The Great Drug Company Swindle (Nurofen Tablets - 12 Tablets)

Member Name: sandrabarber

Product:	Nurofen Tablets - 12 Tablets
Date:	17/04/03 (231 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: they work

Disadvantages: the price

I'm on something of a mission at the moment, and that mission is to do what I can about RIP-OFF BRITAIN. And my targets of choice are drug companies, and in particular the astronomical charges they make for their brand name over-the-counter medicines when there are non-branded varieties available which are exactly the same but cost much, much less. Sadly, however, lots of people don't know about these generic remedies you can get from the pharmacist because very often they are not on display or are far less prominent than the big brand products.

So on to Nurofen?

Nurofen is one of the biggest selling pain relievers around. It is made by Crookes Healthcare, who are owned by The Boots Company. After being prescription-only for some 20+ years, it became available as an over-the-counter remedy in the early 1980s.

Nurofen is used to relieve pain and bring down inflammation. It is classed as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID for short).

NSAIDs are known to reduce inflammation, reduce feverish temperatures and bring down swelling. As such, they are widely used for arthritis, muscle pain, joint pain and swelling, headache, period pain, dental pain and cold/flu symptoms.

The recommended dosage of Nurofen is 1 or 2 tablets per time, with another dose not less than 4 hours later, and no more than 6 tablets should be taken in one day. It is not recommended for children under 12.

Nurofen is very effective. It is powerful and acts fast. Many people find that it brings relief where other painkillers have failed.

As with all powerful drugs, though, Nurofen can have pretty powerful side effects, including stomach pain, nausea, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, rashes and bruising.

It should not be used if you are intolerant to aspirin or any of the listed ingredients, you experience worsening of asthma, you get an allergic rash, or if you have stomach ulcers.

Also, y

ou should consult your doctor before taking it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you suffer from asthma, you have liver, kidney or heart problems or you are taking other medication.

I know that sounds like a lot of side-effects, and it is, but most other drugs we buy and take without a second thought can have just as many unwanted repercussions if we care to read the labels properly.

On the whole, Nurofen is considered a safe, reliable and effective preparation.

So what am I complaining about then?

Well, the active ingredient in Nurofen is Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen can be purchased as a generic (i.e. non branded) drug from any chemist. It will have exactly the same active ingredients as the branded drug (this is a legal requirement), but will be much, much easier on your pocket.

Last week, a pack of 12 Nurofen tablets from Boots would cost you £2.49.

Alternatively you could have gone to Tesco and bought 16 of their non-branded Ibuprofen tablets for 37 pence. That's right, 37 pence!!

If my meager maths serves me correctly, that's 4 more tablets for a total sixth of the price.

How do the drug companies get away with it? Basically, when a drug company invents a drug, they have a patent on that drug for several years. I don't object to that - it gives the drug company time to recoup the amount they spent on researching and developing the drug in the first place, and to make a profit.

However, I think it's disgusting that these companies continue charging so much long after the patent has expired. It's a free market of course, and they're at liberty to do it, but it drives me mad.

What happens is, so few people know about generics because pharmacies half-hide them away and don't tell you about them, whilst at the same time having giant promotions in their windows for the brand names (who give them specials and freebies for doing so - just look a
t the pen the assistant in the chemist is writing with and the pad she makes notes on next time you're in there, they'll be giveaways from a drug company emblazoned with their name and logo). Unlike say, supermarkets, where Heinz beans are displayed next to several other varieties, pharmacies do not give the buyer the opportunity of an informed choice.

(Obviously some pharmacists are more customer orientated than this and will tell you about the generics, which is how I found about them several years ago, so please don't think I'm attacking pharmacists themselves).

Do your bit to end this blatant rip-off and stop buying branded drugs wherever possible. Always ask the pharmacy to see if they have a cheaper alternative to what you're about to buy over the counter, and nine times out of ten the answer will be yes.

Caveat emptor indeed
.

Summary: