Do you buy name brand medicine? poll discussion
Comments
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A lot of you seem to get free prescriptions on here, is this a common thing?
It's fairly common. Unless you are elderly or very young there are a couple of ways you can get free prescriptions, namely don't earn money or have a chronic illness.
But if you are going for the chronic illness route - like me though not by choice - make sure it's one of the ones that is entitled to free prescriptions, classically things like diabetes, thyroid problems etc and from April I think cancer is included.
Used to be the Prescription Pricing Authority who dealt with it but I think it's changed recently.
The alternative is a 'season ticket' - you pay a set fee and get a card that covers you for any amount of prescriptions over a set period. Useful if you are on a lot of meds but don't qualify for free ones.
Having said that, even though I now get free prescriptions I would still not think of asking the GP to prescribe something I can buy OTC.0 -
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I'm reading pharmacology and have studied this issue in some depth. Whilst I would generally buy the generic version for drugs where the specific dose is less important (otc painkillers for example) it is not true that the generic drugs are always equivilent to the branded version - although this is a reasonably contraversial point, it has been found that some critical dose drugs generics have a different profile to their branded counterparts. This is possible because the licensing of generics is much more basic than the original licensing for the branded version. It is also tre to say that the non-active ingredients may differ... Normally it shouldn't make an impact but it may, it could affect the side effects for example.
I certainly don't intend to say generics are bad - they are an excellent alternative and it's always good to have a choice. Just don't be to hasty to critise doctors - they may be prescribing a particular brand for a reason.
Just to emphasise, I always buy generic and would be happy to be prescribed a generic but there is an argument for at least some branded drugs.0 -
I'm reading pharmacology and have studied this issue in some depth. Whilst I would generally buy the generic version for drugs where the specific dose is less important (otc painkillers for example) it is not true that the generic drugs are always equivilent to the branded version - although this is a reasonably contraversial point, it has been found that some critical dose drugs generics have a different profile to their branded counterparts. This is possible because the licensing of generics is much more basic than the original licensing for the branded version. It is also tre to say that the non-active ingredients may differ... Normally it shouldn't make an impact but it may, it could affect the side effects for example.
I certainly don't intend to say generics are bad - they are an excellent alternative and it's always good to have a choice. Just don't be to hasty to critise doctors - they may be prescribing a particular brand for a reason.
Just to emphasise, I always buy generic and would be happy to be prescribed a generic but there is an argument for at least some branded drugs.
The number of drugs that need to be prescribed by brand name is tiny, and in most cases it is to prevent confusion between different modified release preparations. Changes to manufacturing processes can also cause problems - GSK changed the formulation of lanoxin in the 70's resulting in increased absorption which caused toxicity - I'm sure it's mentioned in pharmaceutics textbooks.0 -
mindgames - some of us have both chronic illness and a lack of work. usually with the latter being due to the former!Homosexual, Unitarian, young, British, female, disabled. Do you need more?0
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I always go for the cheapest as long as i am sure it is the same stuff inside.
!!!MONEY SAVING TIP!!!
Revitalising eyedrops for contact lense wearers (or whatever you want to call it) the boots ownbrand is more expensive than another brand they sell always on the same section of shelf i think it is vital eyes or something can't be bothered to find my bottle to look. Anyway if your wearing your lenses you'll see.
Also someone said that for kids they buy branded medicine for the flavour. In the USA i noticed in the Pharmacy CVS had a flavouring service for kids at a small additional cost and a huge variety of flavours. Why don't we have that here. Not all medicines have the flavour you want and the same flavours all taste slightly different. (who hates calpol, and doesn't redbull taste/smell like it) maybe i am on my own here.
Happy money saving.
Get well soon.0 -
For myself its the cheapest possible but for my son (he has a liver disease) it has to be branded. Bought the cheap childrens paracetamol and thank god I read the leaflet as it said not to be given with a liver disease
Would that be because paracetamol itself is not very good for the liver?0
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