It pays to shop around, just a little. Time is money and money is time, so who has time to shop around? This article (author unknown) helps out a little w. medication, the prices, some of the reasons why, how to shop and so on. It's never okay to skimp, or go the cheapie route when it comes to putting medication in your body. It can be very harmful. This article doesn't mention over the counter medication but, it's very important not to self diagnose, supplements, herbal supplements, homeopathy and other such things has just as strong as an effect as prescribed medications, always use these things as well others under doctors supervision. Don't be mislead by my rambling this is about saving money on your prescription medications and if there's a way to save way not! K.H.
Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the active ingredient in prescription medications? Some people think it must cost a lot, since many drugs sell for more than $2.00 per tablet. We did research of offshore chemical synthesizers that supply the active ingredients found in drugs approved by the FDA. As we have revealed in past issues of Life Extension, a significant percentage of drugs sold in the United States contain active ingredients made in other countries. In our independent investigation of how much profit drug companies really make, we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in some of the most popular drugs sold in America.
The data below speaks for itself.
Celebrex: 100 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $ 0.60
Percent markup: 21,712%
Claritin: 1 0 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215.17
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.71
Percent markup: 30,306%
Lipitor: 20 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272.37
! Cost of general active ingredients: $5.80
Percent markup: 4,696%
Paxil: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $220.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60
Percent markup: 2,898%
Prevacid: 30 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $44.77
Cost of general active ingredients: $1.01
Percent markup: 34,136%
Prilosec : 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $360.97
Cost of general active ingredients $0.52 Percent markup: 69,417%
Xanax: 1 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets) : $136.79
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.024
Percent markup: 569,958%
Zithromax: 600 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $1,482.19
Cost of general active ingredients: $18.78
Percent markup: 7,892%
Zocor: 40 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $350.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $8.63
Percent markup: 4,059%
The cost of prescription drugs is outrageous, so read on, maybe it can help you or help someone you know, not all the medications researched where listed.- K.H.
This helps to solve the mystery as to why they can afford to put a Walgreen's on every corner. On Monday night, Steve Wilson, an investigative reporter for Channel 7 News in Detroit, did a story on generic drug price gouging by pharmacies. He found in his investigation, that some of these generic drugs were marked up as much as 3,000% or more. Yes, that's not a typo.....three thousand
percent! So often, we blame the drug companies for the high cost of drugs, and usually rightfully so. But in this case, the fault clearly lies with the pharmacies themselves . For example, if you had to buy a prescription drug, and bought the name brand, you might pay $100 for 100 pills. The pharmacist might tell you that if you get the generic equivalent, they would only cost $80, making you think you are "saving" $20. What the pharmacist is not telling you is that those 100 generic pills may have only cost him $10!
At the end of the report, one of the anchors asked Mr. Wilson whether or not there were any pharmacies that did not adhere to this practice, and he said that Costco consistently charged little over their cost for the generic drugs.
I went to the Costco site, where you can look up any drug, and get its online price. It says that the in-store prices are consistent with the online prices. I was appalled. Just to give you one example from my own experience, I had to use the drug, Compazine, which helps prevent nausea in chemo patients.
I used the generic equivalent, which cost $54.99 for 60 pills at CVS. I checked the price at Costco, and I could have bought 100 pills for $19.89. For 145 of my pain pills, I paid $72.57. I could have got 150 at Costco for $28.08. I would like to mention, that although Costco is a "membership" type store, you do NOT have to be a member to buy prescriptions there, as it is a federally regulated substance. You just tell them at the door that you wish to use the pharmacy, and they will let you in. (this is true) I went there this past Thursday and asked them.
This is someone's story so the I in the above mentioned is not me, however I thought this might be helpful to anyone who sufferers from allergies, heart disease, or illness that requires medication. It is helpful to get the best possible price and care when you/I are going through any type of care/treatment. I also want to mention WESTSIDE Pharmacy, they have recently been saving or family up and over $100.00 per month from the previous Safeway. The line, the costumer care and service is good as well.
One more thing to add, you know your self and if you've been taking the same medication for more than one month and go for a refill and IT LOOKS DIFFERENT, PLEASE, PLEASE, go back, call right away!. These mistakes are easily made, so many drugs have so many similar names and let's face it most doctor's have pretty bad handwriting, sorry LB. I've personally experienced this 3 times now, w.in the last few years! The last time, I took the medication(totally wrong med.'s) for two days, I was off my regular medication (A)and I was at risk for seizures, the medication put me at risk for some other crazy life threatening stuff(B). Followed a horrible 4 week plus migraine kicked off at 110%, and operated at 95% for 3 of the weeks, a lot work, medication, calling God(for lack of words here) and I came down 70%, not bad considering. Mind you, this wasn't just because I took the wrong med.'s it just didn't help. I had suspected the medication was incorrect, but thought, maybe they changed it... it felt wrong... da,da,da,discernment, yes, a whisper from the Holy Spirt. The way in which He speaks to us all. And me like many of us brushed it aside like lint on my shirt. It took a day then I decided to listen and act. To listen is a function as a verb. To listen defined as this: to pay attention, to hear something with thoughtful attention: to give consideration. Listening to the gentle, profound, powerful leading of the Holy Spirit it's pretty important! I just didn't expect I'd get a new definition to listen, especially to Him in such a way. Anyway, read your bottle, and double check the pills!
And you like me might try and LISTEN in a NEW way, watch for your hand brushing the lint off, batting the nat away as they say, give thoughtful attention to something, your self, your family or a friend, HE wants to heal us, you and me inside and out!
Peace, health and happiness,
KIM
I will share a web site I recently found and hope you find it hopeful in this arena. 
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