As the cost of prescription medicines continues to rise, many patients find themselves budgeting tightly for their medication expenses. Unfortunately, high blood pressure is an especially difficult condition from this point of view because it is fairly common to trial several different drugs before finding one that works well, and because many patients end up taking two or three drugs simultaneously to keep their blood pressure under control. For patients who don't qualify for drug assistance programs, there are still ways to make sure you’re getting your prescriptions filled for the lowest prices possible.
Shop Around
Though the age of the corner drugstore is now fading into the past, a surprising number of older patients still fill prescriptions at small, local pharmacies. Because pharmacies that buy more drugs from distributors pay less, having prescriptions filled at large pharmacies or pharmacy chains can save money. If you have access to a large urban medical center, the onsite pharmacies tend to have the lowest prices. Even in small or medium sized towns/cities, you’re likely to find price differences at different stores. Pharmacies compete for customers just like any other business, and spending an hour or so calling different pharmacies in your area could result in significant savings.
Go Online
Several large pharmacy chains offer prescription-via-internet services. Some reputable names include:
- CVS.com
- Drugstore.com
- FamilyMeds.com
- Teldrug.com
Buy in Bulk
Whether you choose to use a local pharmacy or an online pharmacy, buying three to six months worth of medicine all at once can add up to substantial cost savings. The savings can be so substantial, in fact, that the US Veterans Affairs Council – which operates VA hospitals across the country – requires that patients treated in VA medical centers try to obtain their medicines using this method. While not all drugs can be purchased in multi-month supplies because of laws regulating controlled substances, common high blood pressure medicines are not subject to these special rules, and shouldn’t cause any problems.
Go Generic
Generic versions of drugs, when available, can cut the cost of certain medications by up to 75%. Except for the newest, fanciest medicines, most drugs used to treat high blood pressure are available in generic form. Generic drugs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration just like their name brand counterparts. You can ask your pharmacist to substitute generics when available, but you should really talk to your doctor first to see if you’re taking any medicines that can be replaced with low cost generic equivalents. Not all medicines are available as generics, but even if only one of your prescriptions is available in generic form, you’ll see a big difference in your monthly pharmacy bill.
Read More: Generic Drugs
Combine Pills
Many drug companies now make medicines that combine several different drugs into one pill. For patients who take several different medications, combining many pills into one can be a more economical way to purchase. Most combination drugs can also be cut – meaning you can physically cut the pills in half. Because higher dose versions of the same pill often cost the same, buying 30 double strength pills and cutting each pill in half can give you 60 days worth of medication for 30 days worth of cost. Many pharmacies even sell pill cutters to make the job easier. You’ll need to ask your doctor to write a prescription for the stronger dose, and make sure you clearly understand how to divide the new pills before taking them.
