Medication Affordability: How to Save on Prescription Drugs in Canada

When it comes to medication affordability, the ability to access necessary drugs without financial hardship. Also known as drug cost access, it’s not just about price tags—it’s about whether you can actually keep taking the medicine your doctor prescribed. Too many people in Canada skip doses, split pills, or go without because the cost is too high. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The truth is, many drugs cost far less than you think—if you know where to look.

Generic drugs, chemically identical versions of brand-name medications approved by Health Canada. Also known as off-patent drugs, they’re often 80% cheaper and just as safe. Yet most people don’t ask for them. Why? Because pharmacies don’t always push them, and doctors don’t always mention them. The same goes for biosimilars, lower-cost versions of complex biologic drugs like those used for arthritis or cancer. Also known as biologic generics, they’ve been used successfully in Europe for over a decade and are now gaining ground in Canada. These aren’t gimmicks—they’re proven alternatives that save hundreds, sometimes thousands, per year. And then there’s the sneaky trick: combo generics, pills that combine two or more drugs into one tablet. Also known as fixed-dose combinations, they’re often priced higher than buying each drug separately—even when both are generic. A recent study found some combo pills cost 300% more than their individual components. That’s not a savings. That’s a rip-off.

Medication affordability isn’t just about what’s on the label. It’s about knowing how your body reacts to drugs, how they interact with food or other meds, and whether there’s a safer, cheaper way to manage your condition. You’ll find posts here that break down exactly how to spot overpriced combinations, why some drugs are priced like luxury items despite being decades old, and how simple swaps—like switching from a brand-name statin to its generic version—can save you $1,200 a year. You’ll also learn about drugs that silently raise your blood pressure, how pregnancy changes what you can safely take, and why certain supplements like milk thistle can mess with your prescriptions. These aren’t theoretical discussions. These are real choices real people make every day to stay healthy without going broke.

What follows isn’t a list of random articles. It’s a curated set of guides built by people who’ve been there—people who’ve had to choose between rent and refills, who’ve called pharmacies to compare prices, who’ve asked their doctor, "Is there a cheaper option?" And found out there usually is. You don’t need to guess anymore. The answers are here.