The Cardiologist's Wife

Pimento Cheese, Not Your Grandma's Spread

Pimento cheese is one of those foods that has been so corrupted by the food industry that it has become synonymous with other crappy foods like Spam. I'm not even certain what store bought pimento cheese might contain, nor do I want to find out. It's a shame because pimento cheese can be a delightful treat, even if it does Read the full post…

Plum Good BBQ Sandwiches

In a few days it will officially be fall but the temperatures are still warm enough for me to continue swimming for a few more days. The breeze was a little cool but that didn't stop me from swimming several laps this morning and I felt great afterwards! Have you exercised lately? With fall's cooler temperatures and fewer insects, you Read the full post…

Shingles Vacine and Treatment

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with shingles so I felt I should discuss this nasty virus once again. If you ever had chicken pox, you are at risk for getting shingles and believe me, you don't want it. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters that scab over and may take 4 weeks or more to heal. The Read the full post…

Vegetarian Tacos are muy delicioso!

There are times when I think I could easily become a vegetarian, especially when I try a new dish that is as good as the vegetarian tacos I had at Local Lime restaurant in Little Rock and the tofu fried rice at Sai Tai here in Jonesboro. My husband and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary this past weekend by spending Read the full post…

Midyear Health Check

Summer is winding down , the year is more than half way over and our January resolutions are long forgotten. It's time for a health reality check. First of all, how is your health lately? If you have enjoyed good health, are you thankful? Take some time to appreciate how wonderful it feels to be healthy, for your family to Read the full post…

Vacation Lessons For A Healthier Life

I'm back from a lovely beach vacation and I wish I was still there with all my heart. Wouldn't it be nice if our every day life was as nice as a vacation? If we could relax, eat well, sleep and exercise just enough without having to worry about bills, work, illnesses and school, our lives would be perfect. But Read the full post…

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Ways To Save Money On Prescription Drugs

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on February 26, 2013 ][ In Medical and Health Information ]

I am always preaching on ways we can lead healthier lives and trying to show that being healthy doesn’t always have to cost big bucks. However prescription medication can add up to serious cash forcing some people to decide between the drug their doctor prescribed or buying food or paying rent.

ABC News did an important story this week on ways to save money on prescription drugs. Here are a few of their suggestions plus some of my own. I also spoke with Kristy Reed, pharmacist at Super V Drugs here in Jonesboro for some ideas.

ABC News says to always check your bill for errors and make sure you are paying for the drug your doctor prescribed. I say to make sure you understand what drug the doctor is giving you, how long you are supposed to take it and what it should do. Make sure your doctor is aware of all the medications that you take that are prescribed by other doctors so there are no duplications or dangerous combinations of drugs.

Kristy recommends talking with your doctor about cheaper but equivalent medicines or generic versions. She says generic drugs are FDA approved and may even be made by the same company that makes the more expensive name brand drug.

ABC news recommends the LowRX app. It tells you the average cost of a drug, it’s generic name and the phone numbers of local pharmacies in your area. Shop around until you find the best price as drug prices do vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. Also ask your pharmacy if they give discounts for cash payments as opposed to credit card sales. Kristy Reed recommends using the same pharmacy so your pharmacist gets to know you and become familiar with your needs. She works with her customers, looking up coupons online or checking with your doctor for cheaper alternatives. She feels that personal relationship will help save you money rather than shopping at big box retailers.

ABC News says that when possible, go to wholesale stores with a pharmacy like Sam’s Club or Costco. You can have your prescription filled at these places even if you aren’t a member. According to ABC News, it’s the law.

Ask your doctor about local drug assistance programs or contact the drug company for their drug assistance program. If it is a new prescription, ask your doctor if he has any samples you can try before filling your prescription. A sample pack can allow you to try the medicine to be sure it works for you without side effects.

Don’t ignore your doctor’s advice and skip taking medicine, especially if it is for a chronic or life threatening condition. Find other ways to cut expenses rather than missing out on important medicines.

Upadated on February 26, 2013

One Response to “Ways To Save Money On Prescription Drugs”

Marcy says:

June 7, 2013 at 5:23 pm

In addition to having my doctor write me a script for generic medicines, I use the site http://medicationcoupons.com/
I have a discount drug card that I get from them that I can use in conjunction with my generic medicine (I don’t have health insurance). I easily save about an extra $80 a month just from using the card. Plus they have drug coupons for all types of medicines.

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