Nonprescription and prescription medicines can be very expensive. Here are some ways to cut your medicine costs:

• Buy generic nonprescription products. They are chemically equivalent to brand-name drugs but usually cost less. In many cases a generic costs less than half of what its brand-name medicine costs. Ask your doctor if generic forms of your prescription medicines are available and appropriate for you.
• Shop around and compare prices at several pharmacies. Prices can vary widely. It may be worth paying a little more if you know and trust the pharmacist.
• Ask your doctor for samples of newly prescribed medicines, or ask your pharmacist to fill only the first week's worth of pills. If the medicine has to be changed later, you will have saved paying for the full prescription.
• If you regularly use medicines that are expensive, consider buying them from reputable mail-order or Internet pharmacies if they charge less. The only disadvantage is that you will not have a partnership with a local pharmacist.