How to save money buying prescription drugs in Canada

You might need medication to get through every day, but unfortunately, that isn’t cheap. Here’s how to save money on prescription medication.

According to a recent study, almost 1 million Canadians admit to giving up essentials like food and heat in order to be able to afford prescription drugs.

Are you one of the many people struggling to pay for prescription drugs that have been prescribed to you by your doctor? If so, you should know that there are ways to save money on prescriptions so that they don’t break the bank.

Let's take a look at a few of the things you can try to make your prescription drugs more affordable.

See If Your Doctor Has Access to Free Samples

Prescription drug representatives are always trying to find innovative ways to convince doctors to prescribe their medications. Some do it by giving doctors promotional products like pens, while others do it by selling doctors on the benefits of their medications.

There are also some reps that give doctors free samples of their prescriptions so that they can give them to their patients. It’s why it's worth asking your doctor whether or not they might have samples of the prescription drugs you need.

This can be helpful for those who are only going to be taking a prescription drug for a week or two. A sample can help them avoid having to fill a prescription and pay for it.

Ask Your Doctor If They Have Coupons

If your doctor tells you that they don't have any free prescription drug samples to provide to you, don't give up! That’s just one of the many ways to save money on prescriptions.

Another good way to do it is by asking your doctor if they happen to have any coupons for the prescription drugs you need. Often times, these coupons can save you quite a bit of money when you use them at pharmacies.

If nothing else, asking your doctor for coupons will open up a conversation about your inability to pay for expensive prescription drugs. They might have some other outside-the-box ideas that you can consider as far as saving money on prescription drugs is concerned.

Look Around Online for Coupons

You can find coupons for almost everything online these days. Whether you want to buy some socks or a big-screen TV, there’s a decent chance that you can find a coupon that will save you some money on the internet.

This goes for prescription drugs, too! These are lots of coupon options for those who want to try and save some money on specific prescription drugs.

Every single time you go to buy prescription drugs, you should search for coupons for them first. You might be surprised to see how accessible these coupons are when you’re willing to look for them.

Check With Your Doctor About Generic Drug Options

Did your doctor prescribe you a brand-new prescription drug that has only been on the market for a few months now? You're going to have a tough time finding a generic version of it.

But if your doctor is prescribing you a drug that's been around for a long time now, you can ask them to give you a generic version of it instead. Generic versions of drugs contain the same ingredients and provide the same results as name-brand ones — but they do it at a fraction of the price.

Talk to your doctor about prescribing you a generic drug over a name-brand option.

Compare Prescription Drug Prices at Different Pharmacies

Not everyone realizes this, but not all pharmacies charge the same prices on prescription drugs. You might walk into a pharmacy and pay $100 for a prescription that costs $15 at a pharmacy right down the road.

This is why people should always shop around for medications prior to filling prescriptions from their doctors. Pharmaceutical companies have different deals in place with different pharmacies that can cause the prices for prescriptions to fluctuate.

Don’t be afraid to call around to several pharmacies to see how much they charge for a prescription before settling on the one that offers the best price.

Consider Ordering Prescription Drugs From an Online Pharmacy

These days, there are more and more people who are starting to order prescription drugs from online pharmacies and have the drugs shipped to their homes.

There are several advantages to taking this approach. For starters, it’s so much more convenient to order prescriptions online and have them delivered to you. It'll save you from having to take a trip to the pharmacy every few weeks. You can even get Viagra prescribed easily and delivered to your door for free.

It’s also so much more cost-effective to order prescriptions from online pharmacies in most cases. You’ll find that most online pharmacies have medications for a lot less than brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

You’ll love being able to do more research on the drugs you’re taking when you shop for prescriptions online, too. Online pharmacies provide their customers with so much more information on the medications that they sell.

Don’t be surprised if everyone is ordering prescriptions online in the near future. It looks like the prescription drug world is starting to trend in that direction.

Find the Best Ways to Save Money on Prescriptions

You shouldn’t have to skimp on essential items to buy the prescription drugs that you need. You also shouldn’t have to think about not taking prescription drugs due to the high costs associated with buying them.

The next time you find yourself trying to choose between a hot meal and getting a prescription filled, consider the various ways to save money on prescriptions. You can get your hands on the prescriptions that you need without putting a huge strain on your finances.

Want to educate yourself more on saving money on prescriptions? Check out our blog for additional information on cutting your costs when you’re shopping for prescription drugs.