Re: Keep the pressure up if you want inexpensive prescription drugs

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
 "ares" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Yep, maybe we should write docs to have them ask the reps this; or someone
> send them all a list.  I certainly had no idea until I got a couple of mine
> filled.  I always would hear about this person or that and all they pay is
> like $5 copay.  Things seem to have changed drastically in a short 5 years
> as I used to think anything over $35 was an expensive prescription.  Now the
> Rx's cost more than a doctor visit, in fact the doc visit is usually the
> cheapest portion of a medical bill.
> ares

The best way to guard against conflict of interest on the part of 
doctors who prescribe you medicine is to be an informed patient. The web 
has a great deal of resources about prescription and OTC drugs. Do your 
research whenever you're prescribed a new drug before you fill the 
prescription if its for a chronic condition and look at all the 
alternatives. If you see an alternative medication that's cheaper and 
might be as effective as the prescribed medication, call your doctor or 
pharmacist to discuss the options and ask your doctor why he prescribed 
the one medication and not the other.

Do not assume that your doctor knows every medication out there. Chances 
are, he knows only the meds that are most heavily marketed to him or her.