Save On Prescription Drugs
Do You Need The Prescription?
Article Disclaimer: The following is for informational purposes only and none of it should be considered medical advice in any way. Please take the time to discuss all the information with a medical professional to confirm if the information is appropriate for your specific circumstances before acting upon anything written in this article.
While most people consider searching for places to get discount prescription drugs as the only step possible in saving money on prescription drugs, they inadvertently bypass a number of important saving opportunities. The first step in an attempt to reduce prescription costs is not at where you buy your drugs, but to make sure that the medication you are taking (and paying for) is really necessary. While this may seem obvious, a surprising number of people continue to take prescription drugs long after their need has passed. In addition, people who receive prescriptions for various ailments from a variety of different doctors may be taking combinations of medicine that counteract each other rendering them ineffective.
Thus the first step to reducing your prescription costs is gathering all the different medications you are currently using and taking them to your doctor on your next visit. Your doctor can then go through each prescription with you to make sure that it is effectively working in combination with all the other medications you are taking as well as rechecking ailments for which the prescription drugs were originally prescribed to make sure there is still a need for them. In many cases, this simple procedure will determine that you don't need all the drugs you have been taking (and paying for) thus taking a nice bite out of your prescription expenses.
At the same time the review of the drugs is taking place, you should ask if there are less expensive alternatives to the drugs you are currently taking. This is especially true for prescriptions that you have been taking for a long period. Just as in any business, new products are continuously appearing and new information on different ways to treat certain ailments is continuously improving. By discussing your current ailments, you may be able to find alternative prescription drugs that are just as effective at a better price.
As previously mentioned, new products are continuously appearing and as with any product for sale, there can be a large difference in prices among different brands of prescription drugs that treat the same illness. It is worthwhile asking your doctor if a less expensive competing brand would make sense with your current medical condition. In addition to other brand name prescription drugs, generic drugs can also be just as effective for certain conditions as their name brand counterparts. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that generic drugs have the same effectiveness as the brand name prescription drugs making them a legitimate alternative for certain types of ailments. Finally, it may be possible to substitute over-the-counter drugs for prescription drugs in some cases with 50%+ savings with the switch. Many prescription drugs are now available over-the-counter in the exact same form, but in weaker strengths than their prescription counterparts.
Dosages & Trial Periods
The next set of questions to talk about with your doctor is appropriate dosages. Most prescription drugs have the same price per tablet no matter what the strength. For example, if you have been taking two 50 mg tablets at the same time and the manufacturer also produces a 100 mg tablet of the same prescription, switching to the 100 mg tablet will likely reduce your prescription cost by 50%. The same ploy can be utilized in the opposite direction with certain prescription drugs. You can "tablet split" the prescription drug to save money. In this instance, if you only need a prescription of 50 mg, you purchase a prescription of 100 mg tablets (remember, prescription drugs tend to have the same price per tablet no matter what the strength) and then split the tablets in half when taking the drug thus reducing your prescription costs in half. Be sure to consult with your doctor as to whether this option is viable for the prescriptions you're taking as it can be extremely dangerous with certain medications while perfectly acceptable with others.
If after these discussions you doctor feels that less expensive drugs are a possibility in your situation (or anytime you are receiving a prescription for the first time), ask if the doctor has samples of the drug available. Manufacturers will often give samples to doctors, and since you do not know how your body will react to this new drug, you don't want to spend a lot of money on a full sized prescription to find out after a few days that the drug is not working for you. If the doctor does not have samples, or if there is a cheaper alternative available to the sample brand, ask that the prescription be made out for a trial period (a time period just to determine if the drug is effective and your body can tolerate it).
Finally you want to make sure that you follow the prescription guidelines that your doctor gives. Many people try to save money by taking drugs less frequently than is prescribed. Not only can this be extremely dangerous, it in many cases will have the opposite effect and cost you much more in the long run. By not following the proper instructions, you risk extending the length of your ailment thus incurring extra medical charges in the long run.
Living below your means, AKA Frugal Living is not difficult with some imagination and common sense. Try using yours, it can help you a lot in the long run.
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