Medicines and their cheap analogues: table. Cheap analogues of expensive drugs

The market for medicines (hereinafter referred to as drugs) is currently oversaturated, and the choice of a suitable drug is a rather difficult task, given the recent reforms of the pharmacy system of the Russian Federation. Whatever they are caused by: more frequent cases of drug manufacture, toxic poisoning, drug overdoses, and this is not a complete series of reasons ... Meanwhile, self-medication is a big and unconscious problem (in relation to the Russian Federation). Medicines and their cheap counterparts are often used uncontrollably: doctors can only shrug their hands and complain about the policies of commercial pharmacy chains. Where there is commerce, it is primarily the benefit that is pursued, not the human health.

Examples from pharmacies

A separate problem for many families is the high cost of foreign and original drugs and the search for cheaper analogues coming from pharmaceutical factories in Russia and India. For example, the popular table of cheap drug analogues (see below) offers patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia a number of options: “Penester” (Zentiva), “Proscar” (MSD Int.) - more expensive drugs, and cheaper - “Finasteride” ( OBL - Russia), Finast (Ranbaxy - India). The cost of more expensive drugs in the foreseeable future is about 600 rubles., Cheaper - 300 rubles. Meanwhile, the officially declared composition is identical for all four drugs.

Why then do we doubt it?

Cheaper drugs with the claimed composition and effect, similar to a more expensive drug from the same pharmacological group, are called generics. Attention should be paid to this concept: it comes from the conclusion that, for example, mustard is not a Finalgon generic, since they do not belong to the same pharmacological group, although they have a warming and distracting effect. Thus, not all drugs with a similar effect are cheap analogues of expensive drugs. The table selected to save on one or another group of drugs should be checked and recommended by the Ministry of Health.

Can drugs be replaced?

The question of the problem of self-medication was raised at the beginning of the article, however, it affects not only the policy of pharmacies, but also characterizes the situation with medical care in general. Compared to the Western system, where you can’t even buy aspirin in a pharmacy without a prescription, our system is far behind. And the point is not in aspirin itself, but in how a person receives it: both aspirin and, for example, Tramadol, also included in the list of cheap analogues of medicines. There is an adequate alignment in which a person gets an appointment with a doctor and gets a prescription for the necessary drug. But there is an inadequate one - when a person cannot get to the doctor because of the queues, difficulties with documenting time off at work, because of which self-medication has gone so far and cripples as many people as we do.

That is why many are forced to "prescribe" drugs for themselves, becoming a sort of home doctor. By the way, a very risky comrade ... Not having completed the required training course and not knowing how dangerous even the beloved “No-shpa" (or its generic - Drotaverin) can turn out to be.

Medicines and their cheap analogues. Table on the fridge instead of a doctor

In most cases, self-replacement of drugs favorably affects the wallet of a client who goes “against the system”. Traditionally, it is believed that the margin for drugs is determined precisely by the system of their sale, and the lion's share of this percentage belongs to the advertiser. Against this argument, doctors and pharmacists have nothing to oppose. However, when it comes to new drugs that have recently appeared on the market, replacement can adversely affect the outcome of treatment (not to be confused with self-medication!). Here, cheap analogues of expensive drugs will not be relevant, a table with possible inexpensive options in this case can only be offered by a doctor.

For example, the antibiotic Vancomycin is highly effective against hospital strains of microorganisms that are very resistant to the effects of old drugs, and sooner or later they will learn to resist it. And in a situation where the patient urgently needs antimicrobial therapy, cheap analogs of drugs prescribed instead of the original antibiotic will only do harm. An outdated antibiotic will not only not help, but also harm the patient. In response to the systematic administration of obsolete drugs, the patient will develop even more stable strains, as well as the duration of the disease, and the level of depletion of the body will increase due to temperature and complications caused by certain bacterial toxins.

Medicines and their cheap analogues. Is the table still for doctors? ..

It would seem that health is a necessary thing, and you can’t save on it. But today many cannot afford to hurt. Drugs began to be indecently expensive due to the long-suffering ruble and inflation. And most people think that saving a little is not such a big sin. But how not to make a mistake? Of course, to understand why some drugs are cheap and others are expensive.

1. Analogs with different active ingredients. The effect of these substances is identical (analgesic, antipyretic, hypotensive). However, a substance whose effect on the body determines this effect has a different chemical form in two different drugs. Such drugs should not be confused with interchangeable ones, and in case of complex diseases it is better not to replace them yourself.
2. Preparations with the same active substance. This is exactly what medicines and their cheap analogues are. A table with a list of such medicines is, for sure, for every pensioner and economical housewife. The pharmaceutical market often serves an advertised and less well-known version of the same drug. Take, for example, the famous No-Shpa drug and its analogue, Drotaverin. The difference in price here is provided only by the ergonomics of the drug. Not everyone will want to overpay the difference 10 times just because the No-Shpa tablets are packed in a beautiful box with a dispenser - "ideal for a handbag." There are a lot of such options now, and we need to learn to distinguish between empty and empty and not take what is not needed, but is expensive.

Different manufacturers - different prices

Another factor affecting the price of the drug is its manufacturer. Here, the effectiveness of analogues with the same composition and different manufacturers is a very controversial issue. This question is raised due to the high cost of production of the active substance. Cheap analogues of drugs from one manufacturer and expensive from another is a matter of brand and credibility. The fact is that many manufacturers deliberately reduce the dose of the active substance in order to increase the batch. Due to this, they can afford dumping prices. Those who are primarily concerned about the health of their customers, and not about sales, cannot take this move. Therefore, their product will always be more expensive.

Confusion counterfeiting

But if the picture were so clear, all questions would be resolved in no time. The biggest damage to our health and wallets is done by the shadow market, which offers dubious counterfeit products under the guise of the original. Everything is faked: medicines and their cheap counterparts. Table with Vital and Essential Drugs - and that did not remain untouched.

Doctor himself

The difference in the mentality of citizens of different countries is an occasion for writing many books and articles reflecting their history. In Japan, when hiring, for example, they will be surprised why you did not bow to the employer three times. And the Americans will be shocked by our seemingly ordinary thing: go to the pharmacy for paracetamol to bring down the temperature. They simply cannot imagine how a person without a medical education can decide to take something, and how a pharmacy will release, for example, Tanakan analogues. Cheap drugs table (list) in their country will be considered the property of doctors. With us it is the property of homegrown "doctors."

Thus, we can conclude that few Russians divide money into two piles: tablets and the last bread. However, many people want to “heal cheaper and independently” without thinking about the consequences. Well, a pharmacy will always win, but whether we win in a game with it is an open question ...