Cheapest Prescriptions and Medications Discussion

kev147

Because my GP will only give me prescriptions for 28 days at a time I actually end up with 13 periods in a year.
So savings should be based on 13 periodss a year.
Also it's worth asking if they will give you more than 1 months supply on one prescription as some doctors will while others don't.
So having 2 presciptions does save you more. It is well worth it.

OneSpike

Forgive me if this has already been said, but a GP will usually prescribe bog standard things like children's ibuprofen and paracetamol, often in pretty huge bottles, which of course are free. I always ask for some if I'm in for anything child-related.

cheapskate101

Anyone who wants to know how much drugs should really cost should look at this site

https://www.dh.gov.uk/.../ListOfMaximumPriceGenericMedicines/fs/en?

iglimpse

jet44 wrote: »

free prescriptions you can also register for Care at the Chemist it is primarily for minor ailments but well worth it as medicines can be quite expensive. You have to register with one chemist but you can receive treatment free for many minor ailments. I can't find much on the internet about it but my chemist did say that they didn't want everyone to know about it so I guess the NHS is trying to keep a lid on this one.

:eek: No not trying to keep a lid on it.

:T It saves the NHS thousands, in wasted consultations simply to request simple calpol paracetamol etc. E.g Mum on benefits, toddler has temperature, needs script to get it free. That's where care of the chemist scheme is valuable. Not every surgery is in the scheme and that is where the problems lie. It should be available to everyone who gets free scripts and that is why the cannot publicise it too widely (just politics)

muttley

cal wrote: »

I rarely need prescriptions but needed one today, the pharmacist told me it was actually cheaper to buy over the counter - a saving of 78p. Hows that for service.

Not only is it good service, it is also good business for the pharmacist. He/she will have made more profit on a £5.87 OTC sale than from the dispensing fee that he/she would have received from dispensing the prescription. Not to mention the goodwill generated which is priceless.

Compound_2

Would it be possible to have an approximate comparison of the cost of paracetamol across Tesco, Boots, Savers, typical independent? Also, is it possible that when naming a generic, the pharmacist may try to sell to you the most expensive brand, as this is also covered by the generic term? Should you ask how many versions there are, as several manufacturers may be competing on the same drug? Of course, it’s necessary to look at pack size too, but I believe there are legal limits imposed on how much you can purchase.

Sir_Alan

Compound wrote: »

...Of course, it’s necessary to look at pack size too, but I believe there are legal limits imposed on how much you can purchase.

I'm not sure of the details, but items such as paracetemol or ibuprofen are limited when bought elsewhere than at a pharmacy. (Not entirely sure of the point of this, as 16 paracetemol tablets taken at once will kill you just as surely as 60). The pharmacist can sell you much larger quantities, but may ask a few searching questions before doing so. I bought a pack of 96 ibuprofen at my local supermarket pharmacy without difficulty.

I would not willingly pay the extra pound just to have the name Nurofen or Panadol on the box.

buglawton

I have discovered that the average student (with student loan) of parents on average type of income will most probably get an exemption certificate for all NHS prescriptions.

catalina66

Hi, I've just received an HC3 instead of an HC1, due to being only 2p over the threshold. I'm about to post the appeal, including a doctor's letter. Got surgeries coming up and various conditions, so am concerned about affording prescriptions. Everyone I know is on the same low budget, so I can't borrow anything, and don't want to get into that situation anyway! Expecting that the review board will say to get a pre-payment certificate, but just wondered if anyone had had any success when appealing [optimistic, I know!] Cheers, Cat

catalina66

Bumping it up :-)