8 Ways to Pay Less for Prescriptions
Prescription prices can vary more than most people expect, even for the same drug in the same town. The tips below are general information, not medical advice, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before changing how you fill or take any medication.
1Ask whether a generic is available
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient as their brand-name counterparts and are expected to work the same way in the body. They often cost much less, yet some prescriptions are still written or filled as brand-name versions out of habit.
Next time you get a new prescription, ask your doctor whether a generic version exists and whether it would work for you. Your pharmacist can also tell you if a generic is available and, in many cases, substitute it unless the prescriber has indicated otherwise.
If no generic exists for your specific medication, ask whether there's a generic option in the same class of drugs that could treat your condition. Some people do respond differently to certain inactive ingredients, so if you notice changes after switching, mention them to your pharmacist or doctor rather than stopping the medicine on your own. They can help you decide whether to stay with the generic or go back to the original.