Boots ownbrand hayfever tablets

Sam_26

Official note: Martin gave North Meol's pharmacy permission to post last year as he looked into it and its prices were particularly cheap, it offered MSE members free postage, meaning it could beat larger chains' prices, and he wanted to help keep smaller, local pharmacies on their feet (this was before the referrers board existed). The poster is still permitted to post provided this has not changed.



For those that cannot get to Tesco or shops because of working, Martin has allowed me to offer a mail order service via my pharmacy offering

Cetirizine Tabs x 30 £2.99 (Similar to Zirtek)
Loratidine Tabs x 30 £2.99 (Similar to Clarityn)

We won't charge any postage costs, although min credit card purchase is £5.

Tel North Meols Pharmacy on 01704 227075

Thanks

Poppy9

Thanks Superhoop I just wondered what others thought of both products etc. For me Zirtec didn't touch my symptons, Clarityn keeps my skin rash at bay but I also take a steriod nasal spray and eye drops.

The GP has prescribed me with other anti - histames over the years. One was called Misolin (sorry about spelling) and last year one which had a list of horrendous sounding side affects (main one heart attacks) which I decided against (can't think of the name of this one though).

Roger_Rampant

I never had the chance to get to a Tesco pharmacy during opening hours before my Loratadine (leftover from last year) ran out. So, Sunday morning before work I had no choice but to stop off at the local 7 day pharmacy. I got totally ripped off. All their hayfever products were behind the counter. Despite asking for their cheapest generic brand ("Care", Cetirizine), I had to pay £3.54 for 7!!!

I usually shop at tesco between 10:30pm and midnight, when the pharmacy counter has long been closed. However I can still buy these products as they're out on the shelves with the plasters, the paracetamol tablets, the toothbrushes and the anti-perspirants...

student100

Roger_Rampant wrote:

I usually shop at tesco between 10:30pm and midnight, when the pharmacy counter has long been closed. However I can still buy these products as they're out on the shelves with the plasters, the paracetamol tablets, the toothbrushes and the anti-perspirants...

No, the cheapest packs aren't. Packs of 7 are available off the shelf, but packs of 30 are only available from the pharmacist over the counter.

rayboy

Roger_Rampant wrote:

I usually shop at tesco between 10:30pm and midnight, when the pharmacy counter has long been closed. However I can still buy these products as they're out on the shelves with the plasters, the paracetamol tablets, the toothbrushes and the anti-perspirants...

I am surprised to read ppl are getting Loratadine off the shelf rather than behind the counter, as they are P drugs, ie should only be sold at the pharmacy counter with the pharmacist being responsible. Surely you are talking about other remedies than Loratadine?

Just bought 2 x 30 loratadine from Boots for £7.39 = 12.32p per tablet. Can't get to Tesco or any other shops near where I work. :-(

pennybichon

wendypie wrote:

i work in tesco pharmacy and are loratadine(think thats how u spell it!!) which is the same as zirtec, own brand are buy one get free which is 60 tabs for apox £3.49. v cheap. (cant remember exactly as i'm off work at the moment) also our own brand ibuprofen is at least a third cheaper than nurofen (and yes there exactly the same!!) the amount of people that wont switch cause they think its different stuff! its always worth asking if we do a generic version.

Unfortunately the pharmacist in tesco at York had never heard of this offer , the only thing he could recomend was own label Loratadine off the shelf at 7 for £1

superhoop

rayboy wrote:

I am surprised to read ppl are getting Loratadine off the shelf rather than behind the counter, as they are P drugs, ie should only be sold at the pharmacy counter with the pharmacist being responsible. Surely you are talking about other remedies than Loratadine?

Welcome to the forums Rayboy.

Sorry to immediately contradict you, but in small quantities - up to seven I think - loratadine (and cetirizine) at the standard strength can be sold 'off the shelf.

This was a relatively recent change - last five years certainly.

Larger doses / quantities are still P meds and therefore need the pharmacist to be present.

Steve

Roger_Rampant

No, the cheapest packs aren't. Packs of 7 are available off the shelf, but packs of 30 are only available from the pharmacist over the counter.

7 for 97p may not be the cheapest that Tesco have to offer, but it's certainly a lot cheaper than the £3.54 for 7 that exotic ended up paying!

scoobie

Article in the independent on boots tablets today

Q. I was in Boots this week to buy antihistamines for hay fever. I was intending to buy Clarityn, which I have used in the past, but the sales assistant suggested getting Boots All Day Hayfever and Allergy Relief tablets. Both the Boots brand and Clarityn contain 10mg of loratadine. The Clarityn costs £2.65 for seven tablets, and the Boots brand was £2.59 for seven tablets. Then I noticed another packet called Galpharm Non-drowsy Hayfever and Allergy Relief. These also contain 10mg of loratadine, but only cost 39p for seven tablets. Is there any difference between seven loratadine tablets for 39p and seven loratadine tablets for £2.65?

A. There is often a substantial price difference between a branded version of a drug and a generic version, but I agree that a seven-fold difference is pretty amazing. I visited my local Boots to do some detective work on your behalf. The facts that you give are correct. I sought the advice of the duty pharmacist. I asked her if there was any difference between the three versions of loratadine. Her answer was simple: "No". I discovered that a similar price discrepancy exists with another popular antihistamine, cetirizine. The branded version called Piriteze, made by GlaxoSmithKline, costs £4.39 for seven tablets. Another branded version, called Zirtek, made by UCB Pharma Ltd, costs £2.69. Galpharm's version, called Hayfever and Allergy Relief, costs 99p. I agree with the Boots pharmacist that there is no difference between the expensive versions and the inexpensive versions. They are all produced to a high standard and all have UK licences. Which you buy is up to you.



http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article295483.ece

ulfilias

Hi there,

Just thought i'd add that Wilkinsons have the galphraim citrazine and lotradine tablets @ £1.50 per pack of 7, however they often have BOGOF on them, so just 75p !

They also do thier own version at 99p per pack of 7.

We tend to do a week of one, then a week of the other, although i must admit i do at times tend to suppliment with nose spray, eye drops and even Piriton (or boots equiv) as because i've used them for so many years they don't make me drowsy !

Got hayfever aged three when i fell in a nettle patch, had a bad reaction and my hand swelled to 3 times the size, my mum thought it was going to burst. I'm now 31 and still have it.
cya,
lee