As a publicly funded health care system the NHS must choose how to allocate its budget effectively. In some cases this means prescribing the cheapest medications and in others it means medications are restricted and cannot be subsidized by the government. Where the NHS is willing and able to prescribe treatments they may choose to save money on medications by prescribing generics. A generic treatment is an equivalent or copy of a brand name medication, one of the nest known generics is aspirin. Generics like aspirin are produced legally once a medication's copyright has run out, and the government or a regulatory body sets rules for how these treatments must be reproduced so there is a pharmacological standard. Generic drugs are cheaper because they are copies, the manufacturer does not need to invest any money in research and development, and any pharmaceutical manufacturer can reproduce the drugs increasing competition allowing the consumer to make safe savings on UK prescription weightloss medications .
Not every drug has a generic version. A pharmaceutical company has the right to exclusivity for a number of years allowing them to make back the money spent on investment, they also have the right to apply to extend their copyright license. If you have to pay for your medications and do not have access to a generic, then there are still ways to save money on your prescriptions. One of the most well known and used drugs is Lipitor, a drug used for regulating cholesterol levels. This drug is patent protected and as such there is no other medication available which uses the same active ingredient. You can save by cutting a higher dose in two, which gives you twice the amount of medicine for you money. You can split the tablets in half accurately using a pill cutter which can be purchased at a pharmacy for a few pounds.
You may want to consider a drug change. Ask your doctor if your medication can be substituted for a cheaper alternative. Monitor your reaction to your new medications for the first few months and note any side effects you experience. If side effects bother you let your doctor know so they can suggest something else.
Try to improve your lifestyle by following a healthy diet and being active. Many medical problems such as type II diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity are caused by poor food choices. Stay away from high sugar and high fat foods by choosing sensible alternatives such as soya milk, low fat cheese and vegetable oil spreads. Doing regular exercise will decrease your risk of heart disease and fatty build ups in your arteries which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Improving your lifestyle can help avoid the need for medication altogether.