Lower Prices on Prescription Drugs: CVS Pharmacy Vs. Walgreens Pharmacy

There are millions of people who pick up their prescriptions at a CVS pharmacy or Walgreens pharmacy. What many want to know is which pharmacy will end up saving them the most money. This can depend greatly on your location and your prescription plan.

I decided to go to both pharmacies in my area and find out which one offers the lowest prices on the most common prescription drugs. I even used my own prescription prices and compared them. After talking to the pharmacist at both locations, I found that a lot depends on the type of insurance plan you have and how much it covers. This will determine how much money you end up spending out of pocket. Most people will usually just get the generic brands, which are supposed to be cheaper. In most cases, they are, but in some, they are just as expensive. Keep in mind that not all medications have a generic brand currently available.

One prescription drug that is very commonly prescribed is Zocor. This is a cholesterol-lowering drug. If you go to Walgreens, the generic version of Zocor will probably cost you about $10. The generic version at CVS will cost you about the same price.

Another commonly prescribed drug is Lipitor. The purpose of this medication is also to lower cholesterol. The average price for Lipitor at CVS is about $80, and Walgreens charges about $85 for 30, 10-milligram tablets. Of course, the cost will increase as the quantity increases. The generic version will cost you about $40 at CVS and $45 at most Walgreens locations. Usually, your insurance will cover the cost, but the co-pay for a generic version would be cheaper than the co-pay for the brand name.

Norvasc is another commonly used drug that is a blood pressure-regulating medication. At CVS, you can expect to pay $61.59 for 30, name-brand tablets. At Walgreens, it will cost you about $70. The generic version is Amlodipine Besylate, and will cost you about $30 at CVS and slightly more at Walgreens.

Plavix is another common prescription and is used for the treatment of lowering the risk of stroke and heart attack. It is given to those who already have had a stroke or heart attack and can be used to treat other related conditions as well. At CVS, the price for 30, 75-milligram tablets is about $134.99. At Walgreens, you can expect to pay $153 . Keep in mind that the generic versions would be considerably cheaper at both locations, but Walgreens will probably be slightly more.

Celebrex is commonly used for arthritis treatment. The CVS price is $87.99 for 30 pills at 100 milligrams each. The Walgreens price is about $1 more for the same amount of pills mentioned above. The generic version at CVS will cost you about half of the name-brand version and the same at Walgreens.

Torprol XL is commonly used for treating angina and hypertension. The CVS price for 30, 50-milligram pills is $32.89. The Walgreens price is about $40 for the same amount.

Zofran is another commonly used medication for helping to prevent nausea and vomiting. There is a generic version that will cost you $9 at Walgreens and $10 at CVS. With Walgreens, I have found that you can pick up your prescription at any location, even if you dropped it off at a different one. This has a lot to do with its computer system. CVS locations will require that you have the prescription with you at each location in order to fill your prescription.

When it comes to price, however, it does vary depending on the prescription that you are going to be filing. Some prescriptions may be cheaper at Walgreens than at CVS. The Walgreens staff was also a lot more helpful and friendlier than the CVS staff. Of course, all Walgreens and CVS locations are different, so you should call your local Walgreens and CVS store to see exactly what the cost of your prescriptions will be. Make sure you check with your doctor before using the generic brand. In some cases, your doctor will not want you to use the generic version of a medication. Walgreens also seems to be the location preferred by most senior citizens who have special prescription plans.

The bottom line is that how much you end up paying depends on a number of factors, including your insurance coverage and the type of prescription that you have. In some cases, you may want to end up paying more money just so you can deal with a pleasant pharmacist. Make sure that you always call around to several pharmacies to see which one will give you the best price for your prescription. Even if you have insurance, you can save a few dollars on your co-pay just by making a few phone calls.