How To Pay Less For Over-The-Counter Medication

Prescription drugs are medications that are made available to patients only when a healthcare provider recommends them. On the other hand, Over-the-counter drugs are medications that can be obtained without prescriptions. These include paracetamol, Ibuprofen, calcium carbonate, and some antiallergic medications such as antihistamines.

It’s expected that these Over-the-counter drugs should be easier and cheaper to get; however, that is not always the case. The following are tips to guide you on how to spend less buying over-the-counter drugs.

1. Shop Around

The prices of Over-the-counter drugs can vary from one store to another based on location, the only way to know which is the cheapest is to shop around.

On the other hand, there are benefits that come with being consistent. The pharmacist or the drug store attendant may offer you medications at an affordable price if you are a regular customer. So, it’s also good to buy your Over-the-counter medications in one store when possible.

2. Go for Generic drugs

Generic drugs contain the same ingredients and have the same effect as their brand-name equivalent. They, however, cost less, up to 50% less or even lesser in most cases. This is because the company that makes generic drugs did not spend money on research and development for these drugs.

Many popular brand-name drugs are now available in generic forms. Most of them – such as pain relievers, antihistamines, cholesterol-lowering statins, and heartburn medicines – have been approved by the FDA. And you can shop for quality generic drugs on online stores like Canada drugs.

3. Order less

While you may save a lot when you order prescription drugs in large volumes, that may not be the case with Over-the-counter drugs. Most over-the-counter tablets can be broken, as such, you can choose to order fewer pills in higher doses.

Some of the tablets have lines in the middle to ensure accuracy when cutting them. You can as well get yourself a pill cutter; it’s easy and safe to use.

However, some pills tend to lose their effectiveness when split, especially those with time-release formulations. Others are designed with unusual shapes that make them difficult to split into equal halves.

4. Buy only from reliable and trustworthy vendors

Although it is good to save when buying medications, it’s also very important to buy effective ones. Because while you are trying to save some dollars, you may end up putting your health at risk.

If you feel a particular drugstore is not 100% reliable or you are not sure of the identity and potency of their drugs, please stay away from them. You could end up buying fake, adulterated, or, worst, even expired medications.

Conclusion

Recent research has shown that the money spent by individuals buying over-the-counter medications for common health issues like headaches, fever, and minor cuts or bruises has increased exponentially. Even though it’s easier and cheaper to buy these medications, those little amounts can add up.

You can save a lot by buying over-the-counter medications by following the above tips. Likewise, you can check Canada drugs to get your Over-the-counter medications at affordable prices.