Free medicines...see if yours is on the list

When the weather starts to change, you know sooner or later someone in your family is probably going to catch a cold.   If you or your child gets sick and the doctor prescribes antibiotics, it can get expensive. But did you know that the Publix pharmacy gives out free antibiotics? It’s true; they offer some of the most prescribed medicines absolutely free. You can get a 14- day supply of the following generic oral antibiotics: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Cephalexin, Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, Ciprofloxacin, Penicillin and Doxycycline Hyclate.  This can be a real money saver when you have to get medicine.  The free medicine isn’t just for children, but for everyone. The best part is, you don’t have to join any clubs and it doesn’t matter if you have insurance or don’t have insurance. It’s free with a prescription.

Not only does Publix pharmacy offer free antibiotics, but they also offer other free medicines. As part of the Publix Pharmacy Diabetes Management System, you can get up to a 30-day supply (90 tablets) of generic immediate-release metformin for free. You can also get a 30-day supply of an ACE inhibitor, lisinopril which is used to prevent, treat, or improve symptoms of high blood pressure, certain heart conditions, diabetes, and certain chronic kidney conditions.

Well we are on medicines; you may want to check and see if any of your daily medications are on the $4 generic lists at Sam’s Club, Walmart or Target.  These companies offer hundreds of generic prescriptions for $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for a 90-day supply. All you need to do is go to their web sites or get a list at the pharmacy of medicines that are $4.  It can save you a lot of money if you are on medications for several months.  It doesn’t matter if you have insurance or not. You don’t have to be a member of a club except for Sam’s Club. 

Here’s an example of just how much money you can save.  If you take the medicine Synthroid 50 MCG for your thyroid, you may be able to get the generic Levothyroxine 50 MCG. The cost of Synthroid is a little more than $20 a month, but the Levothryroxine is on the list of $4 generic drugs. That is a savings of $16 a month.  In a year you would save over $192 on just that one drug.  There was a study done by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health that said if those eligible patients filled their prescriptions with the $4 generic drugs, the potential national savings could be nearly $6 billion.  That’s why I am making you aware of these programs because if you are on these medicines you can be saving money.

Not only are there free and discounted medicines are your local pharmacies, but you can also get free health screenings. This is more than just checking your blood pressure. Some of these health screenings can save you $150.  You can go to my blog and I will link you to several pharmacies offering free health screenings. Click on the company name for list of free screenings. Sam's Club, Publix

Medicines can add up, especially if you are on more than one type of medication. The next time you go to the doctor it might be worth asking if any of these free drugs can be substituted for what you are prescribed.  Better yet, call your doctor now to find out so you can start saving.  You never know unless you ask.