For people who pay out of pocket for prescription drugs, we calculated the annual savings from purchasing generic versions of five brand-name medicines at typically prescribed dosages. We used the Pharmaceutical Audit Suite database to determine national average retail prices. A family using all five drugs would typically save almost $3,000 a year--about 65 percent off the brand-name costs--by buying the generics. Shopping at the right pharmacies to get the best prices could yield substantial further savings.