Patients who receive free drug samples from their physicians actually have significantly higher out-of-pocket prescription costs than those who don't.

Research showed that patients who never received samples had estimated out-of-pocket prescription costs of $178 over six months. But patients who received samples spent $244 per month for the six months in which they received samples, and $212 during the six-month period following sample receipt.

There has been widespread debate about the advantages and disadvantages of free samples. Often, physicians and patients continue using medicines initially begun as samples even though older, less expensive alternatives exist.