to wonder who buys actual Neurofen or Anadin and why?

[TaggieCampbellBlack]

When the brand stuff costs £££££ but the same stuff in a non-name or value box costs 16p?

Why would you? I don't gettit

Not everyone knows there's no superior quality to the branded drugs. It's always been a no-brainer to me, but apparently the shiny packaging really does a number one people who don't ponder about such things.

I don't know why but loads of people I work with seem to buy the big brands for medicines. They always look a bit taken aback when I pull out my 16p paracetamol.

I think it's partly the placebo effect, they think it's more expensive so it should work better.

I used buy the nurofen express liquid capsules because they are an easier shape to swallow - but I try not to take painkillers so just use soluble paracetamol when I really need to.

People trust brands like Birds Eye, Findus, Tesco.

I've always found it odd. Also buying Paramol instead of just straight co-codamol.

I've heard people say "Oh it's Nurofen, it'll be really good then"

Erm....IT'S JUST IBUPROFEN!!!

I had a full on argument with someone over it once as they refused to believe the 16p stuff was exactly the same.

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that thanks to the placebo effect, if people see lots of ads for neurofen / anadin etc, then the placebo effect means that the branded drugs actually can work better for those people.

Nurofen even. It's not even spelled right.

Research has shown that branded medicines work better... due to the placebo effect. Also yellow pills work better for the same reason. Of course if you know that and you're smart the effect disappears and you can buy 16p painkillers.

because we've been brainwashed into thinking that cheap = poor quality? we are paying for the name

unfortunately, in some cases 'they' are right

but in meds don't they have to be a certain standard or they can't call themselves by the drug name?

It's not totally true to say that there is no difference - the active ingredients are the same, but the delivery methods - so coatings, meltiness etc - differ. Ergo some of the branded drugs will be absorbed quicker than the generics, and so start killing pain sooner. I've no idea what the time difference is, but it'd be minimal in real terms.

Having said that - it's generics all the way for me!

Interestingly, it's one of only the only categories where the higher the social class of the consumer, the more likely they are to buy own / private label. Within the industry, it's generally considered to be linked to education.... Obviously, when I say "interestingly", that makes me a bit of a geek!

Isant it yellow boxes not yellow pills.

Off the top of my head think its all in a book called bad science

Joins Blankie on geek bench, 'cos I think that it is interesting!

Excellent. That makes me not only sensible and clever but high classy too

I always buy Neurofen, so please educate me, what should I buy as a cheap equivalent?

I'd never thought about it like that before, I suppose there could be something in the whole "placebo" theory.

I'm hopping onto the bench too cos I think it's interesting as well. I know my sil buys the big brands and she really can't see my argument that the active ingredients are the same so the painkilling properties will be roughly the same. She doesn't have the same education as I do.

I once was really quite ill with period pains. So bad that I had to call my boyfriend as he was then from work so he could collect me from college and take me home. I had taken paracetamol and the pains had not stopped. I was shaky and felt sick, and felt really ill and in pain. Once a few more hours had passed and I could take more tablets he gave me some Anadin. The relief was immense! I've always used Anadin since then as it works when ordinary paracetamol does not for me.

Just buy Ibuprofen Chottie - that's the active drug in Nurofen

Read the ingredients list Chottie. 200mg Ibuprofen is the same in a nurofen box or a own brand Ibuprofen box.

Chottie anything that says Ibuprofen. I generally buy the Morrisons own brand Ibuprofen but that's only because I happen to shop in Morrisons, any own brand would be fine.

I was a saturday girl at a chemist and that was when I realised that the Nurofen was a rip off.

Some do combine drugs though, and include caffeine for example, which will make them more effective.

I also didn't realise that different complaints needed different drugs, so ibruprofen for dental pain, for example, but I find paracetemol for a headache.

Brandi - normal Anadin (which is aspirin), or Anadin Paracetamol?

Isn't Anadin aspirin though? Not paracetamol? Or am I wrong? I've never bought it.

I have bought the cheaper brands and IMO they take longer to work.

Neurofen seems to work within 10 minutes