by Dr. Jeff Ward
I love to save money. I am the coupon-clipping, budget-minded, value-loving pharmacist, so today I’m going to share the easiest way to save money on prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. How? By not having to take them at all.
Yes, it is the obvious answer that you can save a ton on prescriptions by not needing prescriptions, so let’s address the bigger question. How do I stop needing to take a prescription? By shifting the focus from treatment to prevention.
The focus of this discussion will be high cholesterol, but you can utilize these and other prevention techniques for other disease states to reduce or eliminate prescription medication usage. For more information on prevention as related to you personally, contact your doctor.
Cholesterol is a substance found in the blood. It is necessary for normal cellular functions, but it may cause cardiovascular disease if it is too high. Cholesterol is made by the liver and it is also found in some of the foods that we eat.
The majority of people who have high cholesterol consume foods that are high in saturated and trans-fats. The first step in lowering your cholesterol is to change the way you eat and exercise most days of the week. Some tips that I received from a quick call to Heidi were:
- Use mono-unsaturated fats that are found in olive and canola oil, avocados, and beans. These types of fats have been shown to improve your cholesterol levels.
- Introduce plant sterols to your diet, which can reduce cholesterol and are now found in some margarine and other products.
- Eat colorful fruits and vegetables.
- Eat lest red meat and less fast food
- Use supplements such as Omega-3 fish oils and fiber
If you have made appropriate lifestyle and diet changes but still do not see an improvement in your cholesterol levels, your doctor may prescribe a statin drug that lowers cholesterol. Then I can still help you save money by working with your doctor to select a less expensive generic, such as lovastatin or simvastatin.
Just a reminder that you should never stop taking any of your prescription medications without first talking to your doctor. Many medications need to be stopped in a specific manner, and only a health care professional can tell you how to do so.
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