Safe Acquisition

Need to save money on medications? Or need help obtaining assistance for prescription drugs? Do not risk using an illicit Internet site to order drugs!

Finding Safe and Affordable Prescription Medications

There are many alternatives for finding safe prescription medications and saving money. With a little work, you can make arrangements to find a source of safe prescription medicines – it may mean just talking with your doctor. Remember, safe sources of medications will require a legitimate prescription from your doctor, will only sell you FDA-approved medications, and will offer you counseling regarding your medications when you need it. The following are some alternatives to consider:

Seek Help from Your Doctor or Pharmacist

Ask your doctor or pharmacist:

• if there is a generic version of the drug you have been prescribed. Generic versions can be less costly.
• if there is another medication that would work for you and be less expensive.

Ask your doctor for drug coupons or vouchers while at your appointment. Ask your pharmacist about discount programs and prescription assistance programs in your state or community.

Seek Help from a Program that Offers Low Cost and Free Medications

• Visit the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) Web site. This organization provides information about finding low-cost or free medications.
• Also, visit the PPA Patient Assistance Programs page. Find your state for local programs and look for information on other programs.
• Visit the Medicare Web site, or download the brochure (PDF) that explains how to apply for additional help with Medicare prescription drugs.
• Visit the BenefitsCheckUp Web site for information about local, state, and federal, as well as private prescription assistance programs. This service is provided by the National Council on Aging.
• See if your county participates in the NACo Prescription Discount Card Program (1-877/321-2652), a free program for residents of the National Association of Counties (NACo) member counties.

Compare Costs If Purchasing Your Prescription Online

You can safely order medications online from an NABP VIPPS-accredited pharmacy. NABP does not collect data on the prices of prescription medications. Information and price comparisons on medications available at legitimately operating Internet pharmacies are available at Pharmahelper.com, which lists only those Internet pharmacies that adhere to NABP-recognized standards.

Additional Resources for Tips on Finding Safe, Affordable Medications

• Dr. Oz Web site, Sharecare Response to “How Can I Save Money on Prescription Drugs?”
• The Partnership for Safe Medicines, “Safe Savings.”