How to Save on Prescriptions

Pharmas -- they're evil. You know it and they know it. Not much you can do to change their hideous ethics practices but you can try to reduce the pain of paying their astronomically-overinflated prices. Here are a few tips:

Alternative or Integrative Medicine: Do you REALLY need that costly blood-pressure medication or is their something you can do to cut it out all together? Or have high cholesterol and taking Lipitor or Zocor? What about taking vitamin B3 or eating a fiber diet instead? Check out DrWeil.com for a plethora of advice on alternative and integrative practices. Dr. Andrew Weil started the Foundation for Integrative Medicine in Arizona -- he is equally trained in both western medicine (M.D. from Harvard Medical School) and eastern medicine (research at Harvard Botanical Museum and across the globe). Also available on his site: you can submit questions to his highly trained medical staff.

Throwing drugs at the problem: Ask your doctor if the prescription is REALLY necessary and go home and do some research. Remember, doctors make a lot of money from prescribing you drugs and their personal agenda could be costing you.

You may be over-prescribed: Do you weigh less than the average person? Most doctors do not take weight into account when prescribing medications. For instance, if you weigh 110-lbs, most likely your doctor would prescribe the same amount of a drug to a 260-lb person. Ask you doctor if a lower dose is more appropriate.

Help for low-income or unemployed: Check out the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, HealthyPlace, Benefits Check-Up, and NeedyMeds.

Generic: If you do still need that drug, ask your doctor about lower-cost generics... or better yet, ask a pharmacist. Doctors are not necessarily up on all the latest generics, but most likely your local pharmacist is.

Different level of insurance plan: If you do have health insurance, see if the plan you're on is the least expensive for your prescriptions. Just because the HR manager pointed out the most popular plan, doesn't mean it's right for you. Ask to talk to an health insurance rep.

Retail outlets: Many large retail outlets, including some grocery chains are offering low-cost prescription services. Call them to compare prices.

Online drugs: Sit at home and shop online. It's an efficient way to compare prices and have drugs sent to you in the mail. Word of caution however, once you think you have found a great online outlet, google more information on them or check them out on a consumer report site.

The best of health to you!

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