Prescription drugs are an important part of Americans’ health and well-being. In a weak economy, prescription drugs can cost a lot of money, so some patients may have to reduce their dosages or stop taking them altogether.

“Many consumers are having prescriptions written but are not having them filled,”Mark Brueckl, assistant director of pharmacy affairs for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, says it.

It is possible to get affordable prescriptions. It is possible to save money by switching to generic medication. Generics must be subject to rigorous testing by U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to show that they are just as safe and effective.

Between 2009-2012, 80 top-selling brand medicines lost patent protection. This means that generic versions of these drugs will soon be made available. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that generic drugs can save consumers between $8 billion and $10 billion each year at retail pharmacies.

Consider asking your doctor if a generic version is available for your brand-name drug if it doesn’t exist. You might also be able to buy over-the-counter medications. Some programs of pharmaceutical manufacturers also offer patient assistance programs that offer discount rate cards, trial or sample cards.

There are other options to save money:

* Filling prescriptions through mail-order programs and ordering multiple months’ worth of prescriptions, thus saving copayments and shipping costs. These options are often offered by pharmacy benefit managers.

* Splitting tablets in half. Prescription drugs can be purchased at the same price per tablet regardless of their dosage. Ask your doctor if he can give you a prescription to double the dosage, for example 80 mgs instead of 40 mgs. Then split the tablets in half. Do not halve any drugs that have special coatings or slow-release formulations.

* See if you’re eligible for Medicare. You are eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage, regardless of your income or health status. Go to www.socialsecurity.govClick on the “Medicare”tab.

Visit www.amazon.com for more information www.amcp.org.