Dealing with rising prescription prices

Imagine going to bed and waking up to find that the cost of your medicine –- medicine you need to live –- has doubled.

That’s what’s happened to some people who take drugs for HIV and cancer, as well as for more common ailments, such as blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Last month, researchers at the University of Minnesota testified to Congress that in the past eight years, hundreds of drugs have had instant price jumps of 100 percent or more. Topping the list is Cosmegen, a cancer drug that saw a more than 3,400 percent increase in one day, according to the PRIME Institute at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota. Norvir, a drug to treat HIV, went up 400 percent all at once, according to the group.

Drugs for more common ailments saw less dramatic increases and the increases weren’t all at once, they happened over a period of years, the researchers say. For example, Ambien, a sleeping pill, had a 160 percent increase from 2002 to 2007, and Lipitor had a 30 percent increase during the same period.

The Phamaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America, which represents pharmaceutical makers, says they have a program to help people pay for drugs. In a statement, Senior Vice President Ken Johnson added that overall prescription drug prices increased 1.4 percent in 2007. “Critics often overlook the fact that prescription drug spending growth is at its lowest level since 1961,” Johnson said.

Here are some tips for cutting down on prescription drug costs.

1. Think twice before accepting samples from your doctor.

It sounds counterintuitive, but samples can end up costing you more. That’s because samples are often for very expensive drugs, and once the samples run out, you (or your insurance) will have to foot the bill. It’s a better idea to just ask your doctor from the start for a less expensive drug, advises Dr. Richard Adair, a University of Minnesota professor who researches physician prescribing habits.

2. See if there’s a less expensive alternative

Many times, there are several drugs that could treat your ailment. Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs offers cost comparisons for drugs used to treat many conditions, from ADHD to ulcers. And of course, if your doctor prescribes a brand-name drug, ask if there’s a generic equivalent.

3. Ask your pharmacist to call your doctor

Ask your pharmacist if there’s another, less expensive drug that would work for your ailment. "The pharmacist can't switch your drug, but the pharmacist can call the doctor and suggest less expensive alternatives," says Gail Shearer, director of Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs.

Posted by: Elizabeth Cohen -- CNN Medical Correspondent
Filed under: Cohen • Health