In a bid to save the NHS billions, prescription charges rose by 20p from the start of April.

This may not seem like a lot to shell out for the odd prescription here and there, but for those on regular medication it can make quite the difference. 

The charges are as follows: (from April 1 2013)

• The current prescription charge is £7.85, up from £7.65.

• A three monthly Prescription Payment Certificate (PPC) is £29.10. This saves you money if you need four or more items in three months – see below.

• A 12 month certificate is £104.00 and saves money if 14 or more items are needed in 12 months.

Although no expense should be spared when it comes to your health, medical costs can rack up unnecessarily. Here we have a few pointers on ways to cut down on prescription costs.

Buy a ‘season ticket’

Did you know that you can save money on prescriptions? If you know or suffer from an illness that requires you to fork out on more than one NHS prescription per month, a Prescription Payment Certificate (PPC) is a good way to save.

This ‘season ticket’ is almost like a bulk-buy saving, so if you know that you will be getting a few filled out in a 3 month period or over the year, it’s definitely worth applying for.

How much can I save?

• If you need two items each month you can save around £70 with a 12 month PPC

• If you need three items each month you can save around £160 with a 12 month PPC

• If you need four items each month you can save around £250 with a 12 month PPC

There are several payment options available. If you choose the 12 month PPC, you can pay for this by 10 monthly direct debit instalments.

According to the NHS, people applying for a PPC should do so in enough time as it can take a while to get the application processed.

Similarly if you know that your current PPC is running out, apply in enough time so that you still get the discount on your next prescription.

You can apply for a PPC online, by calling 0300 330 1341, or by getting a form from your GP and sending it to – NHS Help with Health Costs, PPC Issue Office, PO Box 854, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 2DE.

Your certificate is valid from the day you put your order through, regardless of how you apply.

If you are waiting for a PPC and need to get a prescription filled out, make sure you ask the pharmacist for a refund and receipt form (FP57). This way you can claim back any extra money that you have to shell out.

Other ways to save money on medicine:

We all know the big names of the medical world like Nurofen, Clarityn, Imodium, Panadol and so on, but they often cost a lot more than if you buy boring, understated looking packets.

When a drug is developed, the original makers take out a patent for exclusive rights to produce and sell it for a set period of time, normally 20 years, to help recover the costs of researching and developing the drug.

But when that patent period runs out, other companies can produce their own versions.

These are known as generic drugs and are usually sold under the name of the active ingredient – paracetamol rather than Panadol.

Sold in bulk by major chemists and supermarkets, generic drugs often have boring looking packaging, but are just as effective, and the reason they are so much cheaper is because the makers aren’t shelling out for fancy packaging.

Over the counter

If you get a prescription for an over the counter medicine, check to make sure that it isn’t just cheaper to get the item over the counter rather than shell out for the prescription charge.

Ask the pharmacist

Generic brands aren’t always on display at the pharmacy, not like they are at the supermarkets – but all you have to do is ask the pharmacist. Ask them for the generic version or the cheapest possible option.