Generic Drugs - iStock

Generic Over-The-Counter Drugs Are The Better Buy

If you’re buying brand name over-the-counter meds instead of generic ones, nine times out of 10 you’re wasting money.

 

BEST BUY | When it comes to fashion and décor, I can be as big a brand snob as anyone, but it makes absolutely no sense to be a label slave where over-the-counter medications are concerned. Why chain yourself to a brand name “OTC” med when the no name equivalent is available at a seriously lower price?

Got nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea? There’s a generic med for that—and for acne, hemorrhoids, nasal congestion, back pain, PMS and just about every other ailment or condition for which OTCs are sold. If you’re worried that the generic will be less effective, you shouldn’t be because it won’t: It’s the law.

Generic VS. Brand

Generic non-prescription medicines are carefully regulated and required to meet the exact same standards as brand name ones. This means that the active ingredients, contraindications, dosage, strength, quality, performance and intended use must be identical.

Where generics and brand name products differ is in what’s called “filler.” All meds have filler, the non-medicinal ingredients that determine the colour, shape, size and appearance of a drug. Filler differs from one product to another. Sometimes people may have a reaction to a filler, but they could just as easily have one to the filler in a brand name product.

A Few Problems With Generics

One thing that keeps the cost of generic meds down is the plain, no-nonsense packaging, which makes them less eye-catching than the big brands—when all the boxes in one drug category look alike at first glance, it’s hard to match them with brand equivalents and spot differences. But hey, if you can’t tell the regular from extra strength, you just need to ask the pharmacist.

There are situations where a generic med is not the way to go but they always involve non-medicinal ingredients. One pharmacist told me he never recommends his pharmacy’s house brand nicotine patch because the adhesive doesn’t stick for long. Another told me she cannot get behind her company’s therapeutic lip balm because the ingredient that helps it stay on the lips is not effective.—C. Rule

Photo: iStock

44 replies
    • carolannrule
      carolannrule says:

      Thanks for the tip. But if there are problems with OTC’s, it must have to do with the filler since the actual active ingredients, contraindications, dosage, strength, quality, performance and intended use must be identical.—eds

  1. noé telecharger
    noé telecharger says:

    I do not know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else
    encountering issues with your website. It seems like some of
    the text on your posts are running off the screen. Can someone
    else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them too?

    This could be a issue with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen previously.

    Kudos

    Also visit my blog post; noé telecharger

  2. Kings Road cheats
    Kings Road cheats says:

    Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!
    Very useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much.
    I was looking for this certain info for a long time. Thank you and good
    luck.

  3. garage door openers reviews
    garage door openers reviews says:

    Hi there I am so grateful I found your weblog, I really found you by mistake,
    while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Regardless I am here
    now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds,
    so when I have time I will be back to read a great
    deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.

    Feel free to surf to my site; garage door openers reviews

  4. youtube.com
    youtube.com says:

    I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog.
    Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
    Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one these days.

  5. youtube.com
    youtube.com says:

    This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained.

    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
    I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.

    Too cool!

  6. Penis Advantage ebook free
    Penis Advantage ebook free says:

    А delay in growth ρlate closure can occur due to early de-sexing of your mɑle dog,
    normally before 12 months of age. Once you know that tɦe pill ԝas manufactured
    properly you still need to determine whether thе pill itself is designed to be healthy.
    Women that don’t hide their sexuality are attractive.

  7. afm short selling
    afm short selling says:

    You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand.
    It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for
    your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

  8. find out more
    find out more says:

    Right here is the right website for everyone who wishes to find out about this topic.
    You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa).
    You definitely put a new spin on a topic which has been discussed for ages.

    Excellent stuff, just excellent!

  9. www.wat.tv
    www.wat.tv says:

    Thanks for another informative blog. The place else may just I get
    that type of info written in such a perfect manner?

    I’ve a undertaking that I’m just now working on, and I have been at the glance out for such
    information.

  10. turbulence training
    turbulence training says:

    Hello there, just became alert to your blog through
    Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m
    gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if
    you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing.
    Cheers!

  11. clash of clans hack tool
    clash of clans hack tool says:

    Simply desire to say your article is as amazing.
    The clearness in your post is just cool and i could assume you’re an
    expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow
    me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post.
    Thanks a million and please continue the enjoyable work.

  12. nike free run 3
    nike free run 3 says:

    I leave a response whenever I like a article on a site or I have something to valuable to contribute to
    the conversation. Usually it’s triggered by the passion communicated in the article I looked at.
    And after this article Frugalbits

  13. formula 1 lotto system free
    formula 1 lotto system free says:

    Yߋu may have guessed it; this one deals with metaboliϲ rate and shοws you how to speed
    uρ tҺe rate with the right kind of diet. An accօuntability partner works in EVERY aspect of life.
    If you have done some research by yourself about
    Weiǥht Loss Diet, and Weight Loss Recipes in general, I am sure at
    some point of yօur active interest to find the right program, you started to realize a trend ɑbout “Effective and Legitimate Diet Programs” are baseɗ of three
    components:.

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply