Chances are you or someone you know benefits from the $4 generic prescriptions sold at Wal-Mart and other discount stores.

But some patients are afraid to make the switch to these generic prescriptions, even though it could mean saving hundreds of dollars.

But do lower price generic medicines really mean less quality care?

Paul Sigler has taken Pravastatin to keep his cholesterol under control for six years. It's been expensive until a generic version of the prescription drug came out earlier this year.

"When the generic brand came out I saved approximately $150 every three months," Sigler said.

That's a yearly savings of $600!

According to the Food and Drug Administration almost half the prescriptions filled in the U.S. are generic.

But pharmacist Shelly Bates says not all her customers know they have choices.

"We do have a lot of people who come looking for their name-brand drug but we tell them we have the generic version of it and it works just the same," Bates said.

We price-compared some popular medications to their generic counterparts to count the savings.

Zocor, a medication used for patients at risk for heart disease, costs about $282 for a three month supply.

It's generic version, Simvastatin $252, that's $30 less.

100 tablets of the antibiotic Cipro cost $621 while its generic version, Ciprofloxacin cost $519, a difference of $102.

The popular prescription Flonase, used for seasonal allergies, cost about $95 for a one-month supply, while Fluticasone cost $76, a $20 difference.

What's even better is that most insurance companies cover the costs of generic drugs so that savings can increase even more.

Most generic drugs can be used in nearly all situations, meaning the side effects, usage and dosage are the same as the brand name medications.

But, Dr. Ramon Parrish of MCG Health System says there are times when generic drugs should not be used.

"The best example of that is the medicine called Phenytoin or Dilantin which is commonly used for seizures," Parrish said.

In this instance, Dilantin, the name brand, requires patients to take one dosage daily, while it's generic version, Phenytoin has to be taken three times a day.

So before you ask for a generic version of your medication always ask your doctor first.

A doctor will indicate on your prescription if the name-brand drug is the only choice for your treatment.

And if you're feeling any side effects other than those listed on the bottle, contact your doctor immediately.

There are some drugs not available in generic, like some anti-depressants.

Dr. Parrish says before you leave your pharmacy make sure to check the color and shape of your medications.