A supermarket program offering free prescriptions is undergoing some changes.

Giant Eagle has stopped offering free antibiotic and diabetes medications.

The chain says those medications are now on the list of over 300 generic prescription drugs offered at a discount.

Giant Eagle says rising drug costs are behind the pricing change, and says the formerly free medications are part of the $4 and $10 generic prescription program.

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(Giant Eagle statement by spokesman Dan Donovan)

On January 17, 2013 Giant Eagle made the difficult but necessary decision to transition its free antibiotic and diabetes medications to our list of more than 300 $4 and $10 generic prescription drugs.  While these medications are no longer free of charge, customers with qualifying prescriptions continue to save more than 50 percent when compared to many chain drug retailer prices.

While rising drug costs have forced Giant Eagle to transition away from offering select antibiotics and diabetes medications free of charge, the inclusion of these drugs in our $4 and $10 generic prescription program ensures that customers continue to receive these needed medications at a great value.

Since 2009, the discounted generic prescription medication program has helped 3.2 million customers save on costs associated with maintaining their families’ health and well-being. The Giant Eagle Pharmacy continues to offer the most competitively priced pharmacy program in the market, highlighted by our free prenatal medications and the ability to earn fuelperks! on qualifying prescriptions. One of the most recent fuelperks! promotions awards 25 cents in fuelperks! for every five qualifying prescriptions, providing the potential to earn up to $7.50 in free fuel.