How to save money on medications

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Health is expensive, especially if it has fallen into disrepair. How to make sure that you do not unexpectedly leave all the money in the pharmacy and at the same time do not make yourself even more problems, read our article.

Do not consult pharmacists

What can we hide, often for medicines we do not run to the doctor, but immediately to the pharmacy. And we ask the pharmacist to sell something "from the head".

But the pharmacy salesman's job is not to cure you. It’s about selling drugs. Pharmacy workers know a lot, but they are not responsible for your health and your treatment. Therefore, no "this medicine is better." Buy only what is prescribed by your doctor.

Ask your doctor to replace the drug with a cheap one

Who hasn't been happy to find on the Internet a list of cheap drug options prescribed by a doctor? If everything were that simple, we would be happy to give you a list of such drugs.

Pharmaceutical companies are spending huge sums of money to develop a formula, test the safety and efficacy of a drug. Then they get a patent and sell the drug on their own for 20 years. After 20 years, the patent expires, and other pharmaceutical companies begin to produce analogs, that is, generics. They are much cheaper, since you do not need to spend money on development.

In theory, generics should be fully consistent with the original drug. In practice, things are not so rosy. Different technologies of production and purification lead to the fact that the rate of absorption of the drug, its concentration in the tissues of the body may differ. In addition, additional components can cause allergic reactions.

There are many comparative studies evaluating the effectiveness of brand name drugs and generics. Generally, if a generic company is conducting a survey, the results show no difference. In the studies of original manufacturing companies, the picture is the opposite.

What does this mean for patients? The fact that it is impossible to thoughtlessly replace one drug with another. Some generics actually work no worse (and sometimes better) than the originals. Part - falls short. I personally have twice found myself in a situation where cheap generics did not have the desired effect. As a result, the treatment was several times more expensive than planned.

This does not mean that you need to give up inexpensive drugs. Antipyretics, for example, work well in inexpensive versions (paracetamol, nimesulide, ibuprofen).

The antiseptic chlorhexidine is inexpensive, effective, and widely used. Expensive analogues (for example, wet wipes or small bottles of hand cleaners) lose on all fronts.

The same with many preparations with sea water for the common cold. Normal saline solution in bottles of 200-400 ml is much cheaper, but the composition and action are the same.

Ask your doctor to indicate the main active ingredient of the medicine. Ask if it is possible to replace it with a cheaper one. The doctor already has his own observations based on practical experience. If the replacement is real, the doctor will advise the correct drug.

Call pharmacies

When you have been given your prescription leaflet, take your time to the nearest pharmacy. It is better to call several pharmacy chains and ask how much the medicines cost. Then go shopping. Sometimes drugs are on sale, so you can save a few hundred rubles.

Don't take what doesn't work

Many medications and dietary supplements have no evidence of effectiveness, and buying them is just wasting money. This is another reason not to run to the pharmacy, sweeping away everything, but to study the issue in more detail. Well-known drugs such as "Arbidol" or "Otsillococcinum" are famous because of the scandals around them, and not because of their benefits.

Do not duplicate drugs

Most often, we treat ourselves for colds on our own. And often we wash down the headache with soluble powders, which relieve all symptoms at once. They cost a lot. If you look at the composition, it turns out that inside there is paracetamol, a vasoconstrictor (nasal drops cope with this) and ascorbic acid. These drugs are cheaper individually than in one package.

In general, try not to listen to ads. Expensive medicines are often expensive because too much money has gone into promoting them.

Do not drink drugs "just in case"

The advertisement says that after taking an antibiotic, you need to buy probiotics. First, they also belong to drugs with unproven efficacy. Secondly, it is not a fact that your digestion will deteriorate after taking antibiotics. Thirdly, if you really take eubiotics, then after a course of antibiotics (otherwise the antibacterial drug will destroy the beneficial flora). So first, think about whether you need a probiotic (or hepatoprotector) at all or whether the right diet will solve the problem.

Don't forget about prevention

As you know, the most expensive diseases are those that are in disrepair. Timely examination and detection of problems will save your wallet. Think tests are expensive too? Basic examinations can be taken absolutely free of charge.

Clinical examination is a system of measures aimed at preserving the health of the population, preventing the development of diseases, reducing the frequency of exacerbations of chronic diseases, the development of complications, disability, mortality and improving the quality of life.

Ministry of Health

If you have a compulsory medical insurance policy, then once every three years you can go through it without paying a penny. Some tests do have a queue several weeks in advance. But, if nothing bothers you, why not wait?

And do not assume that such inspections are carried out only for show. The main thing in clinical examination is the basic analyzes. After you have passed the examination, you will go to the therapist. Ask questions and list any complaints you have. Everything. Then you will be assigned an additional examination. Free again.

Use the power of physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a treatment using natural and physical factors. For some reason, she is not given due attention. But the procedures are inexpensive and at the same time help prevent exacerbations of chronic diseases. So ask for a referral for physical therapy so you don't have to run for pills as often.

Return money for treatment

Some organizations have trade unions that can provide material assistance if you need treatment. Conditions are different everywhere, so if you pay membership fees, check what you are entitled to.

And apply for an income tax refund. Do not forget to take a certificate of payment for services from the medical institution (it does not take much time).

Consider having surgery in another city

Prices for the same service can vary significantly depending on the city and clinic. To the point where the difference covers travel and living expenses. At the same time, the quality does not suffer. For example, many residents of Moscow come to the provinces for treatment and remain in the black.

What services should you pay attention to? Dentistry, cosmetology, laser surgery.

Become a regular client of a doctor

If you visit a paid clinic, go to the same doctor. There is a chance to save on little things. For example, the doctor will not charge you for a second appointment if you just came to report the successful completion of treatment. Of course, this is not a rule, but anything can happen.

Change your lifestyle

The doctor lists the list of drugs, and then adds: "Do not eat fried, do not eat salty, do not drink."But the patient only nods his head and skips the recommendations to go for a walk or engage in physiotherapy exercises deaf ear. And then he thinks that the pills are not helping.

They help, but many diseases are highly lifestyle-dependent. These are diseases of the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, heart. The wrong lunch is enough to make the course of expensive medicines go to waste. Diet and regimen are also treatments. And they must be strictly observed, like the scheme for taking pills. Otherwise, you run the risk of leaving money in the pharmacy with no visible effect.