Medication: brand name or less expensive

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Last month when having a couple of scripts filled I was told that both would be available in 'the less expensive brand' next time I had them filled (I think both must have still been under copyright or whatever the drug manufacturer version is).

Today both scripts were filled again and I was able to request the 'less expensive brand' receiving the Terry White branded medications... and paid the same price!

Feeling a little peeved here.

[id-to-post-anything]

If you are on "extras" benefits from your health fund, they will pay you back anything over what the PBS amount is

eg I think its currently about $36. So if a prescription medication costs say $40 - they will give you $4 back. If it costs $80, they will give you $44 back

check what you're on

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Just looked. It is $36.10 which is what I pay for one of the scripts -regardless of brand apparently. (and the same price in the link posted earlier)

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

Pharmacist Error Hospitalizes 7-Year-Old Boy Due to Wrong Drug

A 7-year-old New York boy was given the wrong medication by his local pharmacy, which caused him to be hospitalized and treated for a methadone overdose. Little Adrien Torres was unconscious after taking his prescription and rushed to the hospital for treatment.

According to Christina Torres, the boy’s mother, she had Felicity Pharmacy in the Bronx fill Adrien’s prescription for generic Ritalin. After she had given her son his third dose of medication, he went limp, stopped breathing, his eyes were rolling back in his head and he looked blue.

http://www.pharmacyerrorlawfirm.com/news/pharmacist-error-hospitalizes-7-year-old-boy-due-to-wrong-d...

Generic drugs safe, despite birth control pill recall

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2013/04/10/nb-birth-pill-recall-alysena-generic.html

[izabsmiling]

A pharmacy in The Bronx (USA) gave the wrong medication 

and

A Canadian drug recall on an error in the manufacturing process of  birth control pills (which would have left a women at risk of pregnancy) 

DLA, do you have anything about the cost of brand vs generic medication in Australia ?

[debra9275]

Em most of the big chemist chain-stores all seem to really push their own generic brands now. I got caught once when I had to pick up some pain killers from a script.  I said yes to the generic and they cost about the same and didn't even work. 😐

In future I'll be sticking to what's on the script

[the_hawk*]

No, I am a wuss. 

I'm going to try our discount pharmacy and ask first next time (thanks for the link anyway, Donna). They have always been the same price no matter where I have bought them in the past.

Hi EM Ask what the difference in price is when you put in the script.

[id-to-post-anything]

I find that sometimes the generic works just fine. Sometimes it doesnt- especially with sinus products. Bit of hit and miss

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

A pharmacy in The Bronx (USA) gave the wrong medication 

and

A Canadian drug recall on an error in the manufacturing process of  birth control pills (which would have left a women at risk of pregnancy) 

DLA, do you have anything about the cost of brand vs generic medication in Australia ?

Both articles  I have posted are about generic brand drugs........

Unlike your post....which was just a whinge about mine.......?:|

[izabsmiling]

DLA, from reading the first link it was pharmacy error rather than a problem with a generic drug (if that's where your thinking is  at ?.).

on the same line of thought the makers of the mixed up batch of the  OCP  are Apotex .This may be of interest to you ?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/us-regulator-warns-canadian-drug-maker...

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

DLA, from reading the first link it was pharmacy error rather than a problem with a generic drug (if that's where your thinking is  at ?.).

on the same line of thought the makers of the mixed up batch of the  OCP  are Apotex .This may be of interest to you ?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/us-regulator-warns-canadian-drug-maker...

Yes, with the first article it was the pharmacy that made the mistake...because of issues with the generic brand of medication being too similar to the methadone name....This has happen several times .and killed young children...they die of Methodone overdose.

The mix up occurs when the parents have swapped onto the generic brand...and the pharmacists are not checking...both tablets look the same also... Very sad.