Frankly speaking, the competence of many of our citizens in such a science as pharmacology leaves much to be desired. After visiting a doctor, even with the simplest disease, a person leaves with an impressive list of medications. And to doubt this list of drugs, even when a huge amount needs to be paid for it in the pharmacy, many cannot, because they trust the attending physician. And if we also take into account the fact that a sick person rarely doubts and checks appointments, it becomes clear that marketing experts, together with doctors and manufacturers, deprive us of the opportunity to choose the medication necessary for treatment.
What should not be done in case of illness?
Before accusing doctors of all mortal sins, you need to rethink the attitude to your health. It is also necessary to stop self-medication and take drugs “from advertising”. By purchasing such medicines, you can not only harm your body, but also prove to the manufacturers that their advertising campaign is working. Of course, advertised drugs can be prescribed by doctors, but they do this taking into account the patient's condition. On the one hand, these funds really help, but on the other, their cost is unreasonably high. At the same time, there is a situation in which doctors are interested in prescribing such drugs, because they get financial benefits from this. But if a person independently diagnoses a disease for himself and rushes to a pharmacy to buy the advertised drugs, then there will hardly be any benefit from such treatment.
What you need to know in order not to fall into the trap of "hunters in white coats"
No matter how much you want to do without a doctor, you should turn to a professional even with a simple ARI. This is necessary not only in order to get sick leave. First of all, this will allow you to correctly diagnose the disease and avoid complications. Do not be shy when prescribing medication to ask a doctor to argue the choice of each drug. It is also worth clarifying whether it is possible to take medications that are analogues of expensive medications that have been prescribed.
For example, when coughing, replace the drug "Lazolvan" with a cheaper generic Ambroxol, which has an identical active substance. Do not be afraid to refuse the doctor's recommendations about which pharmacy to buy medicines in, especially if she is in the hospital. After all, this fact already indicates that the cost of medicines includes a financial reward for the attending physician. Many people know that in pharmacies at medical institutions, the cost of almost all products is much higher. Leaving the doctor’s office, almost all patients think about how to quickly buy the necessary drugs and start treatment. And if there is a pharmacy at the exit from the clinic, many go directly to it. This arrangement is to some extent a marketing ploy.
What kind of "miracle" are these generics?
In simple terms, generics are cheap analogues of expensive drugs, which, like their "branded" competitors, have a patent. In most cases, the release of a generic is preceded by the expiration of the patent protection period for an expensive drug, the priority of which is lost for the manufacturing company. By this time, the total cost of releasing the drug is not only recouped, but also brought significant income. If the demand for medicine has fallen, and the patent has not yet expired , the manufacturer, focusing on additional profit, gives permission to produce an analogue in another country. The basis of generics are the same substances that are used in expensive medicines, their distinguishing feature is the presence or absence of additional elements on which the cost of the drug in the retail network depends.
Pros and Cons of Cheap Medicines
It probably makes no sense to talk about the fact that Russian analogues of expensive drugs have a fairly attractive price. But the fact that in comparison with the original medicines they are practically not faked due to the lack of economic benefits, you need to know. In addition, another positive quality of generics is that their medicinal properties are not inferior to the properties of the original drugs, since they have the same active substance in the basis. However, those who think that domestic "substitutes" should sing odes are mistaken, since, along with the pluses, they have their own, albeit insignificant, but "cons." So, for example, they use cheap auxiliary components, on which the duration of the drug, its interaction with complex therapy, and the presence of undesirable side effects on the human body can depend.
Generics of expensive antispasmodics, painkillers and antipyretics
There is a home first-aid kit in almost every home, especially where there are small children. And not everyone decides to save on their own child, so parents usually don’t even look at analogues of expensive drugs. So, for example, some mothers will not be able to sleep peacefully if there is no antipyretic and analgesic drug Nurofen, Ibufen in the home arsenal, whose generic drug is the simplest and cheapest Ibuprofen medication. Adults with conventional ARI prefer to take antisymptomatic teas, such as Fervex or Coldact Lorpis, consisting of simple paracetamol and vitamin C. However, they do not know that the total cost of blisters for these drugs is lower than one tea. As for the No-Shpa pain medication, which many people are accustomed to using for the slightest pain, it is adequately replaced by the domestic Spazmalgon and Dropaverin remedies.
Analogs of gels, ointments and creams for external use
In cases when the body pierces pain in the joints, most people who become victims of marketing tricks use only Bystrumgel or Fastum medicines, without even suspecting that cheaper medicines can be used - analogues of expensive medicines. After all, the drug "Ketoprofen-Vramed" is a generic that is produced in Bulgaria. In case of joint problems, it gives the same healing effect as expensive drugs, eliminates pain and swelling. With skin manifestations of herpes, many are accustomed to using the expensive drug "Virolex", not knowing that its active substance is acyclovir. The cost of the domestic product of the same name is many times lower, and the therapeutic effect is not inferior to the original. In case of fungal infections, as well as skin candidiasis, it is more common for our people to apply the “Fungoterbin” ointment, which was recommended by a doctor or pharmacist, neglecting the “Terbinafil” generic. Well, the very first step in the “demand” rating, of course, is occupied by the Diclac drug, although you can use the cheaper Diclofenac drug.
What can replace expensive antiviral drugs and is it worth it?
Demand in pharmacies for antiviral drugs is very high, since such diseases can be obtained by airborne droplets. This is what the employees of medical institutions take advantage of, offering people who are not particularly versed in pharmacology, expensive drugs. And in the concept of a simple person, an antiviral drug is aimed at combating the causative agent of the disease and nothing else, and pharmacists silently agree with our opinion, trying to "save" from the bitter truth. They know for sure that many of the usual “fighters” with viruses are nothing more than immunostimulants, and in some cases they can even be attributed to the placebo group. And we give a lot of money for them, we accept and give to children almost from birth. The most striking example is the drug "Amiksin", which has not even been tested in the United States and other civilized countries, although in our pharmacies the demand for it is maximum. The same doubts are caused by the well-known Arbidol, which we tested in China, but are sold only in the CIS. The question begs: “Well, do the Chinese have special health and they are not afraid of viruses?”. Of course not, it’s just that their Ministry of Health does not consider it necessary to offer their people a dummy.
Generics of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral drugs
When buying cheap medicines, analogues of expensive medicines, you should not rebuke yourself for saving on your own health, because generics have an identical foundation and have the same property. Therefore, if the doctor’s prescription contains Azivok, Zitrolid or Sumamed, you can buy the drug Azithromycin. Replace "Acyclovir-Acre" or "Zovirax" can be a domestic drug "Acyclovir". In the treatment of trichomoniasis, giardiasis and certain intestinal infections, the patient may be prescribed Trichopol or Tiberal, a worthy generic of which is the fairly cheap drug Metronidazole. With this information, the patient can consult a doctor and use analogues for treatment, which will help to significantly save the family budget.
Information for people with a stomach ulcer
It is known that with proper and high-quality treatment, ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract can heal and no longer bother a person. However, as doctors convince us, such therapy requires significant costs, because it is better to take expensive drugs purchased in the "right" pharmacy and not to use cheap drugs - analogues of expensive drugs. Many, seriously worried about their condition, dutifully agree and clearly follow the recommendations received, actively emptying their wallet. At the same time, the budget of other patients does not suffer, since they replace the prescribed funds with generics. For example, instead of Omez, Gastrozole or Ultop, they take Omeprazole, and Zantak is replaced with Ranitidine. As practice shows, the recovery of both the first and second groups of patients is the same and depends on the individual properties of the body.
Analogues of cough and inhalation drugs
In order to get rid of annoying coughing fits with respiratory diseases, it is important to know that the active substance of many drugs prescribed by the attending physician is ambroxol. Therefore, the drug of the same name can replace both Lazolvan, Halixol, Helixol, Ambroxan, and other antitussive drugs. As for solutions for inhalation, the desired therapeutic effect can be achieved not only with the help of Salamol Eco or Ventolin, but also with the less expensive Salbutamol.
Of course, everyone has the right to choose whether to succumb to the doctor’s persuasion and purchase expensive medications or to be cured with the help of generics. The main thing is to remember that health is the most important value in life, and it must be protected.