How to Reduce Your Medication Costs
Medical Author: Omudhome Ogbru, Pharm.D.
Medical Editor: Jay Marks, M.D.
Introduction
Anyone who takes prescription medications is aware that medications are expensive. For those taking several medications, the monthly expense can amount to a few hundred dollars.
Will discuss several ways
to reduce the costs for medications.
How do I eliminate unnecessary medications?
The first step in reducing costs for medications is to eliminate unnecessary
medications. To do this, you must know why you are taking each medication, what
results to expect from taking it, and how long you should take it. If the
medication does not do what it is supposed to within a reasonable amount of
time, you should consult your healthcare provider about discontinuing the
medication or trying alternative medications. There is no reason to take
medications that provide no benefit. Individuals sometimes continue to refill
prescriptions for medications that they should no longer be taking. The
inappropriateness of continuing the medication may not be noticed until the
prescription is no longer refillable, usually one year after it is written, and
the pharmacist calls the health care practitioner for a new prescription. By then, a
lot of money may have been wasted.
Duplication of medications is another potential problem. This usually happens
when a patient receives a prescription for similar medications from different
physicians. In addition to the unnecessary costs, there may be risks to taking
two similar medications. To avoid these unnecessary medication-related expenses,
it is a good idea to ask your health care practitioner and pharmacist to review your
medications periodically.
Herbal medications (alternative medications), nutritional supplements, and
vitamins are very popular. Most individuals do not need these products and in
most cases they have not been proven to be effective for the conditions for
which they are used. They can interact with other medications, cause side
effects, and also be expensive. Before purchasing these products, you should ask
your health care practitioner about their safety and effectiveness. If they do not
provide additional benefit, there is no need to purchase them.
What about the use of combination products?
Several conditions, such as
hypertension (high blood
pressure) and
diabetes, are treated with more
than one medication at a time. Several pharmaceutical companies manufacture
medications that combine two of the most frequently used medications. These
combinations are convenient, since only one pill must be taken, which may
enhance compliance with taking the medications. Moreover, some combinations may
be less expensive than the individual drugs.
Are generic drugs as good as brand names?
In most instances, generic drugs work as well as the brand name drugs. Unless
your health care practitioner advises against the use of the generic product, it will
be less expensive to use the generic product. All too often, individuals
purchase the more expensive brand name drug because they believe that the
generic equivalent is inferior. In most states, as long as the prescriber does
not indicate otherwise, pharmacists are required by law to substitute generic
products for brand name products.
Can I cut my pills?
Many drugs come in higher and lower strength tablets. If the price of a
tablet that is twice the strength of a lower strength tablet is less than twice
the price of the lower strength tablet, it is less costly to buy the higher
strength tablet. A pill cutter can then be used to cut the pills in half. For
example, if the cost of the 40 mg tablet is $1.50 and the cost of the 20 mg
tablet is $1.00, it is less expensive to buy and split the 40 mg tablet than it
is to buy the 20 mg tablet ($0.75 verses $1.00). This strategy only works,
however, for tablets that can be split.
Medication RSS