Consumer Reports, AARP unveil new online drug savings tool
SEATTLE -- In many cases, when your doctor prescribes medication, or even over-the-counter medication, there are less expensive options than what he or she orders on the prescription pad. Some patients never ask.
Well now if you have access to a computer, you can check for yourself with the help of a new online drug savings tool.
It's a joint project between the publishers of Consumer Reports and AARP, and gives you access to Consumer Reports research on drug safety, effectiveness and costs.
The new Drug Savings tool has information on hundreds of prescriptions and over-the-counter medication products.
It provides full descriptions of each drug and how the drugs work. It tells you the side effects, precautions to discuss with your doctor, and drug interactions you may not be aware of. And one of the most helpful features is pricing information on many of the common medications on the market.
Type in the name of the drug, and whenever possible, you get cost comparisons based on different doses, along with Consumer Reports Best Buy options for similar drugs that could save you money.
On the down side, the tool cannot give cost information for all drugs. I did a test drive and found a number of drugs where cost comparison was not available.
But this is a great way to get answers about hundreds of the most common medications on the market, so you can have more informed conversations about medicine with your physician, as well as the pharmacists who fill your prescriptions, or help you with over-the-counter remedies.
Just be aware that as with most websites, the advertising content is generated from independent sources, and is not a part of the main website message. And as always, be sure to consult with your doctor before you change medication or add new medications to what you're already taking.
For More Information:
drugsavings.aarp.org
Well now if you have access to a computer, you can check for yourself with the help of a new online drug savings tool.
It's a joint project between the publishers of Consumer Reports and AARP, and gives you access to Consumer Reports research on drug safety, effectiveness and costs.
The new Drug Savings tool has information on hundreds of prescriptions and over-the-counter medication products.
It provides full descriptions of each drug and how the drugs work. It tells you the side effects, precautions to discuss with your doctor, and drug interactions you may not be aware of. And one of the most helpful features is pricing information on many of the common medications on the market.
Type in the name of the drug, and whenever possible, you get cost comparisons based on different doses, along with Consumer Reports Best Buy options for similar drugs that could save you money.
On the down side, the tool cannot give cost information for all drugs. I did a test drive and found a number of drugs where cost comparison was not available.
But this is a great way to get answers about hundreds of the most common medications on the market, so you can have more informed conversations about medicine with your physician, as well as the pharmacists who fill your prescriptions, or help you with over-the-counter remedies.
Just be aware that as with most websites, the advertising content is generated from independent sources, and is not a part of the main website message. And as always, be sure to consult with your doctor before you change medication or add new medications to what you're already taking.
For More Information:
drugsavings.aarp.org
Learn about changes coming to commenting