When a patient first learns that they will require supplemental oxygen to improve their breathing, they are likely to have many questions. Patients often wonder about how to get their oxygen and what steps they will need to complete in order to get the oxygen delivery device they need. If your doctor has recommended supplemental oxygen therapy to you, read on to learn more about where to go from here.
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Do You Need a Prescription for Oxygen?
Although we all breathe oxygen, medical oxygen is highly concentrated and qualifies as a medical device. As such, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a prescription before you can obtain your supplemental oxygen. This helps ensure that you get a clear analysis of your oxygen requirements from a qualified medical professional along with the right oxygen delivery device for your needs.[1]
So, do you need a prescription for oxygen? The answer is yes, but let&#;s explore why you might receive that prescription.
Why You Might Need an Oxygen Prescription
Because every cell in your body relies on oxygen to function properly, a doctor will prescribe supplemental oxygen if they find that you are not getting sufficient oxygen on your own. You might receive your oxygen prescription from your primary care physician, a palliative care doctor or a pulmonologist. There are any number of specialty physicians who might determine that you are in need of medical oxygen. Oxygen therapy is prescribed for a number of different causes for breathing difficulties, including breathlessness, hypoxemia and hypoxia; therefore, the doctor that prescribes your oxygen therapy will likely be the doctor treating your present condition. Most often the prescribing doctor will be a pulmonary specialist since they specialize in diseases of the lungs and bronchial tubes.
In order to determine how much oxygen you are currently getting and, accordingly, how much supplemental oxygen you will need, your doctor will administer a number of tests to ascertain your oxygen level. These tests will likely include the following:
- Arterial blood gas (ABG) study: An arterial blood gas study is a blood test used to measure the acidity, or pH, of your blood, as well as your oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. This test is able to tell medical professionals how well your lungs are functioning and whether they are effectively allowing oxygen to be absorbed into your blood while removing carbon dioxide. These measurements are able to provide a great deal of helpful information to your doctors in just 15 minutes. Normal ABG measurements for oxygen fall between 75 and 100 mm Hg (or millimeters of mercury).[2]
- Oximetry: Oximetry is a less invasive way to test a patient&#;s oxygen saturation. You are likely familiar with the pulse oximeter that is placed on your fingertip and uses two light frequencies (infrared and red) to determine the oxygen saturation level in the hemoglobin in your blood. Normal oxygen saturation levels (or SpO2 levels) generally fall between 95 and 100 percent. Any value falling under 90% is generally considered low.[2]
Once your doctor has determined your current oxygen levels, they will be able to list your low oxygen saturation levels as the cause for a medical oxygen prescription. They can then prescribe the correct amount of supplemental oxygen for your needs.
How Do You Get an Oxygen Prescription?
After your doctor has your oxygen saturation measurement and determines your oxygen needs, they will then be able to write your prescription for your supplemental oxygen therapy. Your prescription will state your oxygen level, along with other pertinent health information related to your particular condition that will help you move forward with getting the right oxygen delivery device for your needs.
If you wondered, &#;Do you need a prescription for oxygen?&#; the answer is clear. Yes, you do. As noted, there are strict criteria for oxygen therapy. Your doctor must provide proof that they recently examined you, along with a detailed diagnosis, explanation of why you require supplemental oxygen and a prescription for your oxygen use, which includes information regarding your flow rate, duration and frequency of use and duration of need.[3]
Understanding Your Oxygen Prescription
It can be helpful to understand what your prescription should include, as it will provide you and your oxygen supplier with the information necessary to choose the right oxygen delivery device. If you will be using insurance coverage, they will also require certain information. Because your oxygen prescription is essential for maintaining safe oxygen levels for you and will be required by your oxygen provider, as well as in other situations during travel, review it carefully and ask your doctor any questions that may arise. Your prescription should include this information:[3]
- A diagnosis, which should explain why you require oxygen therapy
- Information about the flow dosing (continuous versus pulse dose)
- Information regarding recommended oxygen dosage (liters per minute for continuous flow or milliliters per breath for pulse dose)
- Information about frequency and duration of oxygen use
- Recommended or potential delivery devices
- Information for insurance providers or Medicare
- Doctor&#;s contact information
Ask your doctor to review your oxygen prescription with you so that you are certain you understand how and when to use your supplemental oxygen, as well as ensuring that you have all the information necessary.
Deciding Which Oxygen Delivery Device Is Right for You
Choosing the right oxygen delivery device for your needs requires that you know a few things about how you will use your supplemental oxygen for your oxygen therapy. Before you and your doctor discuss which oxygen delivery device is right for you, they should tell you:
- How frequently you will need to use supplemental oxygen
- How much oxygen you will need (or the liters per minute or milliliters per breath)
- Whether you will need continuous flow or pulse dosing
- Whether you will need to use oxygen while sleeping, resting and/or exerting yourself
Your doctor will give you all of this information with your oxygen prescription, and they can also guide you toward the choices that will fulfill your oxygen needs. Your options include compressed oxygen tanks, liquid oxygen tanks and oxygen concentrators.[4]
From there, you should talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of each of your options, making sure to include your preferences, too. If you are discussing both oxygen tanks and oxygen concentrators, you may have particular concerns about portability, ease of travel, ease of refilling or replacing tanks, total oxygen capacity and more. Be open and honest about any concerns you have so that your doctor can help you make the right choice for your life.
Making Your Choice: The Pros and Cons of Each Oxygen Delivery Device
In most cases, your choices will be narrowed for you based on your particular needs from your oxygen delivery device. Depending on the flow rate, dosing and times you will need to use oxygen therapy, some options may not work for you. However, generally speaking, there are some pros and cons you should consider when it comes to oxygen tanks versus oxygen concentrators. Before making your final decision, consider the following:[5]
Oxygen tanks (both liquid and compressed gas)
Pros:
- Less expensive upfront
- A variety of sizes available, including smaller, portable tanks
Cons:
- It is necessary to keep the large liquid oxygen containers filled at home to replenish the smaller, portable tanks frequently.
- Recurring oxygen deliveries can be expensive
- Liquid oxygen constantly evaporates and needs to be resupplied by a professional service provided 2-3 times/month
- Oxygen tanks and liquid oxygen canisters are limited by a finite capacity defined by their size
- Oxygen tanks/ canisters must be handled, transported and stored with utmost safety and caution to avoid leaks, which could create an oxygen-rich environment,[7] which increases the potential risk of fire as oxygen-induced fires burn [8]
Oxygen Concentrators
Pros
- Available in both stationary and portable units
- Portable oxygen concentrators oxygen concentrators pull oxygen from the surrounding air and run on electrical power; thus supply an unlimited amount of oxygen.
- Portable oxygen concentrators use pulse dosing, which means they are less likely to create an oxygen-rich environment and therefore minimize the concern of flammability
- Portable concentrators can be used in an &#;on-the-go&#; mode with a battery pack, resulting in up to 12 h of continuous use for some models.
- Oxygen concentrators do not need to be refilled.
- From a long-term view, concentrators are more cost-effective than compressed gas cylinders, and they are known to last for up to h of continuous use
Cons
- The need for electrical power, requires backup oxygen supply in case of power outages
- Patients using stationary oxygen concentrators need to consider changing filters weekly, regular servicing and the warm-up period of the machine, as well as noise and vibration from the older models of device
- The upfront cost may be greater
How a Portable Oxygen Concentrator Can Improve Oxygen Users&#; Quality of Life
When you are getting your oxygen prescription from your doctor, make sure you are clear about how each oxygen delivery device could impact your life. Supplemental oxygen is intended to improve your health, but it should not make your life worse. Make sure that you choose the oxygen delivery device that will not only give you the oxygen you need, but will also help improve your overall quality of life.
Many people who need supplemental oxygen live normal, active lives. In many cases, the oxygen therapy helps make activity easier, increases stamina, and decreases shortness of breath. [6] Attempting to drag around a heavy metal tank is difficult, and it makes leaving the house, or even moving from room to room, a chore. A portable oxygen concentrator is designed to reduce that impact, allowing patients to go about their daily lives more easily, even while receiving their oxygen therapy. [5] With a portable oxygen concentrator, like the lightweight models from innovators at, patients experience peace of mind when outside their home and away from their stationary concentrator.
So, you do need a prescription for oxygen concentrator use. You will also need a prescription that specifies the need for a portable oxygen concentrator if you want Medicare or insurance to cover any costs for you. In order to qualify for Medicare or insurance coverage, you will need your doctor to provide evidence in your oxygen prescription that a portable oxygen concentrator is necessary for you. In order to qualify for Medicare or insurance coverage, you will need your doctor to provide evidence in your oxygen prescription that a portable oxygen concentrator is necessary for you. For more information on qualifying for Medicare coverage, call Inogen today at 1-855-694- to learn more and allow us to guide you through the process.
Contact Customer Support at Inogen any time for additional information on getting your oxygen prescription, purchasing your portable oxygen concentrator or for any other information about oxygen therapy. Discover today how a prescription for a portable oxygen concentrator can help improve your breathing and possibly your life .
References
One of the most asked questions of oxygen patients is 'how to buy a portable oxygen concentrator with no prescription'. If you are wondering about the answer, browse through this article to find out!
How to Buy a Portable Oxygen Concentrator With No Prescription?
To purchase a portable oxygen concentrator, you usually need a prescription from your doctor. You will have to personally consult with your physician to acquire the prescription you need to buy one.
Do note that purchasing such a concentrator has potentially adverse health consequences. It is highly advisable and far safer to get a prescription instead of settling with non-medical grade concentrators.
A simple visit to Amazon will provide you with hundreds of options. Just searching portable oxygen concentrators on the search bar will yield countless results.
You can do the same with other sites like eBay and Walmart. However, be aware that some portable concentrators you will get from these sites are non-medical grade. It means that they are not FDA-approved and medically tested.
Just as not everyone should be using a portable oxygen concentrator, not all portable concentrators are safe for medical use.
Medical Grade vs. Non-Medical Grade Portable Oxygen Concentrator
You might wonder what&#;s the difference between medical and non-medical grade POCs. Here is a detailed explanation of their difference.
What is a Medical Grade Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
A medical-grade portable oxygen concentrator is a user-friendly medical oxygen device that offers high levels of pure oxygen (>95%) at every flow setting. To purchase one, you will need to present a prescription.
Medical-grade concentrators are all FDA-approved. By filtering and concentrating atmospheric oxygen molecules, they provide 90-95% pure oxygen to patients.
Pros
FDA-approved
High purity rate
Designed for medical use
Bigger filters
Works continuously
Safe to use
Cons
What is a Non-Medical Grade Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
Unlike medical-grade ones, this concentrator does not need a medical prescription. It is not FDA-Approved, therefore, not advised for medical use. This concentrator may not be able to sustain high oxygen purity. Moreover, there is an increasing number of reported cases of black fungus in patients with COVID.
Non-medical POCs also have smaller water containers, which leads to a variable oxygen flow rate. The medical device only works for 30 minutes in one go.
Pros
Cons
It can lead to severe health problems
It can carry infection (black fungus)
Have compact filters and need frequent replacement
-
Not
FDA Approved
Why Do You Need a Prescription to Purchase a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
The FDA aims to ensure that all oxygen supplies, including portable concentrators, are appropriately distributed to oxygen patients with genuine medical needs, hence requiring a prescription.
Patients with such conditions include those with pneumonia, asthma, respiratory distress syndrome, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A prescription for a portable concentrator is much like any prescription for any additional medical treatment. It is patient-specific, therefore, tailored to the exact oxygen needs of each patient.
This ensures that no overdosing or underdosing of oxygen happens.
How Do You Obtain a Prescription for an Oxygen Concentrator?
Consult your doctor first to ensure that you need an oxygen concentrator. Getting a prescription requires undergoing all necessary tests to evaluate your blood oxygen level. They may even test and examine you while exercising and sleeping to see if there are any changes. Among the standard tests is the ABG test or arterial blood gas.
Your doctor will write the prescription defining your oxygen level needs with the results. The needs include the oxygen dosage, often written in LPM or Liter per minute. Some doctors even have the concentrator type they feel best suits you.
Dangers of Buying a Non-Medical Grade Portable Oxygen Concentrator
There are hundreds of non-medical grade portable oxygen concentrators on Amazon. Many oxygen therapy patients are forced to turn to them instead as they are cheaper and more affordable than medical-grade ones. If you are planning to purchase one, be sure to educate yourself first on the dangers surrounding them.
Not FDA Approved
Among the most significant concerns about non-medical grade concentrators is that they are not FDA approved. Many might wonder what the Food and Drug Administration has to do with oxygen? Oxygen is actually a drug&#;meaning it needs to be prescribed for specific indications.
Like any other drug, receiving too much can lead to dangerous results. Accordingly, receiving too little would defeat the purpose.
Potential Health Problems
As teased, non-medical oxygen concentrators can lead to severe health problems. If you don't have a medical prescription, you would not know the exact amount of oxygen dosage you need nor the concentrator type you should go for. You could either be receiving too much or too little&#;either way is dangerous for the body.
How to Choose a Portable Oxygen Concentrator Based on Your Prescription?
Your prescription is not just used to buy a medical-grade oxygen concentrator. You may also use it to select the best-suited POC for your needs. Here is a brief explanation of how.
Delivery Method/Flow
Most doctors also include the type of concentrator they feel would best fit you in your prescription. Whether it be a portable oxygen concentrator or a home/stationary unit. It also tells you the type of delivery you need&#;continuous flow or pulse flow.
Continuous flow concentrators give you constant and steady supplemental oxygen. Contrary to that, pulse dose concentrators deliver short bursts of oxygen and are often triggered by the patient's inhalation.
Flow Settings
Your medical prescription will include your specific oxygen level needs. It will consist of the dosage of oxygen you need, often written in liters per minute (LPM) format.
Be sure that the oxygen machine of your choice can give the right amount of oxygen your body requires. It is necessary to note that a prescription of 2 LPM is not the same as a 2 flow setting. Ask your doctor to know what flow setting best matches your oxygen needs.
Top 5 Medical Grade Portable Oxygen Concentrators
If you have a prescription or can get one, don't settle for a non-medical grade one! Your health should be your top priority. Therefore, you should use oxygen devices that are tested and proven. Here are a few medical-grade concentrators that you can consider!
Inogen One G5 is a top-notch medical-grade POC unit that is an ideal solution for patients suffering from mild respiratory symptoms and distress with its oxygen saturation levels of 88-92%. It is an innovative and reliable oxygen device with supreme quality and technology. It has a "one-size-fits-all" approach capable of covering all your supplemental needs.
It features extended battery life and advanced flow settings to help accommodate users' varying needs. These features were the primary updates introduced on G5 with an intent to increase its ability to provide more oxygen.
Arya's POC can offer you the oxygen you need to treat your respiratory condition without sacrificing parts of your life that you enjoy. This concentrator has a compact and sleek device that you can easily throw over your shoulder, giving you the freedom and independence you sought for. You can now safely travel places with ease.
Despite its small and quaint body, it has groundbreaking features that easily keep up with more prominent names and brands. It has a long-lasting battery, pulse flow settings ranging from 1 to 5, and a convenient user interface with LCD screen.
GCE is a worldwide leader in healthcare equipment, including oxygen concentrators. Probably the flagship portable concentrator of the brand is GCE Zen-O Lite. This medical-grade device offers unique benefits that can help patients regain their freedom. It has a maximum flow setting of 5 and puts out about 1,050 milliliters per minute of oxygen.
Zen-O Lite was designed to provide COPD patients with an active lifestyle. With 5.5 pounds, you can carry this device anywhere and everywhere!
CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort is a medical-grade oxygen device that boasts 5 different and powerful pulse dose settings. It can offer up to 1,050 milliliters of oxygen per minute at its highest flow setting. It also features UltraSense breath detection technology. The device maintains a consistent and steady amount of oxygen even if your breath rate changes.
It is lightweight and compact, paired with an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to wear or carry!
Respironics SimplyGo Mini can let you take your oxygen therapy on the go. With this small and compact medical-grade device, you can quickly go shopping, experience road trips, and take vacations with a consistent supply of oxygen in your hand.
Weighing only 5 pounds, this device can give you up to 12 hours of battery life. It also has a user-friendly touchscreen that provides intuitive operation.
FAQs About Portable O2 Concentrator Prescriptions
Below are some FAQs about portable oxygen concentrator prescriptions. Read through these to see if they answer your own questions!
Can you get portable oxygen over the counter?
You may be able to get a non-medical grade portable concentrator on Amazon, eBay, or other e-commerce sites. Though, be aware that these portable concentrators are not FDA approved nor cleared by any professional. They are not allowed to sell anything that requires a prescription.
Why do some oxygen concentrators require a prescription?
All oxygen concentrators require a prescription. Using one without proper documents or even your doctor's guidance can lead to dangerous health problems. A potential consequence is developing oxygen toxicity wherein you receive too much oxygen, leading to lung damage.
What happens if you use oxygen when you don't actually need it?
Using oxygen when you don't technically need it is dangerous. Too much oxygen in the body is harmful and could lead to life-threatening consequences. A high oxygen concentration can lead to an overproduction of free radicals in the lungs. If left unchecked, these radicals can kill or permanently damage your lungs.
Can oxygen be prescribed?
Yes. Your doctor will issue you a prescription that spells out how much oxygen your body needs per minute and when you need to receive it. You can use the prescription to buy a medical-grade portable concentrator from a reputable seller.
How to get a prescription for oxygen?
You can get an oxygen prescription directly from your doctor. Simply set up an appointment or visit your doctor. They will provide you with the prescription if they deem it necessary to get extra supplemental oxygen.
Where To Buy Your Own Medical-Grade Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
Non-medical grade concentrators might be more convenient for most as they don't need prescriptions and are generally cheaper. What most don't seem to know is the dangers of using one. Note that non-medical grade POCs are not advised for medical use and could potentially lead to harmful consequences.
If you&#;re not sure which medical-grade portable oxygen concentrator to buy, here are some guides to get you started:
If you have a medical prescription and are interested in
purchasing a medical-grade portable oxygen concentrator
, you visit our collections at
Sprylyfe
, or call us at
(800) 314-
.
For more information, please visit Medical Oxygen Generator For Sale(es,jv,vi).
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