As we get older, it seems our medicine cabinets collect more drugs: potions, creams, pills, capsules, liquids, you name it. These prescriptions are expensive, even with good insurance and Medicare, so make yourself D-R-U-G S-M-A-R-T with these tips for managing your meds.

D: Different drugs within the same class often have considerably different costs. Manufacturers would like you to think that only your exact, specific drug will work for your condition, but that is not always the case. True, different people react in different ways, but you might be able to substitute a less expensive drug for your condition, such as a standard that has been around for years rather than a new formulation just released.

R: Raise the issue of cost with your doctor, both for new prescriptions and for those you currently take. Your doctor probably doesn’t know what kind of insurance you have or whether you must be concerned about drug costs. With some drugs today costing $100 for a single pill, you don’t have to be embarrassed to ask.

U: Use a pill splitter if your doctor says it’s OK in your case. Much of the cost of some medications is in the individual tablet rather than in the strength. You might be able to purchase twice the dosage for little more than your current prescription, split each pill, and reduce medicine costs by nearly half.

G: Generics are sensible substitutes for many brand-name medicines. Thousands of drugstores and grocery pharmacies now offer 30-day supplies of generics for $4 or 90-day supplies for $10. Both your doctor and your pharmacist can tell you if there is a generic version of the drug you take.

S: Samples your doctor offers free are tempting and can be welcome, but manufacturers supply those to sell prescriptions. Be sure that specific free drug is the best one for your condition.

M: Make sure you tell your physician about ALL the medications you are taking, including such simple things as daily multivitamins, fish oil capsules, and herbal supplements. If you have to see a specialist for a new illness or problem that has come up, take a written list of all your prescriptions and supplements with you. Possibilities for drug interactions increase as your list of meds grows, so don’t take chances on trying to remember everything you take.

A: Ask why you need another drug if your doctor prescribes one. Ask if that is the best drug and if it is FDA-approved for your specific condition. Some drugs are prescribed for conditions or age groups other than those for which it was originally formulated, based on anecdotal evidence that it sometimes helps for this other purpose. If this turns out to be the case with your new med, ask for evidence that it is effective in your case.

R: Remember to tell your doctor about any side effects you have from any of your medicines, especially from new prescriptions. Even though drugs are tested extensively on hundreds of thousands of people, a variety of adverse side effects accompanies each medication. Perhaps only 2% of the population experiences this side effect, but if you are one of the 2%, the side effect can seriously deter your recovery.

T: Take all of your prescribed drug, and take it correctly. If it is temporary, such as an antibiotic for a sore throat, don’t stop taking the drug halfway through because you begin to feel better. Some of those nasty little fellows remain in your body, even after you feel better, and they continue to grow. This is one way antibiotic-resistant bacteria appear. They are weakened but not killed by the medicine, so they recover and become stronger when the drug is stopped. Medicines you take regularly are equally important. Your condition won’t be well controlled if you don’t take the correct amount of the drug.

Copyright 2009 Linda Manley

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