paper prescription because their software doesn't handle controlled substance e-prescribing well. It's not a red flag, just a tech limitation.

bronx_newbie, for pre-packaged pill packs: ask for 'compliance packaging' or 'dose packs.' Not every independent does it because the machines are expensive, but some will do a weekly blister pack by hand. The 231st place might if you ask. If not, the big place on 168th near the hospital has a blister pack service but it's a longer wait. Glad to hear they take insurance.

I did go to the Dyckman/Sherman place. It's a real pharmacy, clean, and the pharmacist behind the counter was a woman who actually came out and checked my drug interactions when I mentioned my inhaler and beta blocker. That's more than CVS has done in years. They had both my generics in stock and it took about 20 minutes for the transfer. The downside is the aisle is narrow and cramped, and they do close at 7 on weekdays, not late. Also the phone did ring while I was there but she didn't pick it up until the customer in front of me was done—so not perfect, but better.

One caveat: if you use a mail-order or specialty pharmacy for a brand name, don't move that one. Keep the boring generics local and let the specialty stay mail. I learned that the hard way with a dermatology cream.

Okay that's reassuring. I went yesterday and filled my albuterol and a new script for singular. They had both. The pharmacist was super nice, she even asked if I wanted the generic montelukast to save money—my old pharmacy never mentioned it. They do have a small OTC shelf with children's Tylenol and ibuprofen, but not the fancy stuff. I asked about flu shots and they said they do walk-ins after 11am except Sundays. So I'm switching everything except my mail-order one. Thanks all!

That's good to know about the compliance packaging. I asked at 231st and the owner said he can do a monthly blister pack but it costs extra and I have to give him a week's notice. I think we'll do it because the bottles are too much. I also picked up a heating pad there; they only had one kind and it was cash or debit with a $10 minimum. That was a little annoying but whatever.

Do any of these places sell English/Spanish OTC labels? My mom reads Spanish and the big chains don't always have it.

bronx_newbie, for Spanish OTC labels, the actual drug facts are regulated in English by the FDA, but many independent pharmacies that serve a Spanish-speaking clientele will put a small printed label or write instructions in Spanish if you ask. The pharmacist at 231st might be able to print a patient leaflet in Spanish from the system. At the Dyckman/Sherman place, I saw they had a few bilingual shelf tags for common items but not full packaging.

The $10 minimum on cards is pretty standard for small shops, unfortunately, because of swipe fees. I usually just carry a $20 for those errands.

One last thing: if you're getting a monthly blister pack, ask them to keep the original bottles aside or at least give you a med list with the NDC numbers. If you ever land in the ER, the doctors will ask what the pills look like, and 'small white round one' is not helpful.

For anyone else reading: I'm not going back to the chains for generics. The Dyckman/Sherman place was good, but check your plan's pharmacy network first—sometimes an independent is 'out-of-network' even if they swipe your card and it goes through, and you find out later on an EOB.

Thanks bike_lane_lou. That EOB thing is scary. I checked my Healthfirst app and the Dyckman place showed up as in-network, so I'm good. I got my flu shot there this morning—took five minutes and they gave me a little card and a lollipop lol. So glad I found this thread. I'll keep my mail-order for one med but local for everything else.