Drug Information7 min read
Why Does the Same Prescription Cost $8 at One Pharmacy and $80 at Another?
A pharmacist explains why one prescription has many different prices, the role of PBMs and DIR fees, and how to make sure you are not overpaying.
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- 2Drug Information8 min read
What Is a PBM, And Why Is It Making Your Prescriptions More Expensive?
A pharmacist explains what pharmacy benefit managers do, how they make money through spread pricing and rebates, and what you can do about it.
- 3Drug Information6 min read
Why Is My Generic Medication Sometimes MORE Expensive Than the Brand Name?
A pharmacist explains the rebate and clawback mechanisms that can make a generic medication cost more than its brand name equivalent.
- 4Drug Information7 min read
GoodRx, Insurance, or Cash Price: Which One Should You Actually Use?
A pharmacist explains when to use insurance, when a discount card wins, and the deductible trap most prescription pricing advice misses.
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Why Your Pharmacist Was Not Allowed to Tell You About a Cheaper Option, Until 2018
A pharmacist explains the gag clauses that once stopped pharmacists from naming a cheaper price, the 2018 law that ended them, and what still has not changed.
- 6Drug Information8 min read
FSA and HSA: Which OTC Products Can You Actually Buy With Pre Tax Dollars?
A pharmacist explains the difference between an FSA and an HSA, which OTC products are eligible, and how to use pre tax dollars wisely.
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Why Does My Insurance Cover the Brand Name But Not the Generic, Or Vice Versa?
A pharmacist explains why a formulary sometimes favors the brand over the generic, and the options when your prescribed medication is not covered.
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What Is a Prior Authorization, And Why Is My Doctor's Office Telling Me to Call the Pharmacy?
A pharmacist explains what a prior authorization is, who is responsible for it, and the step by step way to get through it faster.
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What Nutrients Does Metformin Deplete?
Metformin depletes vitamin B12 in up to 30% of long term users. A pharmacist explains what to monitor, supplement, and ask your prescriber.
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GLP 1 Side Effects and How to Manage Them: A Pharmacist's Guide
Nausea, constipation, and fatigue from GLP 1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, a pharmacist explains what to expect and what actually helps.
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Statins and CoQ10: What Your Prescriber May Not Have Told You
Statins lower cholesterol by blocking the same pathway that produces CoQ10. A pharmacist explains the evidence, who might benefit, and honest dosing guidance.
- 12Drug Information6 min read
Blood Pressure Meds and Electrolyte Balance: What Your Pharmacist Wants You to Know
Diuretics for blood pressure deplete potassium and magnesium. A pharmacist explains which medications cause which depletions and what to do about it.