Ask the Doctor - How can I save money on my prescriptions?

Ask the Doctor
Leslee B. Cochrane, MD.
Medical Director
Ramona Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice

Question: I spend over $300 per month on prescriptions and I don’t know how much longer I can afford them. Is there anything I can do to save money on my prescriptions?

Despite all the talk about how expensive health care is and how we need to reform it; there are several things you can do right now to save money that don’t require an act of Congress. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started on your own personal “ economic stimulus” plan:

1. An ounce of prevention is worth a $100 of cure – See your doctor and dentist regularly for check ups. A cavity costs about $100 to repair; if neglected the root canal and crown will run you close to $2,000. Likewise, with early detection diabetes and hypertension can be controlled thus preventing expensive complications such as strokes, heart attacks, and renal failure.
2. Too many cooks (or pills) spoil the soup- Many patients take more medications than necessary. Unnecessary medications increase cost and multiply the risk of adverse reactions. The next time you see your doctor, take your medications with you and ask the doctor these three questions: What is this for? What are the side effects? And, do I really need to take this? Stop all unnecessary medications. For more information see my article on Polypharmacy at www.ramonavna.org under the community news section.
3. The buck stops here- Once you have eliminated unnecessary medications as described above you should ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a generic or less expensive alternative available. Wal-Mart has over 300 prescription drugs and over 1,000 over the counter medications available for $4.00 per month. Call your pharmacist or check out http://www.walmart.com/4prescriptions for prices.
4. A penny saved is a penny earned- If you can use a pill cutter, chances are you can cut your prescription costs in half. Most drugs cost just about the same regardless of the dose. For example if you take Enalapril 10 mg twice daily, you could buy the 20 mg strength, cut them in half and take ½ pill twice daily thereby cutting your cost in half.

I hope these tips help you to pinch those pennies so hard that you hear ole Abe Lincoln squeal.

If you would like to submit a question please contact Jennifer Trebler at jtrebler@ramonavna.org.