Surf The Web And Save On Prescriptions

It's not often you save several hundred dollars on medicine by surfing the Web, but David Melvin did, CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports.

"Tremendous savings," he says.

Melvin was on the Consumer Reports' Best Buy Drugs site and saw that his cholesterol medicine, Pravachol, was three times more expensive than a plain generic, Lovastatin, a drug the Web site was calling its "best buy."

"When I saw the difference in pricing and what I could save, an "oh my God' is right," Melvin says.

He also saw that Nexium, the hugely popular prescription drug he was taking for acid reflux, was not the best buy — it was Prilosec OTC, sold over the counter.

His doctor agreed to the changes, and when Melvin added his savings last year, it was more than $600 on two drugs.

"I can have the same kind of effectiveness for a heck of a lot less money," Melvin says.

"This is one of the hidden secrets of the health care system," says Gail Shearer of Consumer Reports.

Shearer says drugs earn a "best buy" based on what works the best, at the best price.

The recommendations are all based on research collected by the Oregon Health and Science University, which concludes that some of the most heavily advertised drugs, like Nexium for acid reflux or Lunesta for insomnia do work as advertised, but don't work better than drugs that are half the price.

"What surprised me was how large the potential savings are for individual consumers," says Shearer

Some of the site's biggest fans are physicians. Dr. David Leuhr, past president of the Minnesota Medical Association, says too many patients, swayed by advertising, come in asking for the most expensive drug.

"I would especially encourage them to go to this Web site if they have seen the latest ad for the latest miracle drug," Leuhr says.

Critics of the "best buy" approach, however, warn that it's not for everyone — that sometimes, depending on your condition, the most expensive medicine might be the best and you have to consult your doctor.

Still, $600 worth of savings later, Melvin is actually healthier than he was last year. He says his cholesterol is better on a drug three times cheaper. "Strong message, huh," Melvin adds.

The message: Your best prescription for savings may begin with your prescriptions.