In my last post I explained that store brand medications are equal to name brands in quality, variety and convenience. Part of the perception that they may not be as good is the way they are marketed. Branded versions of medications get the best product placement at the drugstores and millions of dollars are spent advertising them.

If you read the ingredients in the branded drugs you’ll find that the store branded drugs are identical. You do have to pay attention to what version of the branded drug you’re comparing so that you compare to the same store brand. Examine the ingredients on the label. You can see line by line how the store brand is the same as the name brand.

Pay special attention to the first several ingredients, which are the active ingredients that work on your symptoms. Those are often identical. For instance, if the pain relief is time release for six hours in the branded drug it should be time release for six hours for the store-brand label. Or if Tylenol contains 500 milligrams of acetaminophen, the active ingredient, make sure the OTC version does the same.  If you compare the ingredients of name branded Tylenol versus Rite Aid acetaminophen, for instance, they are the same except for the price. Rite aid pays less money for advertisement, packaging and development so they charge you less for their products. Ask the pharmacist to help you if you’re not sure.

Even if you are saving on how much you are spending on drugs, it’s important to use your medications safely.

  • Use OTC medications only when you need them and in recommended dose.
  • Do not drink alcohol while take medications.
  • Do not take a combination of drugs without your doctor’s consent.

Saving money all adds up even if it’s saving $2 for a bottle of low-dose aspirin or $10 for an acid reducer. That can add up to an extra tank or two of gas during the year.

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

http://ruthanbrodsky.com

http://SecretsToHealthandAging.com

http://fromRetirementtoCareerchange.com

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