Generic drugs online

Patients who do not take their medication as prescribed cost the U.S. health care system about $290 billion in avoidable medical spending every year.

LIZ IS A working mom with three kids and chronic pain. The swelling in her joints can be unbearable, relieved only by ongoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Her specialized medications are expensive, adding up to $4,000 a month with copays as high as 25 percent. At times, she's had to choose between paying the mortgage, groceries and other bills - or getting her prescriptions filled.

John is self-employed, without health insurance. His high blood pressure puts him at risk for a heart attack, but business isn't so healthy either. He's had to cut back, including taking his daily meds. Although a hospital stay could wipe out his savings, he's forced to take that chance.

Sadly, I hear these stories from my patients on a regular basis. The high cost of medicine is a problem affecting thousands in New Jersey and millions more nationwide. People with chronic illnesses such as heart and lung disease, cancer and diabetes are hit especially hard when they must take expensive medications simply to maintain their quality of life. As a result, they face tough choices. According to the New England Healthcare Institute, one-third to one-half of all patients take their medications improperly due to financial limitations. They may skip dosages so their medicine lasts longer or stop refilling their prescriptions altogether.

Even for those with insurance, cost is a concern. Studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association report that when patient copayments increase, the use of prescribed medicines decreases. The Journal of Oncology Practice found that cancer patients with copays greater than $500 were four times more likely to abandon their medications than those who paid $100 or less. The New England Healthcare Institute also reports that mortality rates among diabetes and heart disease patients who did not adhere to their medications were double those who took them as prescribed.

So, lives are at stake. And the costs continue to rise. In fact, research shows that patients who do not take their medication as prescribed cost the U.S. health care system an estimated $290 billion in avoidable medical spending every year.

Today, there are many generic drugs that are cheaper than branded medicines, and most doctors are pleased to recommend them when appropriate. According to the Food and Drug Administration, generics are bioequivalent to the original drugs and are affordable alternatives for specific conditions.

Unfortunately, not all patients are good candidates for substitute medications. Many who have switched from brand name to generic drugs have reported side effects and reduced effectiveness. Some specialists are concerned that generic formulations with slight variations could affect a patient's health. If the absorption of the drug is slightly different between brand and generic, patients could react differently too.

The Journal of Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management reports that nearly half of all neurologists had a patient lose seizure control after switching to a generic. A study in Epilepsia found that epileptics who were taking branded medications and had to go to the emergency room were 81 percent more likely to have been switched to a generic.

Many doctors' offices now offer patient assistance programs that put vital medications within reach of those in need - whether insured or uninsured and regardless of income. Among the best examples are copay assistance cards offering discounts with savings up to 80 percent on name- brand medications. This not only lets patients choose between branded and generic drugs at essentially the same price, it empowers physicians to make decisions based on the clinical needs of their patients instead of cost. If your doctor recommends a specific medication, copay cards allow you to affordably get the actual prescription, not a generic substitute.

Patients prescribed leading branded medicines should ask their doctors about copay assistance cards. They can also apply directly through the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the medications. Pharmacists honor discounts when customers show such cards.

Local and national organizations are also available to help people find assistance. In New Jersey, there is Rx4NJ.org connecting qualified people with discount prescription drugs direct from pharmaceutical companies. Nationally, there's NeedyMeds.org, a non-profit information resource devoted to helping with affordable medications, government programs and free or low-cost clinics.

While our economy is recovering, we need more assistance programs to help patients with their recoveries as well.