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Prescription Medicines

Sally Perkins provides advice on the ways to save the cost of buying prescription medicines

Knowing how to save money on prescription drugs brings a lot of relief to American households that remain stressed due to the out-of-pocket expenses incurred every month to pay for medical bills. The Covid19 pandemic has increased the expenses many more times as people are trying to boost immunity by consuming certain medicines. Every American is keen to explore all possibilities of buying medicines at a cheaper rate without compromising on the quality.   Here are some ways of reducing the cost of prescription medicines.

Buy generic medicines

The world knows that generic medicines are much cheaper than branded medicines. Doctors do not mind prescribing them because the generic medicines match the quality and efficacy of branded drugs.  The considerable price difference should never be mistaken as an indicator of poor quality because medicines available in the market, branded or generic, are safe and effective for the treatment of diseases, duly endorsed by the FDA. 

Since generic drug manufacturers do not spend money on the process of drug discovery and save the cost of research and development, they can maintain the lower price for the drugs.  Ask the pharmacist if there is a generic version of the medicine available.

Enroll in discount programs

An easier way to save on medical expenses is to enroll in some drug discount programs. For example, many companies issue free discount cards for prescription medicines valid across the country and accepted by more than 60,000 pharmacies that are part of the network of the card-issuing company. The preactivated cards are without any expiry or eligibility criteria and do not have any limits attached to them. However, the discount varies between medicines based on the drug, the state, and the pharmacy. But on average, you can expect a 60% discount on prescription medicines.

Some pharmaceutical companies offer drug assistance programs to selected patients based on their income and health needs. Assistance programs are also available from some insurance companies and state that you can check with the website of your local governments.

Promote Good Sleep

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Splitting pills

Depending on the type of medicine and its dose, it might be possible to order a double dose of your medicine and then split the pills in half. To split the pills, you must invest $5-$10 in a pill-splitter that helps to do the job neatly. Consult your physician about the possibility of pill splitting so that it does not compromise the effectiveness and safety of the drug.

FDA maintains a list of drugs that are safe for splitting. Such approved pills will have a 'How Supplied' section on the label of the medicine. In addition, the pill has a line visible across it that indicates the position of splitting. Only after splitting and consuming one pill should you split another.

Some online pharmacies offer good discounts to their customers and the discount increases for loyal customers who regularly purchase. The scheme is perfect for those who buy medicines for continuous use in the long term. Also, check online for mail-order prices which can sometimes provide good deals.


Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

  • PERKINS, S. (2020) Prescription Medicines [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article652.htm [Accessed

About the Author

Sally Perkins is a professional freelance writer with many years of experience across many different areas. She made a move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family, and travelling as much as possible.