As medications continue to rise in price, the cost of treating a chronic illness may become a serious burden. Below are eight more ways to save money on your medications.
Be wary of drug samples from your doctor. Drug companies provide doctors with samples of medications that they are trying to promote. Typically, these are new, expensive medications that do not have generic versions. And since the sample usually comes along with your doctor's prescription for the medication, you may be getting a free week or two of medication but end up paying more in the long run.
Samples will save you money if you have an acute problem that only lasts for several days, and if your doctor has a sufficient supply of the sample drug to treat your condition.
Ignore drug advertising. Pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars each year to advertise their new medications in magazines and on television. This direct-to-consumer advertising has helped increase sales of expensive medications, since many people see the ads and ask their doctor for the medication. Often, older and less expensive medications are available to treat the same condition.
Example: Many people opt to initially treat their seasonal allergies, such as hay fever, with Nasonex, one of the most heavily advertised medications (the ad with the talking bee). Nasonex is a nasal spray, and one inhaler bottle (about a one-month supply) has an average retail price of $109.90. For some people, starting their hay fever treatment with loratadine, the generic version of Claritin, may not only be effective, but can save money since loratadine can be purchased for as little as $4 for a 30-day supply.
Do I still need this drug? Make a list of all your medications, and make an appointment with your doctor to determine if you still need to take them. Many times, your doctor can have you stop taking medications that are no longer working or that you no longer need. This will also be an opportunity for you and your doctor to look for less expensive alternatives if you do need to stay on the medication.
Example: Several years ago, Ms. Jones was treated for heartburn with Prilosec, a medication that prevents the production of acid in the stomach. Along with some diet changes and the medications, her symptoms improved and she has had no heartburn in almost two years. She may be able to stop her medication and save up to $130 each month. And if her symptoms return, she can take a similar over-the-counter medication that costs about $30 each month.
Find a discount drug program. More than 500 programs in the U.S. help people pay for their prescription medications. Many of these services are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and offer low cost or free medications to eligible people. Learn about these programs is at NeedyMeds.
Change your lifestyle. Many chronic health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, coronary artery disease, and hypertension, are related to our lifestyle, including smoking, being overweight, and lack of exercise. You can improve your health by making healthy changes, and these may allow you to decrease or get off of some of your medications, with your doctor's approval.
Example: Last year, Mr. Jones was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (being treated with metformin), high blood pressure (being treated with Diovan and indapimide), and high cholesterol (being treated with Lipitor). He went on a Mediterranean diet and started an exercise program. After losing more than 50 pounds, he was able to stop all of his medications, a monthly savings of more than $175.
Get good health care. Along with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it is important to see your doctor on a regular basis to be screened for potential chronic illness and to receive vaccinations appropriate for your age. By treating you early for common conditions such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, your doctor can help you avoid complications that could lead to long-term use of expensive medications.
Avoid medications with XL, LA, XR, or CR in their name. These are extended-release medications that have special coatings or ingredients that control how fast the drug is released from the pill into your body. Although they may be convenient, they often are more expensive than the shorter-acting version and may not have a generic equivalent. Some examples are:
- Metoprolol is the generic version of Toprol, a medication used to treat high blood pressure. A 90-day supply of metoprolol can be found at certain stores for $10. Metoprolol is often taken twice a day. A long-acting version known as Toprol XL is available at a cost of more than $100 for a 90-day supply. Although Toprol XL is convenient, you will pay much more for that convenience.
- Paroxetine is the generic version of Paxil, a medication used to treat depression and some types of anxiety. A 30-day supply of paroxetine can be found at certain stores for $4. Paroxetine is taken once each day. The drug company that owns the patent to Paxil now manufactures and markets a version known as Paxil CR, which has an average retail price of $124 for a 30-day supply. This drug also contains paroxetine and is taken once each day. The only difference is how long it takes for the medication to get into your body. Since paroxetine works slowly over a long period of time, it probably makes little difference which version you use.
If your doctor prescribes an extended-release drug, ask whether a shorter-acting version of the drug may be appropriate.
Take a trip to Canada. Brand-name prescription medications may be 25% to 50% less expensive in Canadian pharmacies. If you live near the border, it may be a short ride to a Canadian drugstore. However, wherever you live, you can find bargains by shopping on the Internet from legitimate Canadian drugstores. The U.S. government allows Americans to purchase medications from Canada, provided the drug is for personal use and is no more than a 90-day supply.
Example: A 90-day supply of 80 mg tablets of Diovan, a medication used to treat high blood pressure, recently cost $219 on Drugstore.com, an American online pharmacy. The same medication cost $129 when ordered from CanadaDrugs.com, a licensed and reputable online company.
