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How am i supposed to know the price of a prescription drug at the pharmacy?

  • 28-06-2016 09:35AM
    #1
    Giadfro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 ✭


    So i have been given a prescription for sildenafil, which cost €25 and ill have to go to a pharmacy to collect it, it is 25mg and 24 tablets, on the HSE website it gives a 'reference' price which is very affordable (something like 10-20 euro) but on every other website it says that it costs well about 100-400 $ !! I know that these prices are outside if Ireland but can here really be this much of a price gap?! Some insight here would be much appreciated asap , thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    TherapyBoy
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 4,744 Mod ✭✭✭✭TherapyBoy


    Go to your pharmacy & ask them. They'll be able to tell you how much they charge for it.

    Moderator: Non Drinkers Group & Grand Theft Auto



  • #3
    Giadfro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 ✭Giadfro


    TherapyBoy wrote: »
    Go to your pharmacy & ask them. They'll be able to tell you how much they charge for it.

    I know that seems like he obvious thing to do but i want to know if its going to be an is and price or a reasonable price before i pay for the prescription, i don't want to go to the embarrassment of having to decline the purchase of the prescription in the pharmacy...


  • #4
    strandroad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,676 ✭✭✭strandroad


    Phone them and ask before you go?
    You can actually ring a few in case there was meaningful difference in pricing.


  • #5
    xabi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,029 ✭✭✭xabi


    Call them


  • #6
    TherapyBoy
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 4,744 Mod ✭✭✭✭TherapyBoy


    Most pharmacies will be accommodating in these circumstances. Tell them you have a prescription but you want to know how much it will cost you before you hand it in.

    Moderator: Non Drinkers Group & Grand Theft Auto



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  • #7
    Ocean Blue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 612 ✭✭✭Ocean Blue


    Giadfro wrote: »
    So i have been given a prescription for sildenafil, which cost €25 and ill have to go to a pharmacy to collect it, it is 25mg and 24 tablets, on the HSE website it gives a 'reference' price which is very affordable (something like 10-20 euro) but on every other website it says that it costs well about 100-400 $ !! I know that these prices are outside if Ireland but can here really be this much of a price gap?! Some insight here would be much appreciated asap , thanks.

    Generic versions available for quite cheap.....Maybe €10 price range for box of 4, but this can vary so shop around. Maybe even cheaper as its lowest strength. Better value if you buy in bulk but can be gotten as 4 if high initial outlay is a problem.


  • #8
    locum-motion
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,144 ✭✭✭locum-motion


    Giadfro wrote: »
    ...on the HSE website it gives a 'reference' price which is very affordable...


    The HSE's reference price is what they pay pharmacies when they're buying it. Given that you're not buying a million or so tablets, you don't get to dic tate a massive discount for yourself! Therefore, the refernece price bears no resemblance to what you pay.

    Ask a pharmacy or two. You're not obliged to have it dispensed in any one pharmacy.

    On the other hand, do not be surprised if a pharmacy won't quote over the phone and wants to actually see the prescription before they quote a price. The pharmacist will probably want to make sure that they're quoting for what's actually on the prescription, rather than a lay-person's interpretation of what they think the prescription says.


  • #9
    echo beach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭echo beach


    Giadfro wrote: »
    I know that seems like he obvious thing to do but i want to know if its going to be an is and price or a reasonable price before i pay for the prescription, i don't want to go to the embarrassment of having to decline the purchase of the prescription in the pharmacy...

    Nothing to be embarrassed about. Pharmacy staff are used to people pricing prescriptions before they buy. If it is more than somebody willing or able to pay the person may say that or more often will say something like, "Thanks, I'll come back on payday," and are never seen again. Nobody passes any remarks on it.


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