Not all Pharmacy's are the Same

[JohnyMac]

Took Dorothy to the vet yesterday for her annual check-up. After a blood test the Doctor discovered she had Lyme Disease. She gave us a script for a 30 day regiment of antibiotics which I dropped off to our local pharmacy.

Returned about two hours later to pick it up and was told it would be $233-. "WHAT" I asked? Then I told them to hang onto it while I speak with the doctor. Left the pharmacy and called the vet up.

It was explained to me that Dorothy really needed that specific medicine and maybe another pharmacy would be cheaper. She gave me the names of other pharmacy's but I would need a new script.

I swung by her office, picket up the script and went to her first pharmacy suggestion and asked for a price. The clerk looked it up and told then told me "Sir this is an expensive one. It will be $91-." I told her "Book it Dan'o". She looked a bit confused so I asked her to fill it.

Why does one pharmacy cost X while another charges Y? I do understand that prices may vary on drugs but not by 2 1/2 times.

I am going to check on the prices of the drugs MrsMac and I take to see if those are cheaper at this pharmacy vs. the one we are currently using. 

It pays to shop around.

The second pharmacy that the Doctor suggested was Walmart. My doctor also swears by Walmart pharmacy prices. 

[Nemo]

If no one knows, I am epileptic.  Take oxcarbazepine, generic Trileptal, 1200mg daily among others post brain abcess, MI and and some other issues.  Wal Mart when I was on 600mg daily was $156 a month.  Other national chains were around $175 or more.

FiL wanted to stop at smaller pharmacy about 40 miles away, to see what that they had for compression socks.  Went in, asked at counter for price and boomchackalacka-- $38 a month.

A few months later his Medicare changed his insulin dealer and at that local pharmacy I checked my pills-- double boom--  $20.50 a month.

Another local grocery store put it on their low cost list and 3 months (after seizure issue and dosage doubled) was still available at $44 for 3 months.

SHOP AROUND.  Any Pharmacy will price stuff out on phone.

That seizing issue, among other things, got me put on disability.  Even now local pharmacy can do it for $70 for 3 months.  My medical coverage does it for $45 a month copayout of my pocket.

SHOP AROUND.  It really helps.  Even with coverage and low copays.  Some will have you in the A copay others in B others in C. 

SHOP AROUND.  It saves lots and lots of pennies.

Nemo

[JohnyMac]

Yupper Nemo, like most things - Shop around.

[Kbop]

the EU and most other countries negotiate with the big pharma companies and their prices are much more reasonable.
Canadians may come to the US of A to get an MRI done in a timely manner but alot of US citizens cross the border to get their scrips filled.

[Nemo]

I have heard you can get get Viagra in Canada for about $3 a pill rather than $13 a pill here.  I have no personal knowledge or experience with this but you know, people talk and post, word gets around, you read and hear things.

Nemo