Paracetamol

Duffers Edge Paracetamol Trials

Number 1 Paracetamol trial. Conducted by Dr Society

From feeling fine, I've recently developed flu like aches and pains in my muscles and joints and headaches for the past five days. Yet I've no cough or high temperature - so I don't think it's flu, just some passing virus or something I'm guessing. Paracetamol makes it possible for me to work as it relieves the symptoms.

Despite the fact that they all contain the same active ingredient (500 mg of Paracetamol) different brands of Paracetamol tablets are sold with huge variations in price.

I used Google to see what “Paracetamol price scandal” would reveal.

Here are two snippets that best sum up what I got


http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/paracetamol-500mg-tablets_1_10456.html


“Paracetamol 500mg Tablets In Stock
Save over £2.75 on high street chemist prices. Paracetamol tablets are used for the relief of mild to moderate pain and feverish conditions, e.g. headache, toothache, colds, influenza, joint pain and period pains. Paracetamol 500mg tablets contain the same active ingredient as Panadol tablets which retail for £3.05 in chemists and supermarkets. Typical own brand versions cost from 98p in supermarkets to much more. Size: 16 - £1 less than Panadol - 20p RRP : 65p”

And next I hit this site: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-194913/Medicines-rip-exposed.html


Manufacturers of over-the-counter medicines are represented by the Proprietary Association Great Britain. Spokeswoman Dr Diane MacArthur said:

"Over-the-counter medicines, both brand versus generic and brand versus brand, can give different benefits to the person seeking relief, even when they contain the same active ingredient. "The reason for this is that, in order for an active ingredient to work, it has to be absorbed by the body and many different things can alter how quickly or how well this is done. "A person's own genetics and physiology can influence how well a drug is absorbed."

OK, fellow duffers, so that’s (1) proof of the wide price difference and (2) the official line for this price difference. Do you believe the excuses for this price difference?

Well, seeking an edge, this pharmaceutical trial duffer set out to see what works best for him.

I went into Superdrug to get the cheapest Paracetamol I could find. For this first trial I ignored the Panadol Paracetamol, instead for Duffers Edge readers on limited budgets and with enquiring minds, I decided to check out their cheapest brands instead.

VERDICT OF A COMPLETE MEDICAL DUFFER

And here is what I found over the past two days of alternating between both brands is – ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE between Superdrug’s own brand Paracetamol at just 39 pence for 16 (500mg) capltes and the even cheaper version they amazingly very kindly sell at a mere 16 pence - for 16 (500mg) caplets right next to their till and that is less than half the price of Superdrug's own brand budget variety.

A dose of 2 caplets (total 1000 mg) of either variety takes away my aches and pains for about 6 hours. Each variety takes about an hour to begin to get into my system.

Further analysis

On investigating the origin of both packets of Paracetamol caplets in this Duff trial I found that THE PL LICENCE (IS THAT PHARMACEUTICAL LICENCE?) FOR BOTH the Superdrug "own brand" and the cheaper Galpharm caplets is held by: Galpharm Healthcare Ltd, South Yorkshire, S75 3SP. and that Galpharm both prepare and package the Superdrug own brand caplets. Both packets say they contain Paracetamol 500mg and also E223.

Conclusion

Both brands have exactly the same effect on your body

Recommendation

Buy the 16p caplets as they must surely be Identical in EVERY way to the 39 pence caplets.

Further Investigation: What an amazing coincidence - or is it price fixing?

Boots the chemist also sells its own brand of Paracetamol (500mg) caplets at 16 caplets for 39 pence and stocks something called "Value Health" Paracetamol caplets at 16 pence for 16 500mg caplets.

Bristol Laboritories, Ltd Unit 3, Canalside, Norethbridge Road, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, HP4 1EG, make the Boots Brand - while guess what? Good old Galpharm Healthcare of South Yorkshire make the Value Health variety. Both of these brands sold by Boots contain identical ingredients to those sold by Superdrug.

Final Advice - buy the 16 pence a packet variety from either Boots or Superdrug because these ones are less than half the price of either Superdrug's or Boots' own brand. The cheap packets are EXACTLY THE SAME as the more expensive ones mentioned here!

Comment

Now this finding does not quite fit with the quote above from the Proprietary Association of Great Britain Mrs Diane MacArthur does it?

WOULD YOU KINDLY Offer your fellow man your services for free as a fellow duffer?

Does anyone with Swine Flu, Avian flu, or else any other kind of flu, cold, headache, period pains, tooth ache or any other pains fancy doing a Duffers Edge test for us comparing the effects of the expensive Panadol with a much cheaper version of Paracetamol? If so please have a go and email us the results at: bentsociety@hotmail.co.uk

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Kindly note: THIS BLOG MAY CONTAIN THE OPINIONS OF NUTS

THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS THE OPINIONS OF A RANK AMATEUR ONLY. TRUST IT AT YOUR PERIL AS WE WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CHOICES BASED ON ANYTHING YOU READ ON DUFFERS EDGE.

Remember, it is recommended that you do not exceed 1,000mg every 4 hours, otherwise it really can destroy your liver and kill you. No really it can! And REMEMBER: Children require a much smaller dose than this AND IN SOME CASES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE IT. ALWAYS ASK YOUR DOCTOR FIRST BEFORE GIVING MEDICATION TO BABIES AND CHILDREN.