Do You Buy Nurofen or Generic-Brand Ibuprofen?

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I was just reading that an Australian court has ordered the removal from sale of a number of Nurofen products. The products affected by the Australian court order include Nurofen Back Pain, Nurofen Period Pain, Nurofen Migraine Pain and Nurofen Tension Headache. The issue is that they are effectively the same thing, so the packaging is misleading.
But it got me wondering, why would anyone buy any Nurofen when a non-branded pill of the same ingredient costs a fraction of the price?
Do you pay the extra for Nurofen?
 
Well yes, according to the news item, the reason for the withdrawal is that people were basically being conned by paying more for identical products in different packaging.
But of more concern to me was a programme a while ago about the same thing, where a medical doctor pointed out that people were very likely to take the maximum recommended medication for (say) back pain, period pain and migraine pain all at the same time, not realising that they were taking exactly the same medication and so dangereously overdosing.
 
Generic from Lidl.
 
Generic.. Any chsnce of money saving is a must.
Same with children, I don't buy calpol I buy the kids to adults paracetamol one as my daughter can't/won't take tablets
 
I try to find generics for any drugs/medication I need. Some people just don't believe that they're getting the same thing, or seem to think the branded product will be more effective. Weird.
 
Free prescriptions.
But used to get a friend in the States to send me giant bottles of generic.
Used to be $10 for 500 from Walgreen's.
 
viv1969 said:
Free prescriptions.
But used to get a friend in the States to send me giant bottles of generic.
Used to be $10 for 500 from Walgreen's.
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Free for me too but I still just buy over the counter, quicker and mostly fairly cheap
 
Generic - I never understood why anyone would pay extra for the packaging of drugs :thinking:
 
I buy the generic, if you read the active drugs on the side of the fancy packets you find you are paying over the odds for a small amount of caffeine or similar.
 
I get free 'scripts too but only use the card for 'proper' medicines. Rarely use pain killers these days but was getting through Nurofen+ at a rate of knots before the op! Lucky not to end up with a nasty habit, although I was a bit itchy for a couple of weeks.
 
I have a degree in chemistry (not that I've ever used it) and I buy generic drugs, they're exactly the same.

MartynK said:
I try to find generics for any drugs/medication I need. Some people just don't believe that they're getting the same thing, or seem to think the branded product will be more effective. Weird.
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Placebo is a powerful thing so it could well be that people who believe in branded drugs do experience improved performance.
 
Nawty said:
I have a degree in chemistry (not that I've ever used it) and I buy generic drugs, they're exactly the same.



Placebo is a powerful thing so it could well be that people who believe in branded drugs do experience improved performance.
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Totally agree that placebo can have a very positive effect on symptoms.
 
Often the prescription meds are stronger than the branded or generic version over the counter. Sumatriptan for instance comes as 2x50mg in a packet whereas the scrip
gives you 6x100mg in a box.
 
I watch "The Chase" quiz show on ITV and it's sponsored by Anadin. They also seem to have a similar range of products with similar ingredients, but maybe they don't sell in Australia?
 
Ditto here:

Read the package of the expensive stuff, see what's in it, then read the package of the cheap option, find the same ingredients and job done.

I find this to be decent saving on hayfever tablets (although I get the injection these days)
 
tijuana taxi said:
Often the prescription meds are stronger than the branded or generic version over the counter. Sumatriptan for instance comes as 2x50mg in a packet whereas the scrip
gives you 6x100mg in a box.
Click to expand...

Yep, and you can often get stronger versions over the counter if you speak to the chemist, often though it's just cheaper to buy the normal version and take more (I only do this with ibuprofen, never paracetamol or aspirin).
 
Nawty said:
Yep, and you can often get stronger versions over the counter if you speak to the chemist, often though it's just cheaper to buy the normal version and take more (I only do this with ibuprofen, never paracetamol or aspirin).
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I always stock up on ibuprofen in Spain. OTC is 600mg there, as opposed to 400mg here. When I mentioned this in another thread someone insisted that I was overdosing. Which I am not.
 
Yes, prescription meds can be stronger, hence the prescription requirement, but when it comes to over the counter, why would anyone in their right mind choose a brand name over a generic alternative with the same dosage?
 
Is this the Junkie thread? :p

Go smoke a joint it'll do you more good :thumbs:

( Yes that was irony :D )
 
Pharma-fashion.

It happened with cars, phones, computers... Kettles, cookers and coffee machines... In fact just about anything that people are daft enough to throw their money at.

It's coming, don't say I didn't want you! :)
 
viv1969 said:
Yes, prescription meds can be stronger, hence the prescription requirement, but when it comes to over the counter, why would anyone in their right mind choose a brand name over a generic alternative with the same dosage?
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Because they believe in the placebo effect you cited in Post 19? :D
 
Sometimes people don't know what the generic version is, good example is Zantac being the expensive branded name of Ranitidine.

Without looking it up you would never know, quite a few antihistimines are the same, maybe it should be law that its made clearer
 
Nawty said:
I have a degree in chemistry (not that I've ever used it) and I buy generic drugs, they're exactly the same.



Placebo is a powerful thing so it could well be that people who believe in branded drugs do experience improved performance.
Click to expand...

I think you mean marketing departments are a powerful thing ;)
 
MartynK said:
Because they believe in the placebo effect you cited in Post 19? :D
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That's not a placebo.
That's two boxes citing the same dosage but one with a brand name, both freely available when buying a loaf of bread.
Not the same all IMO.
"Alternative" concoctions notwithstanding, placebos are generally also prescribed.
 
neil_g said:
I normally buy nurofen if there are none of the generic ones with the coating on. The powdery texture ones get stuck in the throat. Extra cost doesn't really bother me.
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Ibuprofen should always be coated due to the need for slower release.
The drug can play havoc with the gastric system.
I've never seen an uncoated standard tab.
 
Generic unless there is a specific reason to choose a brand.

As for free prescriptions I really disagree with getting everything for free. You should only get treatment for that ailment free.
 
viv1969 said:
Ibuprofen should always be coated due to the need for slower release.
The drug can play havoc with the gastric system.
I've never seen an uncoated standard tab.
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Most of the gastric problems is to do with the systemic effect of the drug, a little to do with localised irritation.
 
andyscott said:
Generic unless there is a specific reason to choose a brand.

As for free prescriptions I really disagree with getting everything for free. You should only get treatment for that ailment free.
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That ailment you so slightly dismiss is the main hormone that controls every single organ and cell of your body
 
andyscott said:
Generic unless there is a specific reason to choose a brand.

As for free prescriptions I really disagree with getting everything for free. You should only get treatment for that ailment free.
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Just because someone qualifies for free prescriptions doesn't mean they take the pi55.
 
Cg_Girl said:
That ailment you so slightly dismiss is the main hormone that controls every single organ and cell of your body
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Of course but I still disagree with it. Wasn't talking about yours specifically, my dad gets his free too
 
andyscott said:
Most of the gastric problems is to do with the systemic effect of the drug, a little to do with localised irritation.
Click to expand...

That may be, but apart from the sachets type, I've yet to see an uncoated tablet.
 
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