To think gaviscon is ridiculously expensive?

[Fluffybat]

Pregnant and having major heartburn. Why is it so bloody expensive. £10 for a bottle.

' if you decide to get pregnant and can't even afford to spend a tenner on medication, it's not looking good for your kids lifestyle! How are you planning on feeding the poor child?'

I'd have spending far more than a tenner on medication to treat my acid reflux whilst pregnant, hence, why pregnant women get free prescriptions . As it was I wound up in hospital with an ulcer in my oesophagus. Thankfully, the NHS doesn't see medication to treat heartburn or acid reflux in pregnant woman as a want rather than a need and provides accordingly.

It's so expensive! You can get a generic version on prescription. It's the only thing that got me through the last few weeks of pregnancy.

I had severe HG and used a lot of gaviscon. I got huge bottles on prescription.

Wilko's own brand is caramel flavoured, almost nice.

Thankfully, the NHS doesn't see medication to treat heartburn or acid reflux in pregnant woman as a want rather than a need and provides accordingly.

my point was that the NHS doesn't even supply life-saving drugs, so gaviscon is abusing the system, that's all.

I went through so much, I just bought supermarket stuff

@ikeepaforkinmypurse
Firstly, there's no need to be abrasive.
Secondly ALL pregnant women in the UK are exempt from prescription charges and nhs dental care. It's a public health initiative which has been ongoing for years. It's not a case of whether anyone can afford medication and/or to have kids, the OP is actually entitled to this medication for free.

OP. See your GP for a prescription for either gaviscon or ranitidine. Don't suffer. The midwife won't be able to prescribe it as they don't prescribe, but a GP might be able to do a phone consultation and prescribe.

Peptac is the "generic" alternative we sell in the pharmacy - 3 quid as opposed to 7...

'my point was that the NHS doesn't even supply life-saving drugs, so gaviscon is abusing the system, that's all.'

Of course it's not! If your acid reflux is that bad it's FAR better to see a doctor and get it prescribed so it can be monitored how much you're using as it may be decided you need a different drug. Severe heartburn/acid reflux can cause serious long-term problems in women.

ALL pregnant women in the UK are exempt from prescription charges and nhs dental care.

but many GP do not prescribe items like Gaviscon and advise you to buy it over the counter, as they do for other items.
Not all GP are ready to prescribe anything and everything, they do advise what you can buy yourself of course.

Acidex is great and much cheaper.

Midwife will prescribe or gp... supermarket own brand just as good but still not cheap! Was my only pregnancy symptom and I drank the stuff!

It is SOOOOO expensive YANBU I bought some last week and was shocked by the cost!

Which version of Gaviscon? There will almost certainly be unbranded preparations with exactly the same ingredients at less than half the price. There is no reason for anybody to buy branded Gaviscon (or Nurofen or Annadin or Piriton or Voltarol or any other drug preparation advertised on/in television/billboards/magazines).

'but many GP do not prescribe items like Gaviscon and advise you to buy it over the counter, as they do for other items.
Not all GP are ready to prescribe anything and everything, they do advise what you can buy yourself of course.'

You'd be hard-pressed to find a GP or midwife who won't prescribe heartburn/acid reflux remedies to a pregnant woman. Acid reflux can cause a lot of damage, especially in a pregnant woman, that could cost the NHS far more than generic ranitidine and Gavison.

Supermarket ones are rank. Home bargains do it for £7 a bottle. Or get it on prescription, they are free when pregs aren't they?

Gaviscon was my only companion when pg

I got it on prescription too! Life saver

In answer to your original question, the reason why Gaviscon is so expensive is that Reckitt Benckiser spends over $2,500,000,000 a year on advertising and has to recover this by overcharging for its products. It was fined £10,000,000 in 2010 for defrauding the NHS and obviously had to recoup this cost, too.
It is foolish to buy any product that is advertised on television or in glossy magazines: by definition it will be hugely overpriced.

I use a bottle a week due to a stomach condition. £40 a month when you are disabled with no income is extortionate. My local rural supermarket only sells the Gaviscon brand and my GP won't prescribe it as it's something that's easy to buy.

ICant I get omeprazole on prescription. I have diagnosed GERD, though.

I take Pantoprazole, but need to use Gaviscon too. I get the Pantoprazole on prescription.

I got it on prescription while I was pregnant because I needed so bloody much of the stuff. Although it wasn't always the real deal and I'm affraid the chemist ones just don't cut it.

My pharmacist said it had to be gaviscon advance as the rest are too high in sodium.

yes its disgustingly expensive.though all medical stuff seems to be nowadays.what are the supermarket ones called can anyone help?
and yes it can be a hugely needed medication.
some people with severe oesophagus problesm from cancer to reflux rely so much on medicine like this to be free from sometime desperate pain and symtoms.

it really irks me when some people can be so horrid to people suffering.if you've never had it you cant be nasty to someone suffering with stuff