Looking to save on prescriptions? It's complicated

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Struggling to pay for your prescription medication?

You're far from alone: Studies show roughly a quarter of patients don't take medicines they need because they cannot afford them.

There are plenty of ways to save big on medicines, but the complexity of finding the best deal can be a huge headache.

Along with patient assistance programs, there are countless coupons and discount cards are available. Prices change often and vary dramatically among pharmacies, even within the same chain, so it's often very difficult to compare all the deals.

Here are some guidelines and sources to try:

For starters, when a doctor is about to write a prescription, jump in with key questions:

Are free samples available?

Is the drug is generally covered by insurance plans? Sometimes very costly medicines or some brands in categories with multiple drugs are excluded.

Is there a cheaper drug that will work as well?

Is there a generic version?

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Looking to save on prescriptions? It's complicated