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5 BIG DRUG MISTAKES

By The Editors Of consumer Reports® 4 min read

You have heartburn, a migraine or back pain that won’t go away. You go to your doctor, and she prescribes a drug, which makes you feel better. But sometimes you can end up taking a drug for many years. And then you might need another drug for something else, and before you know it, the pills start piling up.

To reduce your reliance on medications, ShopSmart, the shopping magazine from the publisher of Consumer Reports, recommends avoiding these five common mistakes:

1 Reaching for a quick pharmaceutical fix. Many health problems can be resolved without medication. Case in point: High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two of the most common reasons people take prescription drugs. But some patients are able to reach healthy levels without drugs by making lifestyle changes such as getting regular exercise, losing weight and quitting smoking. Alternative therapies might be just as effective as drugs. Research has found that acupuncture, exercise and massage can help with some health problems. Also, review your drugs with your doctor or pharmacist once per year to make sure that what you’re taking is still appropriate. And discuss everything you’re taking — including vitamins and supplements.

2 Assuming that your doctor is minding your wallet. When she writes you a prescription, your doctor usually doesn’t consider whether you can afford the medication. According to the latest drug-tracking poll by Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, just 5 percent of the 2,014 adults surveyed who take medication said they were told at their doctor’s office what it would cost. Instead, most (61 percent) said they found out when they picked up the prescription from a pharmacy. ShopSmart recommends telling your doctor that cost and effectiveness are important to you. Then ask about generics. Also ask about eliminating drugs you no longer need.

3 Relying on coupons. To save a buck, more folks than ever are using manufacturer coupons for frequently advertised drugs. Sure, they can make expensive brand names seem more affordable, but they also might steer you to drugs that aren’t the best choice for you. And the discounts don’t necessarily make those drugs your least expensive option, particularly when the initial deal ends. Before starting on a brand-name drug, consider the long-term expense and ask your doctor whether comparable generics are available.

4 Always using your insurance. Don’t assume that health insurance is the cheapest way to pay for drugs. Sometimes it’s not! For example, you can get a month’s worth of the generic antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), 20 milligrams, for $4 at Sam’s Club, Target and Wal-Mart. Without the store’s prescription discounts, you’ll pay an average of $31. Even with insurance, you’ll probably pay more than $4. So ask the pharmacist what the “cash” price is for a drug before you hand over your insurance card. Also, for long-term meds, try filling prescriptions for 90 days instead of 30, and you might save money.

5 Buying cheap meds online from Canada. Most “Canadian” websites aren’t actually Canadian, and ordering from them can be risky. You could end up taking medications that are counterfeit or have too much or too little of the active ingredient. Only 3 percent of the 10,421 online pharmacies recently reviewed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy appeared to be legit.

Instead, ShopSmart says to stick with the websites of drugstores you know and trust.

Make sure that any online pharmacy you order from is licensed, is in the U.S. and requires you to submit prescriptions (some fake sites don’t!).

And check NABP’s website (nabp.net) for a list of safe pharmacies that carry the VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) seal and those that aren’t recommended.

If you fill expensive prescriptions or don’t have insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist about money-saving options.

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