The Federal Drug Administration has an extensive article on how to save money on prescription drugs in their latest issue of FDA Consumer magazine. The article has a number of good points that can save you a significant amount of money and suggests these basic tips:

Tell your doctor whether paying for prescription drugs is a problem.

Ask your doctor about generics, another brand of the drug that may cost less, and nonprescription options.

Find out whether Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage can benefit you and your family members.

Check to see whether you are eligible for drug assistance programs in your state.

Check with the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture your medicines to find out whether you qualify for assistance programs.

Shop around your neighborhood or legitimate online pharmacies for the best prices on prescription drugs.

One point that I found interesting was area of the report that shows that people buying brand name prescription drugs through Canadian pharmacies could actually save more money much of the time by purchasing the equivalent generic drug in the US.

When I last talked to my best friend from college, one of the issues we talked about was whether generic drugs were as effective as their brand name counterparts. Both he and his wife (also a doctor) said that the generics are just as effective and that they themselves take generics.