REVISED: Drug Comparison Chart

REVISION: The prescription drug prices reported in the following story accurately reflect what NewsChannel5 reported on air on Thursday, Feb. 5. The television station did extensive research comparing generic drug prices
Earlier today, NewsNet5 accidentally transposed some of the pharmacy prices. This version of the report has been verified and accurately reflects NewsChannel5's story.

Cleveland, Updated 4:12 p.m. EST, February 6, 2004 -- Because of Alicia Booth's On Your Side report, Costco pharmacy brought in extra staff for the weekend. Booth found Costco offered some of the lowest prices on prescription drugs.

"Within the last two days, a number of people are coming in just because of the story, and calling on the telephone also," said Mike Bierly with Costco.

It's secret the major drugstore chains don't want you to know. But NewsChannel5 is exposing it for you.

Booth is On Your Side with the Pill Patrol.

With the skyrocketing costs of prescription medications, more and more people are turning to generic medications to try to save a few dollars.

Booth found some drug store chains are jacking up the price of prescriptions more than 1,000 percent.

Prescription drugs can save lives or at the very least improve them, even if they are expensive.

But when you find the generic equivalent for your prescription, you believe you're getting the best deal possible no matter where you buy it. But that's not always the case.

When Jeanne Shuster learned she was paying $100 a month more than she had to for her son's acne medicine, she got angry.

"I was mad. I mean I was really mad thinking, how could there be such a price difference?" Shuster said.

Booth learned there is a price difference.

NewsChannel5 investigated and found a huge difference in the cost of generic drugs at local pharmacies.

Booth called Costco, Marc's, CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens to check prices.

Prozac is one of the most widely prescribed drugs for depression. Its generic is Fluoxetine. At Costco, 30 days worth of pills will run you $7.89. But for the same prescription at Walgreens, the pharmacist in Euclid quoted a price of almost $45. That's a markup up of 1,415 percent. Pharmacies buy the pills for $2.97 wholesale for a 30-day supply.

For high blood pressure, the generic drug for Vasotec is called Enalapril. At the Marc's in Parma, it costs $7.14. But if you go to Rite-Aid in Shaker Heights, it's $36.99. Wholesale is $3.60 for 30 days of pills. That's a markup of 928 percent.

So why are those savings not being passed on to consumers?

Walgreens admitted that you probably will pay more, but what you're paying for is convenience. They're on busy corners where real estate is more expensive, they have longer hours and drive-through pharmacies, Booth reported.

As for the other stores, the National Association of Chain Drugstores told Booth that the profit margin for any pharmacy is only on the average 1 to 2 percent.

In Booth's research, she found Costco offered some of the best deals for generic drugs.

For example, a widely prescribed drug for heartburn is Zantac. The generic is Ranitidine. If you buy the tablets for a 30-day supply at Costco, it'll cost you $9.29. But the pharmacist at the CVS in North Olmsted said it would be $60.99 for the same prescription.

By the time people end up at Costco, pharmacists say they've done their homework. The phone rings all day with people checking prices.

"It's fantastic to see the smiles on their faces and so forth when they find out they're saving a lot of money," said pharmacist Mike Bierly.

But if you ask people like Shuster, the savings will not magically appear for those looking for a deal.

"I think they need to shop around. I mean truly, the educated consumer needs to shop around to see what's out there," Shuster said.

NewsChannel5 took an even broader look at what's out there. You can compare prices for several commonly prescribed drugs, here.

And if you have found a great deal you want to share, e-mail Booth@newsnet5.com or enter our discussion: Where Do You Find Deals?