"The prescription was $12 (standard price in the UK for any prescription drug or drugs, no matter what it is)"
Just to note, in Wales all prescriptions are free. Can't speak for Scotland / NI.
Just to note, in Wales all prescriptions are free. Can't speak for Scotland / NI.
Like paracetamol say, you'd need a pretty hefty prescription to be able to buy enough all at once that £12 was a good deal. (A standard box is I think 24x500mg, good for three days (4h spacing, but 4x1g max is advised, not 6x) at max standard dosage, can buy two off the shelf for about £1, so you'd need a prescription for almost three months' worth, or a correspondingly higher dose...)
Also, £12 is the one-off price, there are better subscription type rates for people with medium/long-term recurring prescriptions.