MANAGING A PRESCRIPTION
Your doctor will give you a prescription script. Take the prescription to the pharmacy. Hand the pharmacist the prescription and your Medicaid card. The doctor may call your prescription in to the pharmacy for you. You can call the pharmacy to see if it’s ready to be picked up.
The staff will probably ask if you have questions for the pharmacist. If you don’t, you may be asked to sign a waiver.
If your medication looks different than usual or the name doesn’t sound familiar, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Helpful Hint: Snap a photo for reference!
If you have a phone with a camera, an easy tip to help you remember your medication names and dosages is to snap a quick photo before your appointment.
Your prescription may come with an information sheet from the manufacturer and from the pharmacy. These information sheets offer useful information on how to take that particular medication as well as any side effects.
If the pharmacy seems busy or you don't want to ask about something personal in public, you can always call the pharmacy and ask to speak to the pharmacist later.
Generic vs. Brand Name Medication
A generic drug is a lower-cost version of a brand-name drug, typically costing 30-80% less! A brand-name drug and its generic version must have the same active ingredient, dosage, safety, strength, usage directions, quality, performance and intended use. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires generic drugs to have the same quality, strength, purity and stability as their brand-name versions. Generic drugs are thoroughly tested to make sure their performance and ingredients meet the FDA’s standards. Both brand-name and generic drug facilities must meet the same standards.
Generic cost less than brand name drugs. This is because these manufacturers didn’t have the same development costs (such as years of expensive research), so they can sell the drug at a discount. Today, almost half of all prescriptions are filled with generics.
Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about the difference between generic and brand name if you have any additional questions. Explain that you want the most effective drug at the best price. Ask your doctor to write prescriptions for generic drugs whenever possible.