Oct 23, 2001 11:13 AM
5392 Views
When available generic medicines are always the best way to go for saving money.
Most of the bigger stores such as KMART and Walmart to name just a couple have their own brand of drugs. Such as Aspirin, Cough Medication, Flu Medication, Vitamins, Supplements.
Just about every over the counter medicine that you can think of. Even the diet pills like metabolite now are produced by the drug stores under their own name.
Years ago I was surprised to find out that the same companies that make things for the big brands also make it for the store chains and put it in a bottle with their name on it. It in some cases is the same thing just with a different label on it. The same goes for fruits and vegetables. Sometimes in the fruits and vegetables the quality goes down because certain stores had different standards that they wanted or didn't want.
Also with medication that the doctor prescribes that can only be purchased with a prescription, many times the doctors have samples of these drugs and they are more then happy to give them to the patients. You just ave to ask.
For people that are on a limited budget or fixed income, All of the drug companies that I know of, have indigent patient programs. You just have to have the doctor fill out a form for you so that you can get your medications for free. Ask your doctor and see if you qualify. No one in this day and age should have to go without needed medication.
I would like to add one last thing regarding generic drugs. In prescription drugs generics are not the same in all cases as the name brand drug and sometimes people cannot take the generic because they are not as effective for certain patients. This is not with all generic prescription drugs but it is in some. Usually your doctor will know if this is the case.
