Moral of the story: Generics are low cost, and THE EXACT SAME THING as name brand pharmaceuticals. This is the obvious way to save, but there are also cheaper options within the same family of drug that work just as well, or as well as you may need. While physicians don't have all the answers, they do have access to extensive drug information they can use to help you save.
Source: AMA Morning Rounds 11/5/09
Asking physicians about generic drugs seen as key to cutting prescription costs.
The AP (11/5, Perrone) reports, "The senior advocacy group AARP reports that prices for the most popular drugs rose 8.7 percent on average last year, more than twice the rate of inflation." And "last year, pharmaceutical companies spent more than $4 billion urging patients like you to 'ask your doctor' about their drugs. But, if you want a prescription that won't empty your wallet, while still keeping you well, you might start asking your doctor about drugs you don't see on TV." For instance, "AstraZeneca's acid reflux drug Nexium [esomeprazole magnesium] -- the 'purple pill' -- was the second best-selling drug in the US last year, with a hefty price tag of about $215 per month. But, a drug from the same family, that works the same way, is available over-the-counter for about $20 a month as Prilosec [omeprazole]."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Generics are definitely the way to go. I use a great website called 'Medtipster' that enables you to locate low-cost, generic prescriptions from reputable pharmacies in your area. On the site's homepage, you just type in the medication you need, the dosage and your zip-code and Medtipster will direct you to the least expensive retailer. It's a very useful tool that makes finding affordable prescriptions easy...google search "Medtipster" and check it out
ReplyDelete