Published: November 17, 2008 05:30 pm            

Programs can help with generic drugs

Anyone can save money on prescriptions when buying generic. I previously believed that everyone knew about the $4 prescription program from various pharmacies until my brother told me about having to pay $60 a month for his blood thinner. After I encouraged him to participate in this program, he is saving over $50 a month on just one prescription.

I am a registered nurse in a local hospital and thought about how many people I see that have several medications that they have to pay for. So I decided to do some research and spread the word about generic medications programs. After researching this topic, I have found that Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger, Kmart, and Target offer these special prices to their customers. Anyone can find a list of generic drugs on these plans on www.walmart.com/pharmacy, www.kroger.com/generic/Pages/index.html, kmart.com, or sites.target.com/site-/en/health/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-004319. If unable to get to a computer, each pharmacy has a printed list with the medications that are included in their program at the pharmacy.

Generic drugs are a lower-cost alternative to name-brand medication. If a person’s prescription is for a name-brand medication, he /she should ask his/her medical care provider to recommend a generic alternative. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at www.fda.gov, a generic drug is the same as a brand-name drug in dosage, safety, strength, quality, the way it works, the way it is taken, and the way it should be used. Companies that create brand name medications have a patent for these drugs for 17 years. During this time, generics cannot be made. After the 17 years, other companies can make the generic drugs.

Programs are out there that can assist. More people need to be informed of these programs, so they are able to take advantage of them. These $4 prescription programs do save a lot of people money.

Mary Lewis RN, Princeton WV

        

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