Medicines are one of those areas of life where most of us stick to known brands. We feel safe with a name we know and are usually willing to pay extra for that peace of mind.
But could you save money on medication by buying own brand?
The short answer is, yes you can.
If you dig down far enough, you’ll find a couple of things that may sway you into saving money on medication with own brands.
- Many brand names also make own brand medication
- There are ‘set’ formulas for some medications universal to all brands.
You’ll still need to be careful and not buy random medications from suspect sources. But if you plan to buy own brands from supermarkets or high street names, you should be safe and save money on medication.
If you’re using a prescription, you won’t have a choice about the brand you get. You can still save money with the NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate though.
Branded medication: A familiar face
Branded medications give us the feeling of safety and quality, something that’s very important for meds. After all, if we’re putting something into our body that contains chemicals, we want to be careful.
We associate brand names with quality and efficacy. Lemsip must be good for treating colds, right? Nurofen must be effective at killing pain as it says so in the adverts.
Pros:
- Trust factor: Many people feel a sense of security with well-known brands. It’s like relying on a friend you’ve known for years.
- Research and development: Branded meds usually undergo extensive research, and you’re paying for that investment in innovation.
Cons:
- Price tag: Trust comes at a cost. Branded medications can burn a hole in your pocket and cost many times own branded alternatives.
- Rare discounts: Since they’re the stars, don’t expect many discounts or special offers. You will find some, but they can be few and far between.
Own brand medication: The unsung heroes
Enter the underdogs – own brand medications. They’re the indie bands of the pharmacy, maybe not as flashy, but they can be just as good.
They are also often made by the same manufacturers as branded products or use very similar recipes so you can save money on medication while getting the same treatment.
Pros:
- Cost-effective: The most apparent advantage. Own brand meds offer relief without breaking the bank and can be a fraction of the cost of branded versions.
- Similar formulation: Many own brand medications have the same active ingredients as their branded counterparts. You’re essentially getting the concert without the VIP price.
Cons:
- Less glamour: Let’s face it; they don’t have the same charisma or flashy branding. Some might miss the “cool factor” of having a familiar brand in their medicine cabinet.
- Perceived quality: Despite similar formulations, some may still question the quality of own brand medications.
How to decide whether to buy own brand or branded medications
If saving money on medications is your primary goal, you can do that easily in just a few seconds.
- Check the product licence (PL) number
- Check the active ingredient and its percentage.
Medicine PL number
The medicine PL number is like a product number for medication. A PL number is assigned by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It’s surrounded by so much law that no manufacturer will mess with it.
If you check the PL number on a box of Sudafed Cold & Flu for example, you’ll probably see PL12063/0073 on the back.
Check a box of Astra Cold and Flu remedy and you’ll also see PL12063/0073.
And the Asda version will be £2/3 cheaper.
As long as the own brand medication has the same product licence number, it will be the same formulation and work identically.
Some medications will differ slightly so will have a slightly different PL number. If that’s the case, check the active ingredients.
Active ingredients
Most medications have a tiny percentage of active ingredients and the rest is filler or sweetener.
If you’re comparing own brand medications to branded, check the active ingredients and how much is in it.
I’m no chemist so I’m not going to go into details on active ingredients. Suffice to say, check a branded medication and identify the active ingredient and percentage. It should be clearly labelled on the packet somewhere.
Then check an own branded medication and check that.
If they are close or identical, they should work the same. If you have any allergies or intolerances, check all ingredients, just in case.
The verdict: Save money on medication
In the end, whether you choose branded medication or own brand is a personal choice.
Whether you go for the big names or opt for the budget-friendly options, what matters most is finding the right option for your health and your pocket.
In many cases, if the PL number or active ingredients are the same, it will work the same.
If saving money on medication is your main goal, own brand medication from supermarkets or retailers you trust seem to work just as well, often for less than half the price!🎶💊
