What You Don't Know May Cost You When It Comes To Prescriptions

Dr. Monica Skomo, Assistant Professor at Duquesne University's Mylan School of Pharmacy said you need to ask, "Are there generics available? If not, are there alternatives that work similarly that aren't as expensive?"

That's right. Just because your medicine doesn't have a generic counterpart doesn't mean you are stuck with the high price. The key is asking about another drug in the same family that works the same.

For instance, if you have gastric reflux, Prilosec, Nexium, AcipHex or Protonix might be prescribed. But only Prilosec and Protonix have generics.

Skomo said, "They work very similar they're all in the same drug class. But yet you have options with the Prilosec and Protonix. Since they come in a generic form, cost is a big factor."

Nexium can run over $100 a month whereas some of the generics could cost around $4 a month.

If you take Boniva to boost bone mass, you could spend $100 a month. Or you could go with a generic of Fosomax for around $10 a month.

Lipitor, Zocor, Pravacol and Crestor are all statins used to control cholesterol. But Lipitor and Crestor don't have generics. You need to ask for the ones that do.

Though Skomo will remind you, "Again, they are in the same class and work similarly", the catch is, "The pharmacist cannot just switch the patient to another medicine that's in that class."

But you can ask the pharmacist to contact your doctor to discuss the less expensive option.

If cheap isnt good enough for you, what about free? Channel 11 found once place where, if you qualify, you can get that .

Beth Shingleton works with Community Health Clinic of Butler County and told us that residents of Butler County who earn less than $21,000 a year are eligible to receive free prescription drugs. Shingleton said, "They go through our prescription assistance program volunteers. Then our volunteer pharmacist will get everything together and those individuals will come and pick those up here."

Elaine Read is a volunteer at the clinic who helps over 1000 people a year get free prescriptions. "I order and fill out the forms and get the medications for the patients", Read said. "We work on just one program but with many pharmaceutical companies. Every pharmaceutical company has their own little department for us."

There is a non-profit program for everyone in every county that can help you get medicine for free. And there are several stores in the Pittsburgh area that offer $4 generic drugs.

WalMart $4 drugs.Target $4 drugs.Giant Eagle $4 drugs.Kroger $4 drugs.