Accepting a less expensive generic brand of medication is a reasonable thing to do but substitution of brands does cause confusion for some people. Confusion arises when the substituted brand comes packaged in a different box, is a different shape or colour and is branded with another name.

Closer inspection would reveal the generic name (the ingredient) but mostly people remember medications by brand names. For instance Metformin is the generic name for a diabetes drug and the brand names are Diabex, Diaformin, Glucohexal, Glucomet and Glucophage. I have known people to double up on medications because they thought it was an extra medication prescribed.

A brand price premium is charged for original medications and so they are more expensive than the cheaper generic brands even though they have the same ingredients.

Generic drugs are copies of original brand name drugs. When a drug is developed a company has a patent for twenty years. When the patent expires copies of the same drug are made by competing pharmaceutical companies who brand them with a different name.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration have strict regulations and make sure that the copied drugs have the same active ingredients as the original brand and are safe and effective. The only differences are in the inactive ingredients, the fillers and binders.

Guidelines for patients

The less expensive medications can be a good idea especially for the hip pocket but care does need to be taken to avoid confusion.

Try and fill prescription from the same pharmacy as they will have a record of your previous medications and will most likely give you the same as last time. You can also ask for the same less expensive brand as you previously had. The pharmacy can put an extra label on the medication so that you know exactly what you are taking.

If you don’t understand, get confused easily or are anxious about it then stick with the original.

Here are some tips to avoid getting your medications mixed up.

1. Ask your doctor for a print out of the medications you are taking and check the list to make sure it is accurate.

2. Write the new brand name on the drug sheet next to the old name and write down that it is the same as the old.

3. Write the name of the old drug on the packet of the new substituted medication. I.e. New medication is Glucophage old in brackets (Diaformin).

4. Ask your pharmacist to write down the old and new names of your medications for you.

5. Try and remember the generic names. A good idea is to highlight or underline the generic name on all packs and bottles to remind you.

6. If in doubt ask your doctor or pharmacist.

7. It is a good idea to check all medications before taking them and then you are less likely to double up. Check the dose, the time, the use by date, the name of medication and make sure it is for you and not for someone else in the family. Follow any instructions given regarding the medication ie take with food. Take old medications back to your pharmacy.

Starting in 2006, no plans that are qualified to work with a health savings account may cover prescription drugs as an insured benefit until after the deductible is met. So for HSA owners, one of your biggest health expenses could be for prescription drugs. Here are some ways to reduce those costs.

Generics

A report was published this week by Express Scripts Inc., a pharmacy benefit manager, indicating that increased use of generic drugs would save consumers $24 billion in 2005. Generic drugs cost an average of $60 less per month, than brand name drugs.

A report was published this week by Express Scripts Inc., a pharmacy benefit manager, indicating that increased use of generic drugs would save consumers $24 billion in 2005. Generic drugs cost an average of $60 less per month, than brand name drugs.

It is important to understand that brand name drugs often have little or no benefit over older generic versions. A prime example is Prilosec, a heartburn medication whose patent was scheduled to expire in April of 2001. Prilosec consists of two "isomers", a right-hand version and a left hand version. Studies showed an 87% success rate for this drug. AstraZeneca, the manufacturer, decided to offer a newly patented single isomer version called Nexium, which showed only fractionally better results with a 90% success rate.

A $500 million marketing campaign ensued, aimed at both physicians and consumers, to convince them that Nexium is "state-of-the-art". AstraZeneca now sells over $3 billion worth of pills annually, at $120 per box. This is a drug that is essentially only a repackaged version Prilosec, which sells for about $20 per box.

When your doctor is prescribing a drug, make sure to ask him if there is any benefit to taking a brand name over a generic, and let it be known that you’ll be paying for the prescription out of your own pocket.

Drug Discount Programs

Pharmaceutical prices are a lot like hospital prices - very few people actually pay the listed retail price. There are numerous drug discount cards available on the market, which provide savings that average 15% to 40% below retail at participating pharmacies. Typically, most of the chain pharmacies (CVS, Eckerd, Walmart, Kroger, Costco, etc.) participate in these plans.

Many insurance companies include discount cards as an additional benefit that comes with their coverage. Because these cards are not considered to be insurance, they can be offered with an HSA-qualified plan. Insurance companies that provide Rx discount cards with their HSA plans include American Medical Security, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Assurant, Golden Rule, Imerica, Unicare, and World. We also know of one HSA administrator - - that provides a drug discount program to people who use them.

Stand-alone drug discount plans are also available to anyone with access to the internet. We’ve found the average cost of these discount plans to be around $7 or $8 a month.

Mail Order

If the need for a prescription is not urgent, or if you are on long-term medication, mail order is almost always a less expensive way to buy prescription drugs. It is generally cheaper to get a 90-day supply because of a volume discount. I recommend asking your physician to write the prescription for a 3-monthly supply plus three refills. This will get you a year’s worth of drugs, with only one shipping fee.

Importing Prescription Drugs

The city of Boston, the city of San Francisco, the state of Wisconsin, and the State of Minnesota all use a company called Total Pharmacy Care to give their citizens access to international mail-order pharmaceuticals.

Officially, re-importation of prescription drugs by anyone other than the drug’s manufacturer is a violation of federal law. But FDA enforcement guidelines allow agents to exercise discretion for drugs imported for personal use. According to the guidelines, "FDA personnel may consider a more permissive policy" in cases where an individual seeks to import no more than a three month supply of a product that does not appear to pose an unreasonable risk, if the individual affirms in writing that it is for personal use and provides the name and address of the U.S. doctor supervising their treatment.

Advocacy groups cite these guidelines as proof that re-importation is legal. But in a February 2003 letter, the FDA’s Associate Commissioner, Thomas Hubbard, said the guidelines have been misinterpreted. They were meant to allow FDA agents discretion in allowing U.S. citizens access to medicines for serious conditions that were unavailable or hard to find in the states, not to allow international comparison price shopping.

Nevertheless, thousands of U.S. citizens have found they can save money by buying their drugs from outside the country. Keep in mind that since this importation is technically illegal (though rarely enforced), it may not be proper to use your HSA to pay for prescriptions purchased this way. Talk to your accountant if you decide to go this route.

Avoiding Prescription Drugs

The people who spend the least on prescription drugs are those who rarely take them. The need to take an antibiotic for an acute infection may seem fairly expensive, but it is nothing compared to the cost of taking a medication for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, by age 45 over half of all Americans are on a regular prescription medication, and by age 65 nearly half are on three or more prescriptions during any given month. Most of this is entirely preventable.

Some of the biggest selling drugs are to treat elevated cholesterol, hypertension, and acid reflux. A paper published this year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition entitled Origins and evolution of the western diet: Health implications for the 21st century, explains how these and other common health issues did not exist for our hunter-gatherer ancestors, and how diet is the root cause of so many of the health problems people in our culture experience.

The author is Dr. Loren Cordain, one of my professors at Colorado State University. In a nutshell, he shows why the healthiest diet is one based on fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meat. Foods to be avoided or limited include added sugars, shortening and other processed vegetable oils, grains, and legumes. These are all foods that did not exist in our diet prior to about 10,000 years ago, and are thus foods that we are not genetically adapted to eat.

Remember that all qualified expenses, including prescription drugs, can be paid for tax-free, from your HSA. If you’ve still got a traditional health insurance policy and would like to investigate a health savings account, please visit us at HSA for America and we’ll be happy to help you.

When faced with the decision to either purchase a brand name drug or save some money and buy the generic version, a consumer might be worried about the safety and efficacy of the low cost alternative. Due to stringent industry regulation, though, there needn’t be any greater concern about taking a generic drug than there is for a brand name one.

All drug products, whether name brand or generic, are regulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA’s primary concern is with the safety of products intended for human consumption. This federal agency wields great power over pharmaceutical companies, including the ability to invoke a court injunction to force a company to stop manufacturing and distributing product if there is reasonable justification for doing so.

Companies which manufacture generic drugs are just as responsible to FDA as are the ones which produce name brand drugs. In the eyes of this particular federal agency, all products are viewed as equal. Generic drugs receive the exact same level of scrutiny.

Given that pharmaceutical companies do not want to draw the ire of FDA, the industry does a reasonable job of self-regulating itself. Obviously, the industry does not do a perfect job, but there are several measures used industry-wide to help ensure the safety of manufactured products. Companies which manufacture generic drugs follow the same steps and utilize the same systems.

One measure to ensure safe products is a system of extensive documentation. From the moment raw materials are received by a pharmaceutical company, all the way through the final stages of processing, every step taken is documented and usually checked by a second individual. So if one particular product requires the addition of twelve raw materials, the person adding each material will sign a batch record and a second operator will verify the ingredient and amount added, and then also sign. This system creates a tremendous amount of traceability and accountability.

Records used in the manufacture of both generic and brand name drugs are retained for years, usually beyond the expiration date of the actual product. At any time, FDA may come through to audit a company and request batch records for review.

In addition to the checks and double checks in place, pharmaceutical companies, even those which manufacture generic drugs, have extensive quality systems in place. Products are routinely tested at various stages of manufacture. The quality testing is typically conducted both on the physical characteristics (are tablets the right weight, are they the proper thickness, etc.) and chemical attributes. Quality labs will check for the active ingredient and ensure there isn’t either too much, or too little, and the product is safe.

With regard to drug products, when a company has an idea for a new pharmaceutical, they develop a formula and perform extensive testing before submitting their New Drug Application (NDA) to FDA. Once the federal agency has received the application, agents will begin investigating the product and determining whether or not they will approve the product. Now, the actual process itself is rather lengthy and in-depth, but this is what generally takes place for a new drug, which would be the name brand variety.

For a generic drug, the pharmaceutical company must wait until the initial patent expires for the brand name version. At this point, Research and Development teams will begin work. As soon as the company feels they are ready to produce a similar product, they will submit an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to FDA for approval. An ANDA is not quite as extensive as an NDA, but it still requires ample investigation before FDA will approve the generic drug to be produced for human consumption.

Every generic drug goes through a series of checks by operators, has been tested by a quality control laboratory, and must have received FDA approval, so a consumer can feel as confident taking it as they would a brand name product.

Online drug stores are abundant in the Internet retail market. Many past customers say a few of these drug suppliers haven’t been authenticated or certified by the US FDA. Before buying from any of these online pharmacies, verify the drug store’s legitimacy with the Professional Association of the State Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). You can also read online pharmacy review sites, which have ratings from current and previous buyers. Below are several of the recommended online pharmacies you can depend on, based on proper certifications and high rated testimonies.

Generic-Pharmacy.net

Generic-pharmacy.net was established in 2002 and has agreed with the regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Customers won’t have a problem going through the website and looking for the exact information they need. Their generic drugs are sold at fifteen to eighty percent off their original value. All their medications are harmless and have undergone the right authorization procedures. Besides their trusted supplies, Generic-pharmacy.net guarantees reliable customer service. You will not have difficulty contacting them through their customer service. More cash is saved with their no-cost shipping offer. Buyers who’ve stuck to their their business can acquire a 10 percent discount.

USOnlinerx.net

USOnlinerx.net specializes in providing branded and generics medication for erectile dysfunction. They’ve been in business ever since 2002, with 90 percent of their buyers coming back for more products. Post-order verifications won’t be a problem as the site offers a toll free number for the United States and the UK. Shipping is free and comes with no extra cost. Payment methods are reliable and can be traced, charging your order via credit card.

4RX.com

Founded in 2005, 4RX.com has conquered the pharmacy industry these past few years. Their diverse range of generic drugs offer buyers remedies for skin care, erectile dysfunction, sexual conditions, weight loss, eye care, hair problems, and infections. According to buyer reviews, 4RX.com has delivered quality products and services, slowly launching itself as a reliable Internet pharmacy. Spanish customers will not have a problem navigating as it offers a site in the said language. Like any other reliable site, a toll free 24/7 number can be contacted to confirm your order or ask about their services.

Topills.com

Delivering quality generics and brand name medicines since 2002, Topills.com provides drugs from their primary suppliers. Generics are sold at 50 percent off their counterpart branded drug. The pharmacy acquires its medicine products from major pharmacy providers, assuring customers quality controlled medications. The site is very easy to understand and visit, enabling a quick find of all types of medicine remedies. Policies are clearly defined, allowing customers to know the regulations regarding their privacy, order shipment, and the like.

Directpharma.net

Directpharma.net has been in the pharmaceutical industry since 2005. Their site provides comprehensive particulars on the generic and brand name medicine’s treatment purpose and side effects. All the sold drugs have been authorized by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standards. Generic drugs assure quality with their chemical components similar to their branded equivalents. The website reads into several languages, offering sales to a worldwide market.

Foreign drug stores, particularly Canadian and Indian drug stores, are economical supplies of prescription medicines. Web customers not only save more money but spend less time buying their drugs from the Internet. To ensure you are buying the drugs safely, here some tips each online customer should follow.

How Much to Order

Bulk stock of medications from foreign countries are unauthorized by the United States authorities. To avoid any trouble, limit your purchase to a three month stock. Anything larger will be seized by customs and you could face legal charges.

Generic Drugs

Generic medicines are cheaper alternatives as opposed to their brand name counterparts. Generic medicines work just as well as brand name drugs. Their only disparity lies in cost. Buyers also have more choices with generics since brand name medicines are copyright patented.

Recheck

Always ensure the pharmacy possesses a state certification and approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration . The website must also advertise a licensed pharmacist who’s responsible for clarifying medical questions. Also ensure there are no additional costs to spend for. Extra, unnecessary fees include a consultation cost or an account set up fee.

Confidentiality Guarantee

The website should always guarantee that the details sent is kept private. The info includes your payment specifics, prescribed medicine, and medical condition. The confidentiality policy must state it doesn’t sell information to third parties and that the terms and conditions are simple to comprehend.

Shipping Costs

Though a number of sites advertise inexpensive shipping costs, it’s better to opt for those with higher yet justifiable shipment charges. A rather high rate assures that the drugs will be delivered on time and in good condition. You can also look into pharmacies with reduced shipping rates or those that send bulk orders without any added price.

Noting Your Medicine

Prior to ordering drugs online, know your prescription drug’s active chemical. The active chemical’s name is the generic name, allowing you to seek cheaper choices for your prescription. One example is Flomax, the branded version of tamsulosin. It’s referred to in the United States as Flomax but in Italy, it is called morniflumate.

How to Order

Buying online is useless if you order from a rip off website. Check out online pharmacy review sites to know which are best. These sites have an evaluation method that indicates which offer reliable services and safe products.

To save on costs, you can buy a higher amount but divide the drug into two during consumption. This way, you save over fifty percent from the original price.