Mar 10, 2008 11:47 pm US/Pacific
Free Service Helps Consumers Save On Prescriptions
(CBS 5)
Saving money on prescriptions can be easy when doctors prescribe generic drugs. It can be difficult when the drug does not have a generic equivalent. That's where
Consumer Reports Best Buy Drug Guide is stepping up to the plate to help both patients and physicians.
Peter Mandell has experienced the money crunch when it comes to prescription drugs. Since suffering a disabling stroke, he runs the gauntlet to keep his drug costs down.
"You pretty much find a way to do it. And I've been at this for 5 or 6 years now," Mandell described. "I used to go to Walgreens and now I go to Costco and try to save money that way. You can get longer prescriptions too if that helps. I get it from Canada. It's a little bit cheaper in Canada,"
Even when he factors in Medicare and insurance, some months Mandell can wind up paying $300 to $400 for his medications.
Mandell's doctor works with him to find the cheapest medicines, but not all doctors invest this time with their patients. Some end up overspending on drugs.
Consumer Reports found that up to 85% of people on name brand statins could safely be taking much cheaper generics alternatives.
"Physicians are pushed to the wall in terms of their time and energy and I don't know many people who systematically generate lists of generic medicine so that they can preferentially give those. What Consumer Reports has done is done that job for the doctor," said Dr. Erica Goode.
Consumer Reports put hundreds of the most common medications side by side to see whether older, cheaper drugs could be effective substitutes for the newer, more expensive ones. In most cases, the answer was yes.
In Mandell's case, the drug he hasn't been able to replace with generics is Vytorin. A study by Consumer Reports found that taking the generic equivalent Symastatin instead of Vytorin could save Mandell $50 to $65 a month.
Other examples released by Consumer Reports include the allergy drug Claritin, which costs only $13 compared to Zyrtec at $101, saving patients $88 per month.
The cholesterol lowering drug Lovastin costs $34, compared to Lipitor at $98. The switch is $66 cheaper.
The most savings are with Prilosec, an over the counter heartburn medication at just $26. This is compared to $210 for prescription Nexium, which saves patients a whopping $184.
Remember that patients cannot self-prescribe these medicines. Dr Goode said most doctors will look at the options.
"I really appreciate lists because if they have come up with all of the stuff that they are taking and bringing their computer print out of everything they are taking then it makes my job way easier," added Dr. Goode.
Consumer Reports is making these drug lists free to CBS 5 viewers. If you're taking multiple drugs, bring the list of possible money savers to your doctor to discuss the options.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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