The older I get, the more prescriptions I have to get filled. That is one thing I don’t like about getting older. With each new prescription, there are certain precautions that I always take to make sure I am as safe and healthy as possible.
You can follow this advice to keep yourself safe and keep more money in your pocket.
*Note: I am not a medical professional, this is only my personal advice.
I’ve teamed up with SearchRX on this sponsored post to give you some advice for making sure you don’t become a victim of prescription errors and high prices.
Questions to Ask your Doctor
If your doctor suggests a new prescription for your specific health condition, you need to make sure you understand a few important details.
I always ask my doctor about any possible side effects so that I can make sure I will look out for any changes in my body or the way it makes me feel. Make sure you are informed about the risks.
I also ask if there are any other medications I should stay away from while I am on the new prescription, especially any over the counter medication that I may pick up for my seasonal allergies or if I get sick.
If you are a woman who is trying to get pregnant or you are breastfeeding, be sure to let your doctor know this as well. It may be that you won’t be able to take that particular medication and they will need to come up with another alternative.
Last, but not least, I always ask if there is a generic option available. This can make a dramatic difference in your out of pocket costs.
I also like to ask if they have any coupon offers or discounts that the pharmaceutical rep may have left at their office. They are always more than happy to check and more often than not, they are available.
Before you go to the Pharmacy
Before you get your prescription filled at the pharmacy, make sure you shop around for the best prices. Did you know that different pharmacies charge different prices for the same medication?
Head over to SearchRX and do a quick search to find the lowest price for your particular prescription. You will be surprised at the difference in prices!
Once you find the pharmacy you want to fill your prescription, just print out your savings coupon. You can even have it emailed or texted to you. Show it to the pharmacy when you check out and reap the savings!
SearchRX is so easy to use and it is completely free. They list prices for thousands of pharmacies all over the country. People have been able to save up to 75% off their prescriptions, that can make a drastic difference to your budget!
Anyone can use SearchRX, regardless of your coverage. You can’t actually combine the coupons with your insurance but I do encourage you to take the coupon with you to the pharmacy because it will sometimes be a better price than your insurance copay.
If you want to save the most on your new prescription, this is the site to check out. They even have an app to make it easily accessible wherever you are. You can download it from iTunes or Google Play.
Once at the Pharmacy
Once you receive your new prescription from the pharmacy, read the label thoroughly. It is very important that you know how to take the medicine, when to take the medicine, and if it should be taken with food.
I always ask the pharmacist the best way to store the medicine, as some may need to be refrigerated.
I also look at the medication itself and make sure that it looks the way it should. There should be a description of what the medicine should look like on the label but if there is not, you can always check out the WebMD Drug Search and they will have images of what it should be.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs are human and will make errors so it is always a good idea to double check that the name on the label matches what you were prescribed.
A lot of medications sound similar and a doctor’s handwritting could be read incorrectly. Make sure the dosage is correct on the label as well.
By using these tips, you should feel confident about taking a new prescription. It is so important that we take care of ourselves.
If you are having trouble affording your medication, I highly suggest checking out SearchRX.com as a first resort. I was surprised at how much I was able to save on both of my prescriptions!
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