Can a pharmacist suggest a cheaper option for a prescription drug?

Laws on generic substitutions vary from state to state. If you've been prescribed a brand-name drug, a pharmacist may sometimes suggest a generic version, which is typically cheaper. However, a pharmacist may do this only if the healthcare provider who wrote the prescription allowed substitutions. You can ask your doctor to prescribe a generic version of a drug if one is available, or indicate on the prescription that a generic drug may be substituted for the brand-name drug.