Prescriptions for less

[Guest guest]

1. Nearly half of the people in our January 2009 drug survey said that their

doctors don't consider cost when prescribing medications. And earlier Consumer

Reports surveys of doctors found that physicians ranked price as their least

important consideration when prescribing drugs. (How well the drug worked was

their first concern.) In fact, the doctors said they often don't know how much

the drugs they prescribe cost. So you need to be assertive and tell your doctor

that cost, as well as effectiveness, matters.

2. That saves money at the same time that it lowers your risk of side effects

and drug interactions. Review all of your medications with your doctor or

pharmacist at least every six months, eliminating duplicate or unnecessary drugs

or adjusting dosages that are higher than necessary.

3. Ask for generics.They're much cheaper-and just as safe and effective-as their

brand-name counterparts. For example, to treat allergies, you could take the

brand-name drug Claritin for up to $37 a month, or its generic version,

loratadine, for less than $12. Both drugs are available without a prescription.

If a generic isn't available, ask if your doctor can substitute a different,

cheaper drug that works just as well. For example, instead of treating

osteoarthritis with celecoxib (Celebrex) for nearly $300 a month, you may be

able to get by with ibuprofen (Advil and generic) instead. The generic form of

that drug costs just $21 a month and can be purchased without a prescription. Or

instead of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, which typically costs about

$100 a month, you may be able to use the related drug lovastatin for about $18 a

month.

4. Ask your doctor if you can safely split your pills. You may be able to save

money if your doctor can prescribe a pill that's twice your normal dose, so you

could split it in half. To make the practice safe, only divide pills that are

scored, use a pill-splitting device, and never split extended- or

continued-release tablets. Divide one pill at a time and take the halves as

consecutive doses so that you don't get too much or too little. But don't split

pills without the permission of your doctor or pharmacist.

5. Shop around. In Consumer Reports' June 2008 report, Costco pharmacies offered

the biggest savings overall. Web sites such as AARP.org, CVS.com, Drugstore.com,

Familymeds.com, and Homemed.com also offer inexpensive choices, and

DestinationRx can help you compare drugs and prices. Many grocery stores and

big-box stores, such as Costco and WalMart, now offer hundreds of generics for

$4 or less-though independent pharmacy owners tell us that most mom-and-pop

pharmacies will match those prices if you ask. Be wary, however, of

international Internet drug sites that are unregulated and may sell counterfeit

or contaminated drugs. Stick with pharmacies that carry the VIPPS (Verified

Internet Pharmacy Practice Site) seal, which is awarded by the National

Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/prescription-drugs/10-ways-to-reduce-your-\

drug-costs/overview/10-ways-to-reduce-your-drug-costs.htm

Happy Savings,

Lottie