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Most Commonly Used Prescription Drugs
These days, television, magazines and even your mail is filled with ads promoting prescription drugs. But are you getting all of the facts? There are a variety of prescriptions available to you and some you may never have even heard about. Stay informed about your options, it can help you get control over your condition and your prescription costs.
The fol owing chart shows medications most commonly used by Anthem members and lists less expensive options for many of these drugs.
Bring this list with you on your next physician’s visit and discuss the best therapeutic drug option with your doctor.
If you don’t see your medication on the drug list, ask your physician or pharmacist if there is an appropriate alternative medication. • Visit anthem.com for the most up-to-date information about
Inclusion of a medication on the drug list is not a your prescription medications. The site has tools you can use guarantee of coverage. Some drugs on this list may not be covered by to check potential drug interactions and learn more about lower your plan. Please refer to your Certificate or Evidence of Coverage for cost alternatives including generic and over-the-counter drugs. coverage limitations and exclusions. Therapeutic Class
Lower-Cost Alternatives
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Abilify a Aciphex GERD, heartburn
Tier 2 - Prevacid, Protonix/ Tier 1 - omeprazole/ OTC - Prilosec Tier 1 - glipizide (Glucotrol) metformin (Glucophage), glyburide Tier 1 - amphetamine salt combo, methyliphenidate (Ritalin) Tier 1 - fexofenadine, fluticasone nasal (Flonase), flunisolide nasal (Nasalide) Tier 1 - lisinopril (Zestril), enalapril, benazepril Tier 1 - temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion) Tier 1 - glipizide (Glucontrol) metformin (Glucophage), glyburide ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Benicar HCT Tier 1 - benazepril/HCTZ, enalapril/HCTZ, lisinopril/HCTZ B Bisoprl/HCTZ Antihypertensive
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Cephalexin c Ciprofloxacin
Tier 1 - fexofenadine, fluticasone nasal (Flonase), flunisolide nasal (Nasalide) Therapeutic Class
Lower-Cost Alternatives
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Concerta Tier 1 - amphetamine combo, methyliphenidate (Ritalin) c Coreg Antihypertensive
Tier 1 - atenolol, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril Tier 1 - lovastatin (Mevacor)/ simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol) Tier 1 - amitriptyline (Elavil), bupropion (Wellbutrin), ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Depakote D Diazepam Antianxiety agents
Tier 1 - atenolol, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril Tier 1 - atenolol, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Effexor XR Tier 1 - amitriptyline (Elavil), bupropion (Wellbutrin), Tier 1 - methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fexofenadine F Flonase Allergies
Tier 1 - fluticasone nasal (Flonase), flunisolide nasal (Nasalide) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gabapentin G Glimepiride Diabetic therapy
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Humalog h Humira Antiarthritics
Tier 1 - methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine Tier 1 - atenolol, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ibuprofen I Imitrex Migraine headache therapy 2
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Kariva K ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
L Lantus Diabetic therapy
Tier 1 - amitriptyline (Elavil), bupropion (Wellbutrin), Tier 1 - captopril/HCTZ, enalapril/HCTZ, lisinopril/HCTZ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Medroxyprogesterone Glucocorticoids m Metformin Diabetic therapy
TieR 1 Lowest co-payment – Drugs offering the greatest value
TieR 3 Highest co-payment – These are typically brand name drugs that
within a therapeutic class. Some of these are the generic equivalents of do not have a generic equivalent. These also may be brand name drugs that have no therapeutic equivalent, but are determined to be a third tier drug solely based on cost. Drugs in this tier may cost more than equivalent drugs TieR 2 Moderate co-payment – These can be brand name
on lower tiers or determined to be less efficient than equivalent drugs on drugs which have a generic equivalent. Other drugs on this tier are lower tiers by the Anthem Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
the preferred drugs within a therapeutic class based on clinical effectiveness and cost as determined by the Anthem Pharmacy and Certain exclusions, limitations and prior authorization requirements may apply to some drugs covered by the three-tier prescription drug benefit plan as outlined in your member booklet or Evidence of Coverage.
Therapeutic Class
Lower-Cost Alternatives
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Nabumetone n Naproxen Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory 1
Tier 1 - fexofenadine, fluticasone nasal (Flonase), flunisolide nasal (Nasalide) Tier 1 - fluticasone nasal (Flonase), flunisolide nasal (Nasalide) Tier 2 - Prevacid, Protonix/ Tier 1 - omeprazole/ OTC - Prilosec Tier 1 - diltiazem ER, nifedipeine ER, verapamil SR (Calan) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Omeprazole 0 Omnicef Antibiotic
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Paroxetine p Penicilln VK Antibiotic
Tier 1 - lovastatin (Mevacor)/ simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol) Tier 1 - estradiol (Estrace), estropipate (Ogen) Tier 1 - estradiol (Estrace), estropipate (Ogen) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ranitidine r Risperdal Ataractics-tranquilizers 2
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Seroquel s Singulair
Tier 1 - amphetamine combo, methyliphenidate (Ritalin) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Tamiflu Tier 1 -amantidine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine) T Topamax Anticonvulsants
Tier 1 - atenolol, metoprolol (Lopressor) Therapeutic Class
Lower-Cost Alternatives
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Tramadol HCL T Trazodone Antidepressants
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Valtrex V Verapamil Antihypertensive
Tier 1 - lovastatin (Mevacor)/ simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Warfarin w Wellbutrin XL Antidepressants
Tier 1 - amitriptyline (Elavil), bupropion (Wellbutrin), ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yasmin 28 Y ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Z Zithromax Antibiotic
Tier 1 - prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan) Tier 1 - amitriptyline (Elavil), bupropion (Wellbutrin), Tier 1 - fexofenadine, fluticasone nasal (Flonase), flunisolide nasal (Nasalide) Average 30-Day Cost for Common Drugs
Did you know that the average
Drug Name
Average Cost 30-Day Rx
American household spends $812
per year on prescription drugs?1
There are things you can do to reduce health care costs for you and your family. The highest cost drugs are usually found on tier 3. Be sure to ask your doctor about generic and lower tier alternatives to brand name medications. Generic drugs are equally effective and typically less costly. Remember that using mail order may help you save money also. When Trust Your Generics
you purchase more than a month’s worth of medications and supplies by If you’ve ever wondered if generics are just as good as brands, rest using the 90-day supply mail order option, you can save on maintenance assured they are. The standards set by the Food and Drug Administration require that generic drugs be chemically identical to their brand-name 1 Kashihara, D. and Carper, K. National Health Care Expenses in the U.S. Community Population, counterparts and equal in safety, strength and effectiveness.
2002 Statistical Brief #61. December 2004. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/papers/st61/stat61.pdf Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliated HMOs, HealthKeepers, Inc., Peninsula Health Care, Inc. and Priority Health Care Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
® Registered marks Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Source: http://www.racsb.org/pages/documents/MostCommonlyUsedDrugs-AnthemRX.pdf