Page 58 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2018

cheaper
story by Lynn Lofton
any consumers are looking for ways
to cut health care costs and finding cheaper prescription medications are a part of that search. John Weldon, M.D., who serves as chief of staff at Singing River Health System, and registered
Don’t hesitate to ask
questions, speak up,” Weldon said. “You might
ask if you really need a certain drug or if there are options. If you don’t have all your prescriptions filled, be sure to let your doctor know.”
Day adds that patients should also talk with their pharmacists about alternatives. “Sometimes older, less expensive drugs are just as effective, and then there may be times that doctors are not aware of costs and we can ask about alternatives.”
Additionally, Weldon and Day stress that discount cards and coupons may help lower costs. “A lot of times you can go online looking up a specific drug and find a good coupon for that drug,” Day said.
In addition to asking for generics, the Budget Diet website has the following suggestions:
compare prices buy the cheaper 90-day supply rather than a 30-day supply use coupons and discounts ask if over- the-counter alternatives are viable ask for samples re- evaluate your insurance cut pills in half.
Day explains that 10- and 20-milligram drugs cost the same so patients can cut the higher dosage in half to get the same benefit.
pharmacist Daniel Day, owner of Woolmarket Pharmacy and TD Pharmacy, have some helpful suggestions.
Both point to the well-known practice of using less expensive generic drugs as alternatives to brand names. “Start with your physician and ask what he or she recommends; most will probably lean toward allowing generics,” Weldon said. “Most drugs are fairly uniform and generally won’t cause major problems if substituted.”
However, he warns that in some cases there is no generic alternative. “There are a number of cancer medications with no generic alternative. These are the times when the physician checks the box on the prescription that says ‘dispense only as written.’”
Day, who’s been a pharmacist for 31 years, says,
“If there’s a generic, we use it. There are very few occasions that we can’t. Sometimes we can’t with drugs for diabetics.”
Both health care professionals stress the importance of patients talking openly and honestly with their doctors. “It’s important to have that close working relationship.
58 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • June 2018
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net