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Over-the-Counter
(OTC) Medications
Though over-the-counter
(OTC) medications are not usually covered under prescription drug
benefit plans, they can provide a worthwhile alternative to many
prescription items and may be used under your physician’s
directions.
In order to
maximize the use of your health care benefits, you should check
the cost and availability of over-the-counter prescriptions.
Examples:
CLARITIN
(loratidine)
Available without prescription in the same strength as the prescription
product.
The cost of prescription Claritin 10 mg is $3.07 per pill. The cost
of over-the-counter Claritin is $1.02 per pill. If generic loratidine
is used over-the-counter, the cost is $0.83 per pill.
PRILOSEC
(omeprazole)
Available without prescription in the same strength as the prescription
product, 20 mg tablet.
The cost of
Prilosec 20 mg by prescription is $3.07 per pill. The cost of this
drug over-the-counter varies, being around $0.70 per tablet.
IBUPROFEN
Available without prescription over-the-counter.
Comparing over-the-counter
cost to prescription cost for a 400 mg dose, the cost of the prescription
would be $0.14 per 400 mg tablet and the cost over-the-counter would
be $0.06 for a 400 mg dose.
Feel free to
ask your health care provider about over-the-counter products and
how they might fit into your individual treatment plan.
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