Are national brand medicines really any better than the house brand versions at your favorite store? It depends. Many are comparable in quality at a much lower price, and some contain exactly the same active ingredients, as well as the same amount of each ingredient, which means quality meds at a lower cost.
Some do not. You have to carefully check labels to see what you are getting. Just because a product says it’s comparable to the name brand, does not mean it’s true. The ingredients tell the tale. In some cases, you will find the same amount of the same items, including the inactive ingredients. In this case, the product is worth trying. When you compare two brands and find that they are very different, the lower cost option may not be a good value. It makes sense to speak to your healthcare provider, or a pharmacist.
If you are shopping in a supercenter or other store that has a pharmacy, don’t be shy about walking over and asking to speak to the pharmacist. Ask him or her about the difference between the active ingredients. There may be very little difference, or there may be quite a distinction. It may also be a matter of how certain ingredients react with other drugs, so be sure to tell the pharmacist about other medications, both over the counter and prescription, which you are currently taking.
Your doctor may have advised you to take a certain pain reliever because other types will cause adverse reactions when combined with your current regimen. If you cannot speak to a pharmacist, ask your doctor. Write down the ingredients and ask him or her if they are safe for you to take with current medications.
Choosing house brand medications can provide the same results in many cases, saving you a lot of money, but it is important to do your homework. You want to make sure the product will work so that you are actually saving money, but you also want to make sure it is the most effective and safest product for you to take.