Q. I had been taking two medicines for many years. The prices of both have increased drastically. When I was in the pharmacy recently, I asked a pharmacist if there were any generic drugs that would do the job for less.

He told me there were but that pharmacists cannot volunteer the information. If someone asks for it specifically, he continued, the pharmacist can recommend the drug. Is this true?

-- Mary Jenkins, Davie

A. We spoke with Michael Jackson, a representative for the Florida Pharmacy Association. He said that the claim is a myth.

Pharmacists will answer any questions from customers and will recommend any adequate medications unless a physician has specifically warned otherwise.

"The cost savings associated with generic drugs vary,'' he said. "In some case the difference can be small, while in others they can be very substantial."

Customers should always ask the pharmacist about available generic drugs. Often, you can save quite a bit.

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