A Guide to the $4 Dollar Drug List
What is the $4 drug list?
Within the past few years, community pharmacies have started to offer medications at a set price depending on a 30 or 90 day supply. Overall this consists of generic medications that are often prescribed for chronic disease states. However, there are subtle differences between each business on what is available on their lists that others do not cover.
Who offers these medications?
Most of the big name brand stores and box pharmacies offer a $4 dollar drug list. This includes:
- Walmart
- Target
- Kroger
- Wegmans
- Acme
- Regional Stores
What medications are offered?
The medications offered on these lists are usually broken into their general indications. This Hub will attempt to address the most common disease states and their accompanying medications, as well as differences between supported drug lists.
What about the prescription saving plans?
Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS offer special prescription saving plans for a monthly enrollment. The benefit of these plans is that they offer slightly more medications than on the $4 dollar generic lists mentioned here. On the other hand, they tend to charge more for a 30-day supply ($9.99). It comes down to what medications that you are trying to purchase and if these plans would be more beneficial over others, or even worth enrolling.
Important Warning
The usage of the $4 dollar drugs and prescription plans can be very beneficial, especially in our hard economic times where we are trying to save money. However, one advice that must be stressed is to stay with as few pharmacies as possible and to maintain your prescriptions at one place if possible. This is due to the fact that they pharmacy filling your prescription will only know what you have filled at that branch (eg. Walgreens only knows what you have filled with them and not with Wal-Mart). The significance of this is that if you shop at different pharmacies and are taking all those medications, the pharmacists will never know, and will not be able to spot drug interactions. This is a problem that has been recognized, and can lead to significant medical issues if not caught. If you find yourself shopping at different pharmacies,do your best to keep the pharmacies up to date on what medications you are on, even if you do not fill there, so that the pharmacist can help keep you safe.
Anti-Infectives
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Acyclovir
| Capsules
| Most
|
Amoxicillin
| Capsules and Suspension
| Most
|
Cephalexin
| Capsules
| Most
|
Ciprofloxaxin
| Tablets
| Most
|
Doxycycline
| Capsules
| Most
|
Fluconazole
| Tablets
| Most
|
Isoniazid
| Tablets
| Target, Kroger
|
Penicillin VK
| Capsules and Suspension
| Most
|
Nystatin/Triamcinolone
| Cream
| Walmart, Kroger
|
TMP-SMZ (Bactrim DS)
| Tablets
| Most
|
Tetracycline
| Capsules
| Most
|
Analgesics and Muscle Relaxants
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Baclofen
| Tablet
| Most
|
Cyclobenzaprine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Diclofenac ER
| Tablet
| Most
|
Ibuprofen
| Tablet
| Most
|
Indomethacin
| Tablet
| Most
|
Meloxicam
| Tablet
| Most
|
Naproxen
| Tablet
| Most
|
Cardiac/Blood Pressure
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Atenolol*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Benazepril*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Bumetanide
| Tablet
| Most
|
Captopril
| Tablet
| Most
|
Carvedilol
| Tablet
| Most
|
Clonidine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Digoxin
| Tablet
| Most
|
Diltiazem
| Tablet
| Most
|
Doxazosin
| Tablet
| Most
|
Enalapril*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Furosemide
| Tablet
| Most
|
Hydralazine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
| Tablet
| Most
|
Indapamide
| Tablet
| Most
|
Isosorbide Mononitrate ER
| Tablet
| Most
|
Lisinopril*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Methyldopa
| Tablet
| Most
|
Metoprolol Tartrate (NOT TOPROL)
| Tablet
| Most
|
Nadolol
| Tablet
| Most
|
Prazosin
| Capsule
| Most
|
Propranolol
| Tablet
| Most
|
Sotalol
| Tablet
| Most
|
Spironolactone
| Tablet
| Most
|
Terazosin
| Capsule
| Most
|
Triamterene-HCTZ
| Tablet
| Most
|
Verapamil
| Tablet
| Most
|
Warfarin
| Tablet
| Most
|
Cholesterol Medications
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Lovastatin
| Tablets
| Most
|
Pravastatin
| Tablets
| Most
|
Diabetes Medications
Drugs
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Glimiperide*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Glipizide*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Glyburide*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Metformin
| Tablet
| Most
|
Insulin
The most affordable insulin sans insurance would be the ReliOn brand available at Walmart. This includes: U-100, NPH, and 70/30. In addition, testing supplies are available, such as lancets and test strips.
Gastrointestinal
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Dicyclomine
| Capsule
| Most
|
Famotidine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Lactulose
| Syrup
| Most
|
Metoclopramide
| Tablet
| Most
|
Promethazine
| Tablet/Syrup
| Most
|
Ranitidine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Men's Health
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Doxazosin
| Tablet
| Most
|
Prazosin
| Capsule
| Most
|
Terazosin
| Capsule
| Most
|
Women's Health
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Alendronate*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
| Tablet
| Walmart
|
Oxybutynin
| Tablet
| Most
|
Sprintec 28-day*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Tamoxifen
| Tablet
| Most
|
Tri-Sprintec 28-day*
| Tablet
| Most
|
Mental Health
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Amitriptyline
| Tablet
| Most
|
Benztropine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Buspirone
| Tablet
| Most
|
Bupropion ER*
| Tablet
| Wegmans
|
Carbamazepine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Citalopram
| Tablet
| Most
|
Fluoxetine
| Capsule
| Most
|
Haloperidol
| Tablet
| Most
|
Lithium Carbonate
| Capsule
| Most
|
Nortriptyline
| Tablet
| Most
|
Paroxetine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Prochlorperazine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Thioridazine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Trazodone
| Tablet
| Most
|
Seizures
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Carbamazepine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Thyroid
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Levothyroxine
| Tablet
| Most
|
Vitamins and Supplements
Drug
| Formulation
| Pharmacy
|
---|---|---|
Folic Acid
| Tablet
| Most
|
Mag 64
| Tablet
| Most
|
Magnesium Oxide
| Tablet
| Most
|
Prenatal Plus
| Tablet
| Most
|
Potassium Chloride
| Liquid
| Most
|
Sodium Fluoride .25mg chewable
| Tablets
| Most
|
Update-
Let me know if there are other pharmacies that you would like me to look into to update this list in the comments below.