Wal-Mart sells generic Ritalin for $4. So why don’t they want you to know about it?
A blogger recently did a little investigating and discovered that generic Ritalin (methylphenidate) is available for $4 at Wal-Mart, as well as competitors Target and Kroger.
What’s interesting about this is that not one of the retailers includes the drug on its official list of $4 generic drugs. Here’s Wal-Mart’s list, for example. No trace of methylphenidate anywhere.
We can only assume the omission is intentional. Selling a highly addictive drug like methylphenidate for such a low price might raise eyebrows in some health and medical circles, so the retailers probably want to keep the promotion quiet.
Already, physicians are complaining loudly about supermarkets that are offering free antibiotics as a way to increase foot traffic — because overuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance and the decreasing effectiveness of these drugs. That would seem like a pretty minor concern compared to selling a Schedule II controlled substance like methylphenidate for $4. Drugs like cocaine, opium and morphine are in the same class. And we know what Tom Cruise thinks about Ritalin.
It’s a curious marketing strategy. If the purpose of the generic drug programs is to be a loss leader, drawing foot traffic to these stores in hopes shoppers will buy other items, doesn’t it defeat that purpose to keep generic Ritalin’s price a secret? Why offer it at the promotional price at all?
Whatever the backstory may be, it’s a secret no longer.
July 27th, 2009 at 6:39 PM
I may not be the brightest bulb in the pack, but I might see why a retailer would not want to 1.) advertise to the general public how inexpensive a CII is (how much is generic morphine?), nor 2.) put it on the $4 generics list just for every Tom, Dick, and Harry to come up with bright ideas.
We have enough meth labs out here in the mideast, people blowing up each other with their chemistry experiments and ending up in burn centers, and deadly associated with anhydrous ammonia exposure, without crazed methmouths showing up in the pharmacies.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:34 PM
well i would really like to find out who is spouting off at the mouth about this. my reasoning for saying this is because it is a damn lie! i just got off the phone with a walmart pharm tech and they DO NOT offer generic ritalin at the $4 price and target only offers it for the 10mg generic, and since i am prescribed 20mg it doesn’t mean jack shit to me.
September 30th, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Maybe it’s regional… I got an Rx for generic ritalin last year for $4 at my local Wal-Mart.
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:45 AM
If Wal-Mart sells methylphenidate for 4$/month, what I want to know is why they keep charging me over 50$/month. This is simply uninformed bs. I have been on Ritalin for over 12yrs and never abused it. Heck, a 1 month supply lasts me over 2.5 months as I use it PRN(as needed) being a nurse I do need it at work. Don’t believe this story!!! It is propaganda pushed on the public by people who have no knowledge of physiology or pharmacology.
October 24th, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I went to my local Walmart, asked for the genaric form of ritalin and the teenaged pharmicist in a dirty lab coat looked at me blankly and said they don’t have wither Ritalin or methylphenidate. I read online that it has been added to the list.
“Nope.”
The prescription drop-off area was filthy as was the entire store.
Ticket counters at Grand Central Terminal are cleaner.
This corporation is bad for main street America. To hell with them.
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:01 PM
My son is currently taking Concerta for ADD. We have been on government insurance for the last 2 years so the government has been paying for the medication. We now go over the income guidlines and have had to purchase insurance on our own. They consider ADD a pre-existing condition and will not cover his meds. The Concerta is $171 for a 30 day supply. I have researched cheaper alternatives and have found forums talking about Generic Ritalin (Methylphenidate) being offered at Walmart for $4. I called my local Walmart pharmacy and yes they do have it available in the 5mg and 10mg doses. I also looked on their Walmart $4 list and did not see it on there. I can only assume they are keeping this on the hush to keep people from abusing it. I talked with the pharmacist about 5 minutes on what alternatives I had to Concerta and she did tell me about the $4 generic ritalin. I think they are trained to keep it on the hush. If you just call them and say hey do you offer Methylphenidate for $4….yes they will probably tell you no they dont offer it. I think if they feel you honestly need it they will tell you. But this drug can be abused very easily so they dont want to give it to anyone and everyone. I still dont know if this drug will be an option without first talking to my sons doctor. But for those of you who need it talk to the Walmart pharmacist about it and ask them to look it up on their computer. Dont just take their word for it. And if they do tell you no, call the next local Walmart till you get a yes.