Fitness, Exercise, Health

Prescription medicines are something that most every single person will need at some point in their lives and some even take daily prescription medicines that they will never be able to discontinue. As most people know, prescription medicines can be quite costly, especially if you do not have insurance or a program like Medicare or Medicaid. One alternative to the soaring costs of prescription medicines is to find out if your druggist has a generic version available.

Generic prescription medicines are usually the same exact drug but it does not have a patent. Some generic drugs have the patent protection but not on a certain active ingredient. Essentially you are getting the same thing without the name brand since a generic form of prescription medicines must have the same active ingredients as the original formula. Generic prescription medicines are exactly alike as far as dosage, strength, safety, how you take it, and its intended use.

The best thing to do is to ask your pharmacist if a generic version is available and what the cost difference is. Sometimes, the savings can be quite substantial. Even if you have insurance, often the co-pay is lower for generic prescriptions than for name brand. For example, a generic prescription might cost you $10 whereas a name brand prescription medicine might cost $20.

Since major brands pay millions to protect their brand against generic prescription medicines, there is usually at least a 180-day waiting period on a new generic brand. Some companies will even work exclusively with a generic supplier and waive the 180-day policy if the drug is popular enough. This way the company gets proceeds from their product and the generic prescription medicines they are producing.

So the next time you’re at the drug store having a prescription filled, consider asking if generic prescription medicines are available since you’ll be getting the same product, just less expensive.