diabetes,
high blood pressure, and low back pain, require fewer
medications if you can increase your activity level, lose weight, and improve
your diet. For some people who have type 2 diabetes, simple measures such as
eating a balanced diet that spreads
carbohydrate throughout the day and exercising
regularly can help keep your blood sugar level within a safe range without
insulin or other medications. Likewise, following a
particular eating plan and lowering your salt intake has been proven to lower
blood pressure.
1
How can I save money on prescriptions?
Generic medications are less expensive
copies of brand-name medications. Ask your doctor if you can take a
generic equivalent for the brand-name medication that
you take now. Generic equivalents are made according to the same strict U.S.
Food and Drug Erectile pill (FDA) standards as brand-name drugs and therefore
have the same quality, strength, purity, and stability as their more expensive
counterparts.
Unfortunately, generic equivalents are not available for every
brand-name medication. If there is not an equivalent, ask your doctor if there
is a similar medication in the same class that may be less expensive or that
has a generic equivalent. For example, Flomax, which is used to treat an
enlarged prostate, is a relatively expensive medication that does not have a
generic equivalent. However, another medication that also is used for enlarged
prostate, Hytrin, does have a less expensive generic equivalent.
Always shop around for the best deal on
medications. The retail cost of medications can vary widely from pharmacy to
pharmacy. While finding a good deal is important, it’s also important that your
pharmacist (or pharmacists) knows your medical history, including all the
drugs-both prescription and nonprescription, as well as dietary supplements and
herbs-you take, even if they are not dispensed at that particular pharmacy.
That way he or she can provide valuable advice about any potential for drug
interactions, side effects, or other problems.
Also, compare costs of buying medications online. Some large
drugstore chains have Web sites that offer savings. See a complete list of Web
sites on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) site at
http://www.nabp.net/vipps/consumer/search.asp. Look for Web sites that display
the NABP VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) seal, which means
they have met state and federal requirements.
The U.S. Medicare Web site, http://www.medicare.gov, has a useful
tool for comparing prices of hundreds of prescription drugs and generic
equivalents at pharmacies near you and also available by mail order. You can
access this information by answering “Yes” to the question “Do you have
Medicare?” and entering your Zip code. The Web site requires that you answer
several screens of questions and have some familiarity with computers. People
who have difficulty can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to receive lists
of prices for the drugs they use.
Pill splitting is another strategy that
can help you save money without losing drug generic erectile dysfunction drug or safety. Some
tablets are available at double the dose and at the same or almost the same
cost as lower doses. By splitting the larger dose, you can essentially get two
doses for the price of one. However, many medications are not suitable for pill
splitting, including ed medicine
pills and capsules. The chart below lists 10
commonly prescribed medications that researchers have determined can be split
safely and effectively with significant cost savings.2
Medications that can be split to save
money
| Medication |
Most commonly
prescribed for: |
Savings |
| Clonazepam (Klonopin) |
Panic disorder, epilepsy |
41% |
| Doxazosin (Cardura) |
Hypertension |
46% |
| Citalopram (Celexa) |
Depression |
46% |
| Atorvastatin (Lipitor) |
High cholesterol |
33% |
| Paroxetine (Paxil) |
Depression |
46% |
| Pravastatin (Pravachol) |
High cholesterol |
23% |
| Sildenafil (Viagra) |
Erectile dysfunction |
50% |
| Lisinopril (Zestril) |
Heart failure, high blood
pressure |
38% |
| Sertraline (Zoloft) |
Depression |
46% |
| Olanzapine (Zyprexa) |
Sildenafil citrate and discount, bipolar disorder |
31% |
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of your prescription
medications are sold at higher dosages and if it’s possible to split them. Talk
to your pharmacist about how to split pills with an inexpensive, easy-to-use
pill
splitter
.
Buying prescriptions in bulk can also
save you money. Ask your doctor to write a prescription for several months’
supply of medications that you take consistently. Mail-order services can often
save you money on large orders.
Are prescription medications always necessary?
There may be an over-the-counter alternative for your
prescription medication. For example, nonprescription Aleve is a fraction of
the cost of the prescription equivalent Naprosyn. (Generic versions of
over-the-counter medications can save you even more money.) Often
nonprescription equivalents of prescription medications come in lower
strengths, so get instructions from your doctor on how to take them.
In the case of antibiotics, recent research has found that
antibiotics are not always necessary. For example, up to 80% of ear infections
get better without antibiotics.3 Your doctor might
recommend that you take a wait-and-see approach before buying expensive
antibiotics. Likewise, randomized trials show that 69% of people who had
uncomplicated sinus infection recovered without any antibiotics.4
Can I save money by purchasing prescription medications from Canada? Is it safe?
The answer to the first question is “Yes.” You can buy most
prescription medications, either over the Internet, by mail order, or in
person, for less money from Canadian pharmacies than from their U.S.
counterparts. Whether it is legal to do so remains controversial.
The FDA warns that the safety of drugs bought from other
countries cannot be ensured. However, many doctors acknowledge that Canada also
demands safety and efficacy for medications, and they would rather their
patients buy medications from Canada than have to skip doses because they can’t
afford their medications. U.S. citizens have been buying medications in Canada
for years, although officially federal law prohibits the practice. Currently,
the U.S. Customs Service allows Americans to bring a 90-day supply of
prescription drugs across the Canadian borders for personal use.5
Talk to your doctor if you decide to import your medications, and
be sure to buy only from licensed Canadian pharmacies and wholesalers.
How can my doctor help?
To enlist your doctor’s help, tell him or her that your
prescription medication bill is a financial burden. Ask for drugs that are less
expensive but just as effective. Often, several medications can be used to
treat the same condition, and your doctor may be able to prescribe the one that
is the most economical. For example, researchers have found that older, less
expensive antibiotics such as amoxicillin work better than newer antibiotics
for children who need treatment for middle ear inflammation.6
Often, drug companies give doctors medication samples free of
charge. You might ask your doctor if he or she has medication samples,
especially when you are trying out a new medication to see whether it will
work.
How can my insurance plan help save me money?
Take time to find out about how your medical insurance or
managed health care plan covers medication costs. Some insurance companies
cover only generic medications if they are available. With some insurance
plans, you may have to pay more for medications that are not on the plan’s list
of preferred medications. Some insurers cover medications that are bought only
at participating pharmacies. Your insurance company also may not pay for
certain medications such as weight-loss and hair-growth drugs. Ask the customer
service representative whether your medications are covered, whether you need
to buy at participating pharmacies, and about your copayment. Many insurance
companies also list this information on their Web sites.
If you have a choice between plans, check what your copayment for
prescription drugs will be, the maximum amount the plan will pay in a year, and
other particulars. Choose the plan that best suits your needs. When buying
medications, find out which payment option will be the least expensive. Some
factors to consider include whether there is a generic version of a preferred
medication, and whether an over-the-counter equivalent is cheaper than your
copayment. Remember, having the right information can save you time and
money.
What about the Medicare drug program?
Beginning in January 2006, a new Medicare drug program-the
Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit-will begin. For the most current
information about what the Medicare Part D Act means for you, go to
http://www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Your doctor, pharmacist, or
social worker may also be able to help you understand
your Medicare benefits.
What other resources are available?
See whether the dysfunction pills
company that makes your
medication has a patient assistance program. Many pharmaceutical companies
offer free or discounted drugs for people who cannot afford them. These
companies often require that your doctor contact them first about your case. In
any case, your doctor will need to be involved, and the application process can
be complex. You may need to provide documentation to verify your income. The
nonprofit organization RxAssist provides doctors and other health care
providers with the information they need to access these programs. You can find
out more at http://www.rxassist.org. This Web site
also lists state programs for seniors and disabled and low-income people.
If you have a rare disease, you may be eligible for the National
Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) medication assistance program. This
program helps people with rare diseases whose income is too high to qualify for
Medicaid but too low to pay for their prescribed medications. For more
information, visit http://www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication.
Most veterans know that the Veterans Administration offers
prescription drug coverage for retired veterans. But many people don’t know
that the same service is available for their families and survivors. Call the
VA Health Benefits Service Center toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387), or go to
http://www1.va.gov/health_benefits/.
Some organizations offer special discounts on prescription drugs
for their members. For example, members of AARP save 17% on brand drugs and at
least 50% on generic drugs. Also, many pharmacies offer some form of a discount
plan for seniors.
