Prescription items that are cheaper over the counter

scotsbob

happyinflorida wrote: »

I would never do this as I'm too frightened to buy any medicines online even for my pets! as I've heard they don't always contain what they are meant to and can be dangerous.

I trust British pharmacies and vets far more!

I've heard those stories too and they usually come from the NPAs PR company.


Do you really believe that people in the USA, Australia, Sweden, just to name a few countries, are being sold what you refer to as "dangerous" drugs that don't contain what they are meant to?


My family save a lot of money by buying online from one of Holland's largest pharmacy chains. Neither we nor the Dutch population are suffering from any side effects.

brook2jack

The authorities such as the FDA are having as very hard time controlling counterfeit drugs purchased through on line pharmacies http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2357108/Drug-sting-shuts-1-677-Canadian-pharmacy-websites-selling-counterfeit-drugs.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15095056

Unfortunately the massive trade in counterfeit drugs is leading to deaths not only in rich countries but also amongst the most vulnerably http://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/may-2013/counterfeit-drugs-raise-africa’s-temperature

Counterfeit drugs can be very difficult to spot and everything from Viagra (where the majority of Internet supplies are counterfeit) to toothpaste has been duplicated.
http://www.safemedicines.org/counterfeit-drug-incident-encyclopedia.html

jblessing

I was recommended to start on low-dose aspirin by my consultant, so the next prescription I had included my normal meds and the aspirin. Boots were quite happy to let me pay £8 for about 30 aspirin! Obviously I refused that item.

If you are buying low-dose aspirin, always ask for the generic version, it's way cheaper than those they have out on display.

Fen1

I find that the counter staff in small independent pharmacies are much better informed than the staff in big supermarkets. The small pharmacy staff know their patient 'regulars'. They know prescription and OTC meds better so can advise on pricing. They seem to be much more involved with the pharmacist and learn more than the staff in the huge shops.
That's just my impression.

scotsbob

brook2jack wrote: »

Counterfeit drugs can be very difficult to spot and everything from Viagra (where the majority of Internet supplies are counterfeit) to toothpaste has been duplicated

Which is exactly why you should buy from a reputable pharmacy online. Mediq have over 230 pharmacies in Holland and are happy to supply by mail order. Anton Schlecker, Germany's leading pharmacy chain also has a good reputation.


"The majority of Internet supplies are counterfeit" Is this just an unsubstantiated assertion, or do you have a reliable reference where we can see the figures and see how large this majority is?

brook2jack

If you re read my post you will see I was specifically mentioning Viagra where it is well known the majority of Internet purchases are counterfeit. A figure of 77% was mentioned at the world congress for sexual medicine http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2013/09/12/buying-viagra-online-its-very-likely-fake-and-possibly-dangerous-new-data-say/

However counterfeits of all drugs including cancer medications are common and pharmacies etc are constantly warned about counterfeits. It is a large problem in the US where more people use Internet pharmacies because of cost http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/CounterfeitMedicine/

barbiedoll

jblessing wrote: »

I was recommended to start on low-dose aspirin by my consultant, so the next prescription I had included my normal meds and the aspirin. Boots were quite happy to let me pay £8 for about 30 aspirin! Obviously I refused that item.

If you are buying low-dose aspirin, always ask for the generic version, it's way cheaper than those they have out on display.

If you have any gastric problems, or if you take any other drugs which may interact with aspirin, you may be prescribed "enteric-coated" aspirin, so do make sure that if your prescription says "Aspirin EC", you get the correct type over the counter. They're normally more expensive than the usual aspirin, but not £8!

Lorian

Peptac liquid 500ml (it's very like gaviscon advance) £8 for a prescription, £3.20 to buy from the pharmacist without prescription.

It's also a lot cheaper than buying other similar remedies, but you wont find it on the shelf, but only if you ask the pharmacist. Often the counter staff don't know it exists, be persistent.

Also be wary of buying from the pharmacy in the hospital. in my local hospital they just charge you for each line, with no comment that some of the items might be less than a pound in a supermarket.

scotsbob

brook2jack wrote: »

If you re read my post you will see I was specifically mentioning Viagra where it is well known the majority of Internet purchases are counterfeit. A figure of 77% was mentioned at the world congress for sexual medicine http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2013/09/12/buying-viagra-online-its-very-likely-fake-and-possibly-dangerous-new-data-say/

So this was a survey of only 22 internet sites and the survey financed by Pfizer, the manufacturers of Viagra, no conflict of interest there then. 77% sounds a lot better than 15 doesn't it

The same report also has quotes from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) again unlikely to be any bias or conflict of interest there.


The fact is that people like you, are simply indulging in scaremongering to protect your vested interests.


Instead of scaremongering, why not publish a list of the many reputable overseas pharmacies like the ones I mention in my previous post? Then people in the UK, being ripped off by high high UK prices, could really save money.