American Consequences - August 2021

efficacy (how well the drug works), then by all means don’t switch to the generic. To know if a generic is a smart, safe option, make sure your doctor can answer these questions: 1) Which of my drugs comes in a generic form? (Your doctor probably won’t know, but you can ask your pharmacist.) 2) What is the effectiveness of the old generic drug in this class of drugs versus the one you currently have me taking? 3) What is the therapeutic index of the drugs I am taking? Is it narrow? 4) What site can I go to online to learn about the safety of the drugs I am taking? The answer is: MedWatch at the Food and Drug Administration’s site. Now, you may be wondering how to get drugs so cheaply. The answer is a capital “W.” Walmart provides hundreds of drugs (many generics) for only $4 per month... or $10 for a three-month supply. And Walgreens offers many generics for $5 a month or $10 for a three-month supply. ONE MORE COST-SAVING TIP: GOVERNMENT PROGRAM SLASHES BILLS 30% In 2003, the U.S. government created a program that allows people to pay for many over-the-counter (“OTC”) medications and even nutritional supplements with tax-free money. New rules do indicate that for some products, like OTC medications, you need

for many years. But eventually, those patent protections expire and other companies are free to compete and develop so-called “generic” versions of the same medicine. In many cases, the generic drugs are just as good at treating what ails you – after all, these are just copy-cat version of the brand-name drugs. And because they are no longer under patent (and therefore other companies can make them), the prices are much lower. To protect their profits, drug companies often develop “new” (patent-protected) versions of an old drug. Frequently, these newer versions aren’t any better at treating you than the old stuff. For example, doctors prescribe drugs known as statins for heart disease. The No. 1 selling statin is the drug Lipitor. It’s stayed on top since it rolled out in 1996. But the original statin was called Mevacor, but it went off patent in 2001. If you buy the generic version of Mevacor, you might pay only $4 per month total for it. Ask your doctor if Lipitor is really better for you than Mevacor. If your doctor is unsure or hesitates, ask him to research the science and get back to you once he can explain the differences – in a way you understand. It’s your health, and it’s your money. Bottom line, many of the drugs you take can be substituted for cheaper generics. However, it is true that a few drugs have a very narrow “window” of safety and usefulness (the so-called “therapeutic index”). You should discuss this with your doctor, too. If they feel the drugs you take should be brand name drugs because of safety and

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