Study: Generic drugs consistently cheaper

06:51 PM CDT on Monday, June 6, 2005

By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA-TV

Americans could save billions of dollars by making one simple change when it comes to prescription drugs.

A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital confirmed what a News 8 investigation showed about two years ago: people with or without insurance can save a lot of money on the price of pills by going generic.

Robert Miller knows exactly what he wants when it comes to prescription drugs.

"That's all we buy is brand names," said Miller. "Sure, it's a lot more money and it's more trouble, but the purity is a lot better."

Many other people feel the same way - but the study shows Americans can save about $9 billion a year on prescriptions by substituting generic drugs for brand-name versions.

For example, at CVS News 8 found a month's supply of 20 milligram Prozac pills cost $128.99. The generic version Fluoxetine - with the same strength and quantity - is $21.29. That's a savings of 83 percent.

"Many of these seniors could easily save hundreds of dollars just on one medication alone," said Devon Herrick of the National Center for Policy Analysis.

Herrick has studied the issue extensively.

"It's not just a case of saying to your pharmacist, 'Can I have this in generic', because many times the drug you were initially prescribed is not available in generic," Herrick said. "But (in) most cases there is a drug that is available generically that could easily substitute."

Joe Park, a pharmacist at Dougherty's Airway Drug in Dallas, said customers often refuse generics even though he can easily attest that they work just as well.

"(They're) indoctrinated that brands are better performers than generics," Park said.

Experts agree buying generic could save a bundle, especially for older people on fixed incomes who can't afford the high price of pills.

And as News 8 mentioned last year, shopping at wholesale warehouses like Costco and Sams can save customers even more money on generic drugs.

E-mail: jstjames@wfaa.com