Do you get nervous when you are faced with filling a prescription again? There are a variety of measures you can take to lessen your monthly prescription bill, including reducing the number of prescriptions you are taking. It may take a little effort, or it may even take quite a bit, but it is often worth your time.
Patients are constantly complaining to their pharmacy professionals about the rising cost of their prescriptions. Even though there are many ways to lower the costs of prescription medications, you need to first look at WHY this is the case.
* Be ready with your questions and concerns when visiting your doctor. Think carefully about what you need to know and write a list of your questions. Bring your list of questions with you to the appointment and keep focused on them.
* The attractive display and housing full of samples should prompt the question,”Why are you promoting this drug?”
- You can always take a look at your own lifestyle and see if there are any changes you can make on your own. If you weigh more than you should, could you drop the medication if you lowered your weight? Would it help to follow an exercise regime?
- Is there a generic equivalent that will have the same effect?
* Ask the health care provider who prescribed you the new medicine whether it will interact with anything you are already taking (of course you are carrying a list of current medications with you)
* When you are sure that you need the new drug and that the doctor does not have any samples to give you, ask for a prescription for one month. This should be more than enough time to figure out if there are any ADRs (Adverse Drug Reactions) and if the drug is performing.
The Buy: Many people base their pharmacy selection on convenience alone. Do not allow this to be your only reason. Once you find a pharmacy that fits your needs, make sure you address any concerns you might have with the pharmacist.
* Ask the pharmacist, or other staff whether the personnel is constant or whether they are often staffed by short-term substitutes.
* Ask them how they check for interactions between different medications, between drugs and food, and between prescribed drugs and OTC (Over the Counter) medications
* Ask whether they have time to do their work properly or if they find themselves too busy
* Ask if they can help you pay less for your prescribed medications:
- If you come with a new prescription, will they automatically dispense the generic equivalent?
- If there is no generic available, are they willing to call/fax the prescriber to ask them to recommend a less expensive equivalent?
- Will they let you know if a generic later becomes available?
- Would they be willing give you a better price per month for a three month supply than a one month supply to help find the most economical plan for you to pay for your medication?
- Do they automatically get in touch with the doctor if you bring an expired refill prescription?
- Will they work to resolve problems with your insurance company and if this is not possible, will they inform the doctor?
- If they change manufacturer for your prescribed medication, will they inform you?
If you can bring your prescription or phone it in the day before at the latest, it will help them give you better service.
This helps in several different ways:
- If the pharmacy does not have enough of your medication, it gives them time to order more.
- If there is a problem with your insurance, it allows them time to work on resolving it.
- If they need to contact your doctor, it also gives time for this.
Let’s move to the issue of personal responsibility. You only have one body, and no one can do more to keep it working properly than you. If you weigh more than you should, mention it to your health care provider and ask for assistance. If you feel depressed, don’t cover it up; discuss it with your health care provider. The longer you wait, the worse it can be, and talking with your health professional is one of the easiest things you can do to relieve your own anxiety.
Utilize the wealth of information your pharmacist has. Hold steady with one pharmacy and become acquainted with the people there. The pharmacist and staff take a greater interest in your health if they see that you are proactive about it.
Ask relevant questions, and read all of the patient information available. Understand how long you are expected to take the drug and of course what it is you are ingesting.
- At what point does this get ingested?
- Can food be taken at the same time?
- Can it be ingesting with additional drugs?
- Is this medication alright to crush or split?
- Are you permitted to discontinuing the drug without contacting the doctor if there are no symptoms experienced?
- What possible side effects should be expected?
As with many other products, it is not always best to buy the lowest-priced option, but the highest-priced drug is not necessarily the best either. Understanding reasons and purchases — your “WHYs” and “BUYs” — can help you pay less for medications.