Medication Savings Ask PharmacyChecker

October 25, 2023

Trelegy Ellipta is the only FDA-approved once-daily 3-in-1 treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This medication can be used to treat asthma in adults, as well as the long-term symptoms of COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Read More

October 18, 2023

Pirfenidone (marketed under brand names Esbriet, Etuary, Pirfenex, Pulmofib, KitosCell LP, and Pirespa) is one of just two expensive medications available globally that can treat symptoms of an incurable lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Read More

October 03, 2023

This PharmacyChecker report suggests price targets that Medicare should consider in its negotiation, comparing Medicare 2021 per dosage spending with the per unit prices of drugs available for purchase at Canadian pharmacies.... Read More

May 01, 2023

After over 30 years as a pediatric nurse, I decided to retire 18 months ago. Given my long career, I thought I knew my way around insurance and how to manage prescription costs. Read More

November 23, 2022

International pharmacies sell and ship Rybelsus for as much as 82% off the average U.S. retail pharmacy price. Read More

November 16, 2022

Xifaxan is a very popular medication and the pharmaceutical industry is cashing in. The average retail price for 60 Xifaxan 550 mg tablets sold at U.S. pharmacies is $3,271.84 – a steep 22% increase from the average price in 2019 ($2,686.95). Read More

August 18, 2022

You may have heard that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will lower drug prices in America. Let’s cut the politics and lay down the facts here. I’m going to start with the good news: What you’ve heard is true! Read More

May 16, 2022

Well, I’ve been writing about this topic for close to 20 years. Year after year, Congress after Congress, Democratic and Republican majorities, the call to arms against Big Pharma came to virtually nothing. Read More

February 14, 2022

Gabe Levitt, co-founder and president of PharmacyChecker.com, answers your most frequently asked questions regarding the highly publicized new Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. Read More

November 24, 2021

“Can physicians accurately estimate a patient’s out-of-pocket expenses if they are given all the necessary information about a drug’s price and the patient’s insurance plan?” This is the question a recent Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study sought to answer, finding that only 21... Read More

November 17, 2021

Highlighting reporting on prescription drug prices in the United States is, to put it plainly, quite depressing. Read More

September 20, 2021

“Catastrophic” health coverage never had the best branding. It is, as its title suggests, available and helpful only in the case of true catastrophes. Read More

July 19, 2021

If you ask me, “pay for delay” is a little too cutesy a term for a practice that places medicine more and more out of patients’ financial reach. More than a quarter of Americans stated they or a family member have been unable to afford a prescribed medication over the past year. Read More

July 07, 2021

Patents have expired on two competing insulins produced by Eli Lilly (Humalog) and Novo Nordisk (Novolog). Read More

May 16, 2021

When costs get out of hand, the natural next step of a savvy shopper involves comparing costs online. Perhaps, like many Americans, the autopilot answer to our financial woes is Amazon. Read More

May 06, 2021

When Americans order prescription drugs online from a Canadian pharmacy, if they are buying from a reputable online pharmacy, they must submit a valid prescription. However, that prescription is often written by a U.S. doctor. Read More

March 30, 2021

Muscle relaxers help us recover from chronic or severe pain. Severe pain can seriously affect your quality of sleep, causing uncomfortable cranky mornings. Read More

March 22, 2021

Most Americans have either experienced firsthand or know about the problem of high prescription drug prices. Drug prices are three times higher in the U.S. than in other countries. Moreover, for years they have increased much faster than the rate of inflation. Read More

March 19, 2021

Prescription drug prices are a symptom of a greater disease — greed and its effect on the U.S. healthcare system — but, oh, are they a nasty symptom. Read More

March 15, 2021

The enrollment period for marketplace health insurance is typically in late winter, traditionally closing in December. The COVID-19 crisis, which began in March 2020, has ushered in a new “special enrollment period” from February 15, 2021 to May 15, 2021. Read More

March 03, 2021

Pantoprazole (Protonix) and omeprazole (Prilosec) are proton-pump inhibitors that treat various forms of gastrointestinal discomfort, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn, stomach ulcers, and esophagitis (inflamed esophagus). Read More

February 04, 2021

A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria from the environment — from your rectum or from a sexual partner, for example — get inside your urethra, leading to an infection in the bladder. How do you treat UTIs? What is the best over-the-counter UTI treatment? Read More

February 02, 2021

The United States is rapidly shedding its stigma around anxiety and depression as more and more folks realize just how common this condition is. If you feel anxious for a prolonged period of time, know that you are not alone. Read More

January 28, 2021

Our favorite drug companies kicked off 2021 the only way they know how: extensive drug price increases in America! In an analysis of about 500 drugs, the median price increase was 4.9%. This is a time-honored tradition: Last year, the median was 5%. Read More

January 25, 2021

Though Frederick Banting co-discovered insulin at the turn of the century — winning the Nobel for it in 1923 — the turn of the millennium brought a new, more horrific discovery: Big Pharma. Read More

January 20, 2021

The COVID-19 vaccine came in riding a wave of anticipation. Read More

January 06, 2021

Cystic fibrosis, like many chronic conditions, is expensive. Any condition that requires regular care -- doctor appointments, multiple medications, devices -- will be expensive, even with insurance. Read More

December 28, 2020

Copay exorbitant? Or, more likely, is your prescription cash price (with no insurance) just too expensive? These are common problems in the U.S. Eight out of ten Americans find U.S. prescription prices unreasonable. Read More

December 22, 2020

Tis the season to...lower your drug prices? Hear us out. Prescription drug costs in the U.S. are too high. In a 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 79% of respondents thought U.S. drug prices were unreasonable. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made it worse. Read More

December 16, 2020

Diabetes is an expensive illness. Read More

December 07, 2020

Asthma can be an expensive condition — chronic conditions like diabetes always are. A $20 inhaler doesn’t sound like much until you multiply that by sixty years. Plus, given how much time you may have to invest in care, quick fixes aren’t going to help. Read More

November 18, 2020

Eliquis (apixaban) is almost half the price of Xarelto (rivaroxaban), although both are relatively expensive medications. Read More

November 10, 2020

Prescription medication, especially for chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes, can run families a pretty penny. Sometimes — quelle horreur! — children’s medications are more expensive than medications for adults. Read More

October 07, 2020

Viagra? Expensive “blue pill”? Viagra (generic name sildenafil) is widely-recognized as the drug that can help induce and prolong an erection. Read More

September 10, 2020

As we monitor prices, we often come across consumers who cannot afford their current drug regimen. They’re everywhere: at your supermarket, at the bus stop, (obviously) at the pharmacy, you name it. But also, they’re on Twitter. Read More

September 03, 2020

Budesonide ER, brand name Uceris, is among many drugs sold in the U.S. with an embarrassingly high price tag. The drug, which treats inflammatory bowel disease caused by Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, sells for an average of $72 per pill. Read More

August 18, 2020

If you’ve recently found yourself without health coverage due to job loss -- incidentally, COVID has also seen unemployment rates soar -- you have a few options. Pending eligibility, the cheapest option by far would be to apply for your local Medicaid program. Read More

August 12, 2020

There are people all over the U.S. presenting the PharmacyChecker Discount Card to achieve savings up to… wait for it... 99% off the retail price. Take a look! Download your PharmacyChecker Drug Discount Coupon today. Read More

August 10, 2020

Explore all the ways PharmacyChecker ensures you get the medication you need with the lowest possible price tag. Read More

July 28, 2020

There is one more formulation of acyclovir, which the FDA approved in 2014: Xerese. Xerese is an ointment composed of acyclovir and hydrocortisone used to treat herpesvirus. As it is newer, and does not have a generic alternative, Xerese is the most expensive formulation of acyclovir. Read More

July 24, 2020

Apoquel (oclacitinib) is prescribed for the treatment and control of itching (canine pruritus) and inflammation in dogs that can come about for a number of reasons. How to buy cheaper Apoquel for your dog. Is there a generic version of Apoquel? Read More

July 23, 2020

Waiting in a long line at the pharmacy only to find out insurance doesn’t cover your prescription can have the best of us pulling our hair out. Or perhaps the pharmacy doesn’t accept a discount coupon or allot the proper time to consider your questions. Read More

July 09, 2020

A quick internet search for your prescription’s prices will likely offer a world of discounts, ranging from patient assistance programs to grocery store pharmacy coupons to Canadian online pharmacy offers. Read More

June 26, 2020

Tacrolimus, sold under the brand name Prograf in its oral form, is a life-saving, and expensive, drug used to prevent the rejection of new organs after transplants. Read More

June 18, 2020

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) has one very famous treatment: an amphetamine salt combination called Adderall. Read More

June 12, 2020

Nexium (40 mg) is no longer covered by my insurance, and neither are generics (esomeprazole magnesium). Are there less expensive ways of getting these drugs? Read More

June 11, 2020

With an average retail price above $700 for 30 tablets, brand name Jardiance is not cheap, nor does it have a generic alternative. According to the Mayo Clinic, Jardiance (empagliflozin) prevents glucose absorption in the kidneys, keeping overall blood sugar low. Read More

June 11, 2020

With an average price of almost $600 for just two tablets, albendazole (brand name Albenza) is one of the more expensive anti-parasitics. Fortunately, the drug can be found for much cheaper at international pharmacies. The brand name can be found for a 98% discount. Read More

May 19, 2020

The FDA recently approved a new medication called Palforzia to help people suffering from allergic reactions like anaphylaxis when they are accidentally exposed to peanuts. Palforzia is taken daily and the dose is gradually increased for individuals aged 4 to 17 years. Read More

May 13, 2020

Pet medication pricing varies as much as the size and shape of your furry friends. Like meds for humans, prices can be very, very high. There is no one-stop shop for the cheapest pet medication! Pet owners are forced to shop around for the best price. Read More

May 08, 2020

While the word “sharing” does not necessarily appear in any legal literature, it is illegal to “use or distribute” a prescription substance without a valid prescription. Read More

May 08, 2020

Ivermectin, sold under the brand name Stromectol or Soolantra in the U.S., treats conditions caused by parasites, such as threadworm and roundworm. In early April of 2020, ABC News reported that the drug was being investigated as a possible treatment for the novel coronavirus. Read More

April 29, 2020

For the uninsured in the U.S., olopatadine prices run around $161.95 for a 2.5 ml eye dropper. And that’s if you are buying generic. If you opt for the brand-name version -- called Pataday -- you’ll be hit with an even higher bill. Read More

April 23, 2020

Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) is an expensive antiretroviral used to treat HIV with generic availability limited to an oral solution in the United States. Read More

April 14, 2020

Most pet owners know that pet medicine, like human medicine, can be exceedingly expensive. Thankfully, Vetmedin (pimobendan), a veterinary drug used for pets suffering from congenital heart failure, is not one of those drugs. Read More

March 30, 2020

Medical credit cards, lines of financial credit to be used specifically for medical expenses, are a high-interest topic. Read More

March 09, 2020

Tips for Negotiating Your Medical Bills. Tips For Negotiating Your Medical Bill After You’ve Received It. The easiest – though often the most laborious – way to lower costs associated with medical expenses is to call your insurer. Read More

March 04, 2020

With an average U.S. retail price around $1,200 for 30 tablets at 800mg, Aptiom is one of the more expensive anti-epileptics. Aptiom also has no generic alternative available locally. Read More

February 11, 2020

The Medicare coverage gap, informally known as the “donut hole,” ostensibly closed at the end of 2019. But is the coverage gap really gone? Short answer: yes. Perhaps a more important question is if the hole’s closing will actually cut costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Read More

January 29, 2020

Many Americans struggling with their prescription drug bills could benefit from Medicaid. Especially if you are uninsured, you should find out if you qualify. Medicaid is the nation’s federal and state health insurance program for Americans with low incomes. Read More

January 16, 2020

Severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylactic shock, can kill. In these cases, EpiPens save these people’s lives. This is precisely why their high cost can be a serious problem. Read More

January 14, 2020

The 2020 prospective democratic candidates are also heavily focused on drug prices and healthcare. Each person running for office has had to answer to America’s soaring drug prices. Read More

January 09, 2020

Health insurance was a very good, very simple idea that has, most unfortunately, become one of life’s bigger nuisances. The basic idea: Everyone pays a little bit of money each month in exchange for the see... Read More

December 17, 2019

Pioglitazone, sold under the brand name Actos, can run you a pretty penny if you are purchasing the brand name. Read More

December 11, 2019

Tamsulosin (Flomax), an alpha-1 blocker used to treat an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH), is not one of the nation’s most exorbitantly expensive drugs, but it isn’t exactly cheap. This is especially the case if you find yourself uninsured. Read More

December 02, 2019

A less well-known, but still painful, limitation of Medicare Part D is that plan enrollees cannot access many discounts provided by pharmacy discount coupons. Read More

November 09, 2019

Welcome to the weird, not-so-wonderful world of health insurance plans and prescription drug benefits (or lack thereof). Read More

October 28, 2019

Tadalafil (generic Cialis) is covered by most health insurance plans. But if it’s not covered by yours or you’re uninsured, a quick look at the tadalafil price comparison chart below will certainly bring some relief. Read More

October 11, 2019

Metformin, an oral medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, is, all things considered, a relatively inexpensive drug. But for people with type 2 diabetes, metformin is a life-saving drug. Read More

October 07, 2019

HIV/AIDS is one of the most harrowing and complicated epidemics in medical history. Read More

September 23, 2019

Mind the gap! Medicare, our nation’s public health insurance available to all Americans 65 and older, and others with disabilities, has a nasty, frustrating flaw: the Medicare donut hole. Read More

September 20, 2019

Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was implemented in 2010, young Americans have been able to stay on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26. Read More

September 18, 2019

Albuterol can become expensive if you do not have insurance. In some cases, depending on your pharmacy benefit plan, Albuterol can cost a lot even if you do have health insurance. Read More

September 03, 2019

Eliquis made in the U.S. is sold outside the U.S. for 87% cheaper. And you can easily order it. Eliquis (apixaban) is made in America. At least some of it is. I’ll explain more below. Read More

August 30, 2019

The rumors are true! On July 19th, the FDA approved several Lyrica (pregabalin) generics for distribution. Read More

August 23, 2019

When the price of drugs looks intimidating, physicians will often point their patients toward what are called “patient assistance programs” (PAPs). These programs alleviate the pain of high-cost prescription drugs. In theory, these programs are good. Read More

August 07, 2019

Levothyroxine sodium, often shortened to just “levothyroxine,” is a prescription generic medication used to treat hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine can also treat an enlarged thyroid gland and thyroid cancer. Read More

July 23, 2019

Levitra (vardenafil) is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. Unfortunately, the cost for this brand name drug only continues to rise. As of July 2019, Levitra 20 mg has an average retail price of $633 for ten tablets in the U.S. Read More

July 18, 2019

Patients pay far more for medication in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that prices on patented brand-name drugs were 3.2 to 4.1 times higher than in other countries. Read More

July 01, 2019

The U.S. is one of two countries (the other being New Zealand) that permit pharmaceutical companies to advertise prescription drugs directly to consumers (DTC advertising). If you’ve ever watched TV (and I know you have), you’ve seen such advertisements. Read More

June 27, 2019

Many consumers have come to PharmacyChecker.com seeking price relief for their Advair Diskus prescription through our drug price comparisons. Read More

June 11, 2019

In March 2019, Eli Lilly (“Lilly”) announced that a lower-priced version of Humalog, called insulin lispro, would be coming soon to patients in the United States. Well, it’s here! Apparently. Now what? Read More

May 03, 2019

If your doctor prescribes a medication you have to start immediately, you'll need to use a local pharmacy. Read More

April 29, 2019

According to the American Society of Transplantation, 72% percent of liver transplant patients, 65% percent of heart transplant patients, and 59% percent of lung transplant patients are not insured with Medicare when they undergo transplant surgery. Read More

April 09, 2019

In the United States, the current average retail price of a three-month supply of Xarelto 20 mg is around $1,600. Even with discounts and coupons available online, the price may still be out of reach for many, especially those patients without insurance. Read More

April 03, 2019

The average retail price of a 90-day supply of Symbicort 160 mcg/ 4.5mcg is $415 in the United States. When it comes to a necessary medication, that’s not exactly a deal. Read More

March 22, 2019

If you need hepatitis C medication, you may be wondering how you can lower the cost at the pharmacy counter. New hepatitis C medicines, such as Sovaldi, Harvoni, and Epclusa, are incredibly expensive. Read More

March 14, 2019

Domperidone is approved in some countries, including Canada, to treat gastrointestinal conditions. It is approved in the United Kingdom for use in the relief of nausea and vomiting. Read More

February 28, 2019

With the current average retail price being somewhere around $475 for 30 tablets of brand-name Vesicare 10 mg and a generic version yet to be sold locally in the U.S., it may be financially wise to turn to patient assistance programs, discount cards or online pharmacies for some wallet relief.... Read More

February 28, 2019

If you have been prescribed Lyrica (pregabalin) for the treatment of neuropathic pain, you may be wondering how you can lower the cost at the pharmacy counter. Read More

February 22, 2019

Drug price increases are a common and unfortunate reality for American consumers. Whether it’s dealing with a higher copay or an out-of-pocket list price jump, people are suffering at pharmacy counters across the country. Read More

February 20, 2019

Brand-name Naftin gel sold in the United States is manufactured by Sebela Pharmaceuticals, a former division of Merz Pharmaceuticals. Read More

February 20, 2019

Zetia and its generic version, ezetimibe, are prescribed along with diet and exercise—and sometimes with other cholesterol-lowering medications— to help treat high cholesterol. Read More

February 12, 2019

Have you ever been outraged by drug prices at your local pharmacy, such as a Walgreens or CVS? Then, you walk across the street to another pharmacy and find that same drug at a much lower price? What a relief! But, also, what an outrage! Read More

January 16, 2019

Despite many scripts now being issued electronically, many Americans are faced with prescriptions not being ready at our local pharmacies when we want them to be. There are several ways healthcare providers can send your prescription to your local pharmacy. Read More

January 08, 2019

If you are in search for Prilosec, prescription or over-the-counter, to treat ulcers in your stomach or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you may be wondering how you can lower the cost at the pharmacy counter. Read More