This site will help you
with the following issues:
MANAGING YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Prescription drugs is a medical option that can cure illness, improve one's health and lead to a higher quality of life. Cost is an important issue but it certainly is not as important as the ultimate benefit of drugs.
Of all the efforts in health care, new drugs offer us hope for cures, partial cures and a better quality of life. I have seen amazing advances in prescription drug solutions over time. I am sure it will continue.
The web site section on clinical trials is one way to participate in advances with new medications.
This web site page will focus on cost savings issues.
This is a very good article on the overall issues of managing your prescription drugs.
Make Your Medicine Work & Ten Vital Questions to Ask With Every Prescription
USA Weekend
August 16, 2009
HOW TO LOWER THE COST OF YOUR PRESCRIPTION
DRUG
Generic Drug Options
Many drugs have generic versions. Half
of all filled prescription drugs are generics. Even
if you are covered by a company health plan with
a co-pay, a generic drug may lower your costs. Also
many drugs are losing their patent protection and
generics will be available in the future. Companies
with patented drugs losing patent protection are
even offering their own generic versions. Ask your
doctor and pharmacist if a generic version is available
and keep asking in future visits.
For generic options for different prescription
drugs click this web
site from Rxaminer. The site allows you to search for generic alternatives.
The FDA
at this site provides information on generic
drugs.
Wal-Mart has introduced a nationwide program to sell select generic drugs at low prices. Click here for a link to the article.
Generic drugs are not always an exact substitution for proven established drugs. Here are several articles on concerns for generic drugs.
Inexact Copies: How Generics Differ From Brand Names
The Wall Street Journal
Access may be limited. If so try a Google search by title or go to your local library
April 22, 2008 pg D1
Pharmaceutical Company Prescription Relief
Programs
Many drug companies offer price relief
for low-income people and even middle income families
without health insurance. Several companies that
can assist you have web sites. We have also included
direct links to select company sites.
Recently many of the major drug companies introduced
the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. It
is for those without prescription coverage and need
help paying for medicine. To see if you or someone
you know may qualify call 1-888-477-2669 or visit
the Partnership
for Prescription Assistance Web Site.
Each company has their own qualifications. Typically
there are no age requirements. Individuals can earn
as much as $30,000 a year, couples can earn $25,000
or at GlaxoSmithKline up to $40,000.
Needy
Meds.com
This is a non profit organization that is spreading
the word about patient assistance programs. This
site will guide you to complete application forms
to send to the pharmaceutical companies. Typically
they have to be completed by your doctor.
-
Brand Name List
-
Generic name List
-
Company List
RxAssist
A national program supported by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation.
This is a Patient Assistance Program that provides
qualified low-income individuals and families with
access to generic versions of brand name medications.
-
Summary of State programs
-
Search patient assistance programs
by company, brand name, generic name and drug
class.
-
Review drug discount programs.
Pharmaceutical
company and other resources drug purchase help sites
The National Headache Foundation put together a summary of patient assistant programs with phone numbers for the major pharmaceutical companies. Click here for access.
Individual pharmaceutical sites are listed below.
-
Merck
Merck is offering a discount drug card for uninsured
Americans regardless of age or income. Click on Merck above to go to their web site or call 1-800-506-3725.
-
Pfizer
Click on Pfizer above to go to their web site or call their help phone number 1-800-707 8990 or the
Pfizer Pfriends program at 1-866-906-2800 (English)
or 1-866-906-3700 (Spanish)
-
GlaxoSmithKline
You can also contact them at 1-888-672-6436 or 1-866-475-3678
-
Novartis
Click on Novartis above or call 1-866-974-2273
Together
Rx Card
Sponsored by Abbott Laboratories, AstraZenca,
Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson,
and Novartis. Click on Together Rx Card above or phone: 1-800-865-7211
- Benefits Check Up
This site helps people to connect to private or government programs that help pay for prescription drugs.
- RxHope
This site allows a patient to search for patient assistance programs by medication or pharmaceutical company and to print out applications for patient assistance.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder by State
Tool to find Medicare drug plans where you live
State-by-State, Plan-by-Plan List of Pharmacy Assistance Program
From AARP
April 2006
State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program
This site from the National Conference of State Legislators is an excellent resource and how to find assistance in your state in purchasing prescription drugs.
Expiration Dates
Check the expiration date on your drugs
when you buy them. If you feel you will not use
the entire product by that date, ask your pharmacist
if the date is accurate.
Some pharmacies used to automatically
put the expiration date one year from when the prescription
was filled. Legally they can no longer do this.
A class action suit was filed against Walgreen on
this issue in Cook County, Illinois. It appears
Walgreen and others are now putting actual expiration
dates on the drug packages.
Medicare Prescription Drug Issues
If you are covered by Medicare please review
the following:
-
Information on Medicare prescription drugs and enrolling in the
voluntary Medicare drug discount program is available
from Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or go to the
Medicare
prescription drugs web site. Medicare has an excellent easy to
use web site. Go to search tools and click the
heading under “Prescription drug and other
assistance programs.” In this site you can
check prices or go to the direct Medicare link
for competitive prices.
-
The Medicare drug discount program
is voluntary. Some seniors received the cards
automatically through their Medicare HMO or were
enrolled through their state program
-
A study the Kaiser Family Foundation,
a non-profit organization found that the new Medicare
drug discount program cards provide substantial
savings over retail prices for medicines. AARP
is one provider of a drug card.
Price Shopping
Once you know what drug you need to buy,
here are some steps to find the lowest price. The
internet and your home phone offer the opportunity
to price shop and save a significant amount of money.
Call your local drugs stores. They do not have
the same prices. I found that Wal-Mart offers very
competitive prices. If you do not have the phone
number of the local Wal-Mart go to the
Wal-Mart Pharmacy Web Site for a list of stores. Wal-Mart
does not presently offer a prescription drug price
web site. They do offer a mail order pharmacy service.
In their web site they are promoting this program
to customers with no insurance. To check Wal-Mart
drug prices call 1-800-273-3455. Wal-Mart also accepts
many insurance plans.
Wal-Mart now offers generic drugs at very low prices. Click here for the article in The New York Times. It requires a free one time registration.
Destination RX
Excellent site for searching for drug prices.
MichiganDrugPrices.com
This site will show you prices for drugs from a variety of sources. If you do not live in Michigan it will still allow you to compare the price you are paying to prices at major pharmacies.
Searching this site will clearly show you that all pharmacies do not charge the same price.
Minnesota Rx Connect
This website provides information about prescription medicine, safety, and cost saving tips. The advice is valuable to those in other states.
Ohio Prescription drug discount plan
Offers cardholders 13% off the average wholesale price and 20% off generic drugs. 90% of the state’s pharmacies support the program.
New York State
This is a web site set up by the State of New York. It can help New Yorkers to find the best drug price. The front page of the site shows examples of savings.
Pharmacy
Checker
Check drug prices from a variety of sources. They
also rate online pharmacies.
MedicareDrugPlans.com
Ratings. profiles, and discussions about Medicare Drug Plans
Private company not associated with Medicare
Check the internet
price lists of the large local pharmacies: All these sites are designed for geeks. You can try to work your way through them or just call your local pharmacy and ask for their prices.
A number of organizations offer price checks:
-
The
Medicare
web site offers pricing comparisons. You do
not have to be enrolled in Medicare to use this
site. Click the link on the first page for drug
comparison prices.
When buying drugs on line you need to be cautious.
The FDA has found a number of cases of companies
making counterfeit drugs. The reputation of who
you are dealing with is critical.
The following is a list
of online pharmacies approved by The
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy®. This organization is the only professional association
that represents the state boards of pharmacy in
all 50 United States, the District of Columbia,
Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, New Zealand,
eight Canadian Provinces, three Australian States,
and South Africa.
Buy in Bulk
Patients might be able to save by buying in bulk through a a plan's mail-order option. Typically they allow you to buy a 90 day supply for much less than 3-30 day supplies.
Importing Drugs & Buying Drugs Online
National
Library of Medicine—Medlineplus Drug information site
Information on thousands of prescription
and over the counter medications is provided. Medlineplus’
web site includes a description of thousands of
prescription and over the counter medications from
the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National
Institutes of Heath.
The FDA has an excellent site with basic information on prescription drugs. You can search by drug name.
FDA drug list site
Drug Directory from U. S. News & World Report
This is a great resource of information.
Drug Interactions & Safety Issues
Drug interactions by some estimates; kill
up to 200,000 patients every year. Health professionals
recommend you collect all your prescriptions, vitamins,
and over-the-counter drugs and have your doctor
inspect them for dangerous interactions.
Good site on the misuse
of medications in older adults.
Senior
Care Pharmacist
This site was developed by the American Society
of Consultant Pharmacists to help you make the best
use of your medicines and to protect the health
and quality of life of seniors by preventing medication
related problems.
The American Society of
Health Systems Pharmacists consumer site offers easy
to read information on over 700 drugs based on data
from experts and pharmacist members.
-
Why is this prescription prescribed?
-
How should this medicine be used?
-
What special precautions should
I follow?
-
What special dietary instructions
should I follow?
-
What should I do if I forget
a dose?
-
What side effects can this medication
cause?
-
What storage conditions are needed
for this medication?
Help In Scheduling Your Medication
My
Pill Box
Help in scheduling your medications
Pill Splitting
There are several articles based on work done at the University of Michigan on pill splitting.
Is Pill Splitting Right For You
USA Weekend
October 2, 2009
Splitting Certain Pills Safe
University of Michigan
June 12, 2007
Cutting Pills, and Bills in Half
Business Week
July 2, 2007
Scroll way down to this article
General Drug Information
Optimizerx.com
Web site that offers special savings and free trails on prescription drugs. For osteoporosis drugs they offered a free one month trial on Boniva, and a $20 a $20 rebate on Actonel.
Many Patients Stop Medicine to Early
This site discusses why you need to continue to take drugs as prescribed.
In certain cases stopping to early could be deadly.
Government
Clinical Trials
Lists drugs in clinical trials
Consumers
Reports
Rate prescription drugs in an effort to save your
money. As of March 4, 2009 they had 12 drugs and 12 conditions listed including the following:
-
Chronic pain
- Insomnia
- Heartburn
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Alzheimer's
- Migraine
- High cholesterol
- Angina
- Constipation
- ADHD
- Depression
Learn
if a medical device has been cleared by the FDA.
Drug
Digest
Click the appropriate bar on the top for these topics
The
Food and Drug Administration
Consumer Drug Information page with general information
about prescription drugs approved since January
1998 and some not yet approved.
PDRHealth.com
Physicians Desk Reference Site
Detailed drug Information
Type in the name of your product and obtain details on its use
- Prescription Drugs A-Z
- OTC Drugs A-Z
- Herbal Medicines A-Z
- Nutritional Supplements A-Z
