Customer Question: Why Do I Need a Prescription to Buy an Oxygen Concentrator?

User Question: Why Do I Need a Prescription to Buy a Concentrator?

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To purchase an oxygen concentrator, you do need a prescription from your doctor, stating your oxygen level. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) makes the rules about prescription sales, and at this time, oxygen concentrators are one of the medical devices for which the FDA requires a prescription. This is to ensure proper care has been taken in selling you an oxygen machine that is appropriate for your needs, and a prescription is the only evidence we have of exactly what those needs are.

The oxygen machine you purchase and use is also largely determined by your prescription, and that’s why you may have completely different needs from your friend who also uses supplemental oxygen, even if you both have the respiratory condition. Several important health indicators factor into a prescription for supplemental oxygen that results from a pulse oximetry test and arterial blood gas test.

Some patients who require oxygen therapy only need it when they are exercising, while others only need it while they are sleeping, and others need it for a few hours out of the day no matter what they are doing. Some patients need continuous flow oxygen, while others only need pulse dose. Exactly which type of dosage you need, how many hours out of the day you need it, and at which setting is determined by your doctor.

Your physician will administer tests to find out how much oxygen you require. They will have blood drawn for an ABG test (arterial blood gas) to check your blood gases, as well as use a pulse oximeter to monitor your blood oxygen level. The doctor will also check to see if your blood oxygen levels change drastically during exercise or while you are sleeping. Once your doctor has some measurements relating to blood oxygenation, they can write your prescription for your oxygen requirements.

Do You Need a Prescription to Buy a POC Video

Selecting the Correct Concentrator

After you receive your prescription our highly trained Oxygen Specialists will assist you in selecting the correct concentrator that will best suit your needs and lifestyle. For example, if you need a continuous flow of 3 LPM, that only narrows down the available units.

Next, we will discuss how often you will need to use your 3 LPM. Eight hours per day, during the daytime? A few hours during the morning before you leave the house? While you exercise? Only during the night? These other prescribed factors will help you narrow your search down even more.

Your prescription is a formalized way of ensuring your safety. Like all crucial medical information, you want to be sure that in an emergency, the people helping you are aware of your exact physiological need for supplemental oxygen. If you plan an airplane flight, you should notify the airline ahead of time because they may want more than just your prescription; you may be required to give them some extra certification from your physician.

After your doctor has prescribed you oxygen, we encourage you to call us for a free oxygen consultation. We will evaluate your needs and lifestyle and recommend a unit that is ideal for you. Need assistance getting a prescription? Please call us at 877-774-9271.

Updated: March 8, 2024
Published: May 4, 2014

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Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

93 thoughts on “User Question: Why Do I Need a Prescription to Buy a Concentrator?

  1. Where in the US code or Code of Federal Regulations is the requirement for a prescription to purchase oxygen?

      • My husband bought a TP -B1 oxygen concentrator off line not sure where but there were no prescription required I’m a little skeptical as to whether it’s safe for me to replace it from my oxygen tanks I can’t establish if it’s fda approved

        • Hello Melinda, we did some research on the TP-B1 oxygen concentrator and found out that it can provide oxygen purity of up to 30%. Oxygen concentrators with medical-grade oxygen have oxygen purity greater than 86% and require a prescription to purchase. Thus, TP-B1 cannot be a substitute for your oxygen tanks. All the oxygen concentrators in our inventory provide over 86% oxygen purity. Talk to our Oxygen Specialist for a free consultation, please give us a call at (877) 644-4581.

          • We cannot give any medical advice; please consult with your physician or health care provider. They are the qualified experts to assess the condition and provide the treatment.

          • This is a great example of WHY you need an RX for oxygen. Do you want low grade oxygen (30%) or medical grade 86%*.

          • Thanks for your feedback. This awareness is important while purchasing an oxygen concentrator.

      • Hmm, last time I checked it was the other side that tries to monetize every aspect of our lives. You might want to check up on just who are the corporate bigwigs that own the Healthcare Insurance companies and Big Pharma, etc. and who it is that these greedy, corporate fat cats give all those big campaign donations to. Hint, it’s the party that routinely gives them huge, unnecessary tax cuts, and that’s NOT the DNC. Just sayin’

    • This is the country of IDs, birth certificates, notarized documents, identity verification, passport, prescriptions, etc. It is an obsession with people’s identity. 150 years ago it was enough to say, “My name is John Smith” and it was enough. We lived happier

        • I just voted a couple of weeks ago, had to show ID, last time I went to Canada had to show ID, they call it a passport .

        • I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but you definitely need an ID to cross the US border, in either direction, to and from any other country. As for voting, you need to prove your identity in order to register to vote. Then, in most cases, it is sufficient to state your name and address to the poll clerks who check you in when you go in to vote. It’s just such a shame that so many people are falling for the fiction that we have ‘open borders’ or that ‘they’ are letting ‘just anyone vote.’ And, just to confirm a well-known fact, at least to most people, Biden won, by a lot actually, in 2020.

      • Just think about the things that you actually need all those ‘birth certificates, notarized documents, identity verification, passport, prescriptions, etc.’ for. Things like credit cards, medications, internet programs, credit lines, etc. Most of those didn’t exist 150 years ago. As for living happier? You’ll have a difficult time convincing me that people who had virtually no medical defense against simple infections or effective treatment for severe injuries, who had a horrifyingly high rate of infant mortality and whose general lifespans were significantly shorter than they are today, were all that much happier. Today, it is your choice as to whether to engage in activities that require ‘all that documentation’ that you seem to believe is such a burden that you can’t have a happy life. Don’t buy anything on credit, don’t drive a car, don’t use any modern medicines, etc. You won’t need to prove your identity and you can then be as happy and anonymous as you want to be.

    • There should be an exception for the use of oxygen for sports and Exercise with Oxygen (EWOT) training.

      • There seems to be a fairly large selection of OTC oxygen concentrators available online. I don’t have any personal knowledge as to the quality or effectiveness of any of them, but I am trying to find out if any of them would be worthwhile for personal, non-medical uses such as you are suggesting. They range in price from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars and I suspect it’s the usual case of YGWYPF. I am not be prepared to pay much higher than the low end of that range so I suspect I won’t be finding much that’s worthwhile but I am hopeful.

      • Why is it prescription? Can’ u overdose? Does it get u high? I understand the need for tests before Bipap but we all breathe it why is it a drug? It’s all about money right? Can I breathe welding o2?insurance? Can I start an oxygen cartel and smuggle it from Columbia? If I concentrate oxygen will I b an outlaw?

        • Medical-grade oxygen requires a prescription. Yes, we all breathe Oxygen and it may seem ridiculous that a prescription is required for supplemental oxygen. However, just as oxygen deprivation is problematic, so is the overdose of it. High oxygen dosage can lead to hyperoxia and/or oxygen toxicity which can injure the lungs, eyes, and brain. That is why it is critical to get the right amount of oxygen during Oxygen Therapy. We’d be happy to answer all your questions over a phone call. Please reach us out at (888) 387-5914.

          • It is impossible to achieve hyperoxia without a hyperbaric chamber or scuba diving under pressure. Simply breathing O2 through a nasal canula doesn’t exceed 50% unless the O2 machine is 20 LPM or higher

        • There is also a medical phenomena for people with COPD. People without COPD breathe when our brain senses we need more oxygen. For many people with COPD, their bodies get used to having large amounts of carbon dioxide circulating. We call these folks CO2 dependent. What drives these COPD people to breathe is when their CO2 levels increase above their norm. When you give CO2 dependent people oxygen, especially at higher concentrations or for a prolonged period, you can knock out the sequence that makes them breathe and they’ll stop breathing, followed quickly by cardiac arrest. I’m a now retired paramedic, and I’ve witnessed this several times in my career. Using concentrated oxygen, which is what these devices do, can be very hazardous without having medical oversight. Breathing air around you has only 21% oxygen. These devices can deliver several times more than this. This is why a prescription is needed because yes, you can overdo it on oxygen.

          • Always consult with your physician or health care provider. They are the qualified experts to assess the condition and provide treatment. Every situation is different.

      • I believe Cornell University is using and old law for a new respiratory equipment. It’s not the same to use the old and heavy metal cylinder oxygen tube (and very heavy) that delivers O2 by nasal cannula or a respiratory mask and can be explosive in a fire and that can produce brain damage or optic nerve damages than the possible side effects that can be done with the air breathing from a oxygen concentrated machine which use the 20% oxygen present in the air with breath. You don’t need a prescription to buy a CPAP machine as you don’t need it to buy a portable car or bicycle tire inflatable device .I believe it is a misinterpretation of the law. And law is made by humans and humans sometimes make mistakes.

        • RESPONSE to Hector Flores. Yes, law is made by humans often for their individual selfish interests. The delivery devices could come with a meter and a set of instructions.
          Will thermometers be next?

  2. 360ddd-1(b)(2)(a) states:
    “Oxygen may be provided without a prescription for the following uses: (i) For use in the event of depressurization or other environmental oxygen deficiency. (ii) For oxygen deficiency or for use in emergency resuscitation, when administered by properly trained personnel.”

    • Thank you for your comment. Yes, this is correct, in the cases of severe emergencies oxygen can be delivered by trained personnel and for environmental depressurization (most commonly for emergencies on aircrafts – this is why attendants show how to place the overhead oxygen masks on before take off)

    • We are in the business of transporting patients from hospitals to home or facilities depending on their needs. Some of the clients we transport need oxygen supplied and we are in great need of a concentrator. Currently we are having to pack around borrowed oxygen bottles that are a real problem for several reasons.
      Some of our clients need to be transported long distances . Sometimes 10 hours or more. WE NEED OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS! The practice of using borrowed bottles is unacceptable and dangerous. What if we run out of oxygen or there is an accident?
      Bottles are unsafe and there is clearly a remedy for this. Is it possible for us to get training that would allow us to purchase a concentrator?

      • Absolutely, Jerry. Our Oxygen Specialist would be happy to help you out with your requirements. Please give us a call at (877) 644-4581. If you prefer a video call to do the training we can do that as well.

  3. On Amazon.com you can buy oxygen concentrators from $250-600 without any prescription. The main problem is that they usually don’t provide an oxygen purity level of over 75%. There are also “Oxygen Bars” where you can pay to get a few minutes of concentrated oxygen. Furthermore, you can buy tanks of oxygen in many hardware and automotive supply stores. This law is clearly designed to increase revenues for the medical establishment.

    • None of these options are medical grade oxygen and are not meant for long term health benefits like people with COPD. You are correct in that the oxygen purity levels do not go over 75%. A person with a lung-related illness needs oxygen purity at a much higher standard to live.

      • I bet there one that does meet the requirements.. prescription law for oxygen is unreasonable and therefore not really a law.

        • Dear Mr. Petrucci,

          Currently, the FDA does require a prescription for medical grade oxygen. If you have been prescribed oxygen and need help selecting the best solution, please give us a call at: 1-877-644-4581.

          Sincerely,

          The AMSR Team

        • LOL. Lots of medical supplies are prescription only… like a new hose for my CPAP. With a script Medicare pays. Without a script I pay… $180 for five feet of cheap tubing that costs no more than a buck to manufacture. There are many laws, most of them really, that are unreasonable or unnecessary. But try to go around and see how that works at a medical supply store.

        • Totally agree. The US Medical community is a mafia. In business to satisfy their lust for unjust gain. The FDA has no authority to ‘control’ a living substance like oxygen. They have taken upon themselves power that is fascist in nature, and unique in the world.

      • I don’t know the differences between state requirements, but oxygen producing units are a prescription. They are prescribed according to person, individual use and needs. Every prescription has instructions, which need to be followed.
        Being in a different state may offer different prices as well as protocall. I recently had someone out of my state try to have it delivered to my address to avoid cost or whatever was involved with the purchase of the unit.
        ” ah-h, no”. I refused it, the person doesn’t live here and I won’t be involved in any scam or fraud. ( that was my gut feeling), after all, it Is a Prescription. Sounds too risky to me, not playing a part in that.

      • Right, so you can buy sub-par quality oxygen without a scrip, but you need a scrip to buy the highest quality. It is an idiotic law that must be changed.

    • 75% would be a dream level for an OTC oxygen concentrator. Especially at the price points you mentioned. You would be lucky to get higher than 28% out of those machines. And seeing that regular air is already at 21%, you’re really not getting much bang for your buck.

      • You are correct that over-the-counter (OTC) oxygen concentrators are not designed to deliver oxygen concentrations as high as medical-grade oxygen concentrators. Medical-grade concentrators are capable of delivering oxygen concentrations of 90% or higher, which is suitable for individuals with medical oxygen needs.

  4. I have prescription for oxygen concentrator machine from my doctor. It states I am on 2 LPM and has ICD code – R06.00. Is this all I need

    • It is an important part! But there are several other things that would be needed such as if it is pulse or continuous and what your mobility needs are. If you give us a call, we can help align your prescription to the best machine for your lifestyle. Give us a call at (855)838-0926 andsome one can help you get you on your way!

    • Hi Daniel, typically it is the amount of oxygen, frequency and length of time that the patient requires to be on oxygen. When you meet with the doctor, they will assess your needs and use a Oximeter as well as your medical condition to determine the oxygen requirements. Hope this helps.

  5. I have purchased a oxygen concentior from e-bay but have problems purchasing supplies such as rubber hose. Why do I have to have Dr order for them? & will Medicare pay for them?

    • I suggest you call lincare, they provide oxygen, and all the accessories for free, at least that’s where, and how, I get my oxygen, and supplies.

      • lincare doesnt give you anything for free they just make it seem that way they have been ripping off medicare and consumers for years if you will research the cost of your machine and what they charge medicare to provide you with it you will see what i mean and you never finish paying for the use

        • I am in the Medicare “donut hole” and see that my pharmacy charges $740.00 for Trelegy and I pay $240.00. I live 25 miles from Mexican border and can go in any drugstore there and buy Trelegy without a Rx for $103.00…exactly same product from same manufacturer .. Glaxo Smith-Kline. U.S. medical is a big fraud.

      • I have Lincare and they brought me bottles. I use a walker and can not handle the bottles and the walker. they only last an hour. to go to a doctor’s appointment or the grocery store I would have to carry two or three of them. I sent them back. I have the house concentrator. I was told if I didn’t use them for three months that I could never get the portable one from them!

        • Our Oxygen Specialists would be happy to understand your requirements and advise the way forward. Please give us a call at (877) 644-4581.

    • I am in a high covid area with hospitals overcrowded, no available beds… i am 71 and would like to buy an oxygen supply to keep at home in case i
      Contract the virus and cant get a bed in hospital. Is this possible?

      • Our Oxygen Specialists would be happy to understand your requirements and advise the way forward. Please give us a call at (888)572-5831.

  6. What if an oxygen concentrator is not designed to be, or designated, a “medical device”. A non-medical oxygen concentrator would then not require a prescription, correct? Is concentrated oxygen a controlled substance, or are “medical devices” controlled items?

  7. Please show me the law for people who are not traveling by airplane. The law you quoted is for the federal aviation administration. It is not about the use in home or for medical purposes outside the FAA. This seems very evil to me when I need a prescription to by a filter for my mothers concentrator just because a few bad apples have misuse it in the past, all while they will not allow tougher gun law just because a few bad apples misuse them. I want to see the list of people who voted this into law…… Please provide the correct CFR thank you. I truly hope it is the same ones who vote no on gun laws because it show they have absolutely no regard for whats best for people and they they’re only looking to fill their pockets with more cash

  8. So, an EWOT business needs to obtain a prescription if o2 is over 85%? If my concentrator is over the 85% each customer needs a prescription still confused? Thanks all

    • Dear Deb,

      Patients are required to provide a prescription for oxygen. Please give us a call at: 1-877-644-4581 and we can explain options further.

      Sincerely,

      The AMSR Team

  9. Hello – Everytime I travel by plane, I must rent oxygen as my oxygen level falls into the 80’s at such elevation. I also must use oxygen at night with my CPAP. I do not meet the criteria for full time oxygen, which is good, but it’s costing me a mint renting Inogen one when traveling. I have made three trips to China. Rental totaled $700 each time. Soon I will travel to National Jewish Health by plane. Inogen rental will be at least $400. Any suggestions?
    Tammy

    • Yes, buy a damn concentrator, you practically payed for one with your two trips to China.
      If you are going to travel by air, for an extended amount of time, it is a much more cost effective way to have your oxygen with you, and it keeps the concentrator in your possession, which gives you control of keeping it sanitary, and clean.

  10. All Oxygen is extracted from the air which has a concentration of 20.8% oxygen. This done through a cryogenic process that separates the air from the other gases that make up air. The very same process – or the same cryogenic train (machinery) – that separates out Medical Ox is the same as Industrial Ox…..so why does anyone need a Prescription as Oxygen is Oxygen and it can’t be anything else?.

    • The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) requires prescriptions for medical grade oxygen. It would be lethal for a patient to receive oxygen lower than required as it would not saturate the blood properly. Very high oxygen consumption has its set of problems. Therefore, unlike industrial usage of oxygen, it’s critical to administer oxygen to a living being correctly. You are welcome to contact us for more information on medical-grade oxygen.

  11. It appears in the benefit of profit rather than patient health to require prescriptions. My doctor has refused any of the mentioned tests for oxygen. He has refused prescription. I have severe asthma and emphysema. Like a majority of heart and lung patients attacks of severe bloating and gas cause severe lack of oxygen episodes last up to weeks. Doctors refuse care of any kind for this gas and bloating, it is our most common complaint but there is no money in it. When I am gasping for air in an extreme attack I have no right of pain and suffering relief and possibly life-saving emergency revival. I have no right to do many household tasks or to work at almost any job that temporary oxygen would allow through disability aid just like a wheelchair or guide dog. This is disability discrimination and I believe is illegal and shows hatred of all of us with these disabilities as we are left to drown alive! I will be using the non 85% machines and will not use others as they are colluding in this discrimination. Thank you for information that these options exist!

    • I would ask dr about palliative care I did many free benefits pick
      A non for
      Profit like I
      Did need referral I ended up on hospice ending most breathing suffering they are able to
      Write scrips deliver to
      Home what my pulmonary could not / it’s scary at first I shouldn’t waited so long . Start with palliative care request they will come to your home evaluate pay for medical
      Supplies my insurance did not cover . Hope this helps people get scared and don’t ask dr right questions palliative care is for when they think you have years left .

      • I agree! Get a new doctor! I went to a Pulmonary Doctor when I started having breathing problems when walking. I was told to go home and lose weight!!!! Another doctor, not Pulmonary. Sent me to get an x-ray. I had lung cancer!! So please see another doctor.

  12. hello, i am trying to find out how i can purchase an oxygen concentrator to treat my daily headaches. doing tests to check my oxygen level seems irrelevant. how do i find out how to purchase a concentrator either through my neurologist or on my own? im having trouble finding information on how to do this. thanks!

  13. I would like to have an emergency oxygen tank for my mother if she would have a hard time breathing. At one time my mother was having a hard time in deep breathing for 10 min. and later she decided to call 911. When they came she was breathing better and they did not have to give her any oxygen. When my grandmother passed she called my mother and told my mother she was having a hard time breathing. My mother rushed over to my grandmother’s apartment and tried to breath for her until EMS arrived. My grandmother was in a coma because of lack of oxygen. I don’t want my Mother to have to go through that. It is very scary when one can not breath. I want to have oxygen on hand for my mother if she feels that she may need it one day. Having the security helps one feel more safe. I hear Doctors will not give prescriptions to have oxygen on hand for emergencies, only if you have a on going breathing problem. Is this right? If so this should not be right. Is there a way I can get emergency oxygen for the home if a Doctor does not give a prescription to get oxygen. I know where to get a safe and easy to use oxygen tank from AED. but without the oxygen.

    • The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) requires prescriptions for medical grade oxygen. No reputable company will provide medical grade oxygen without a prescription. We recommend contacting your physician for a prescription. You are welcome to contact us for more information on medical grade oxygen.

  14. I have a hyposyfalic bulldog with anemia that would get comfort from oxygen concentrator at my property over 8000 feet in rockies do I need prescription for dog? I don’t for fish antibiotics

    • Hi Mary, it’s advised to get a prescription for oxygen from the vet. A vet can determine what would be your pet’s oxygen requirement and what flow setting to use. For more information view our blog on Oxygen for Dogs. We have helped numerous pets with supplemental oxygen, please give us a call at (877) 644-4581 to discuss.

  15. I am trying to buy an oxygen concentrator (without a prescription) for non-medical purposes. I do need the high % of pure oxygen, but I won’t be breathing it, my torch will. I make jewellery and use an oxy-propane torch for soldering and annealing silver. A concentrator is a safer and (eventually) cheaper alternative to having oxygen tanks in the house. The oxygen feeds the propane for a better flame. This is a very common set-up, but many jewellers find their concentrators online second-hand. With the second-hand market catching on, prices are really rising. I may as well buy a brand new one….. but I can’t without a prescription. Any suggestions?

    • Our Oxygen Specialists would be happy to understand your requirements and advise the way forward. Please give us a call at (877) 644-4581.

      • We need concentrator precautionary measure in unlikely covid situation. Please suggest the suitable model or specifications

        • I cannot suggest any particular model since you don’t have a doctor’s prescription with the liter flows mentioned. However, I’d say shoot for a continuous-flow oxygen concentrator.

  16. Breathing is overrated. I have a noncardiopulmonary neuromuscular disease that has weakened my diaphragm. In the ER a couple of weeks ago my O2 was 82 on admission. They got it up to 92, and because of COVID I did not want to be admitted.

    The problem I have is that the FDA requires a consistent reading of 88 or below and Medicare will pay only if the diagnosis is lung and/or heart related. There are times when I can’t walk around my 350 sq/ft apartment without gasping for air. Why are these laws so stringent and what can be done to help people like me?

  17. I need oxygen for cluster headaches but I don’t meet the requirements for a prescription
    Is there anything I can do to help get a prescription

    • Our Oxygen Specialists would be happy to understand your requirements and advise the way forward. Please give us a call at (877) 644-4581.

  18. If a friend gifts me a portable concentrator can I then get a script to use it? Mom passed only used once.

    • Judy, getting a prescription for oxygen is independent of whether you already have an oxygen concentrator or not. If a medical provider thinks you need supplemental oxygen, they’ll write you a prescription. Note: that one should use the oxygen concentrator at the prescribed liter flow.

      • You made it quite evident in your previous reply to what to little oxygen and what too much oxygen is bad for. ….. which thank you and confirmed everyones assumption its all for profit. The government and medical field are for profit of disease and anything they can sell us , even a little piece of paper that says we can buy xyz for a better quality of life as we can’t decide that ourselves. So thank you for being a cog in the machine of profit for being healthy, you truly are an example of what selling out looks like to line your own pockets.

  19. What a load of crap! My wife has been using one for 6 yrs. without any guidance from anyone. Her current Dr. didn’t even know she had one! If your Sat goes over 95, turn the flow down, or take it off. This isn’t brain surgery. This is a scam to keep durable medical device providers receiving insurance $ from leasing contracts, preventing patients from saving $ owning their equipment outright.

  20. I need oxygen because of Peripheral heart disease can’t see either ventricle all EKGs all been negative from back to when I was young been to TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE wore heart monitors when younger. my clinic not 1 has my original medical records or family history in Mayo’s Diseases and Conditions A TO Z and 72 heart stopped 3 times veins are so tiny all my life not one person in Hosp cold get IV’S in So I’m looking for oxygen with a script

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