Supermarkets Offer Free Antibiotics (updated 1-6-09)

Some good information almost slipped past us over the holidays, but can be very helpful for those who get sick in the next few months.

Two supermarket chains in different locations, have announced they will offer free antibiotics. There are some rules, of course. You'll still need a doctor's prescription, the offer is not unlimited (there are end dates) and not all antibiotics are included on the lists.

Here are the supermarkets involved. They are owned by the same parent company, so as near as I can tell, the offers for free antibiotics are the same:

• Stop 'n Shop (New England)
  
  
• Giant Food Stores (Washington DC area)

In both cases, they are offering 36 different antibiotics, all generics, through March 21.

It raised the question about other stores that might also offer free antibiotics. A quick search turned up the following:

• Meijer Stores, located in the upper midwest (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky) offer some antibiotics for free. They also offer free pre-natal vitamins.
  
  
• Publix Supermarkets (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina) offer 7 different generic antibiotics for free. With a doctor's prescription, patients can get a 14-day supply at no cost.

I would guess that other supermarket chains will follow suit. If you hear about new ones, please stop by and let us know as a comment here, or in the Patient Empowerment forum.

And don't forget, Walmart and Target offer $4 prescriptions, too. There are some good ways to get free or low cost medications.

Only one caution: we need to remember that overuse of antibiotics is one reason we have so many problems with superbug infections now. Had we not been taking antibiotics for every little sniffle all these years, we would not have so many deaths from hospital-acquired and other life-threatening infections.

My word of advice? Ask your doctor to make the recommendation. Don't TELL your doctor you need an antibiotic.

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Update for those of you on the East coast: Wegmans is now offering free antibiotics, too. Its stores are located in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland.

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