Generic vs. Name

[Rapscallion]

Boozy's in Canadalandialand. 400 mg ibuprofen is available over here, or it was many moons back. I don't see why there would be a restriction on the 400 size, though, as the 200 size is freely available and it's as easy to swallow two as it is to swallow one.

Of course, the real answer is to have a better-educated and aware public, but there's too many stupid people.

Rapscallion

[Boozy]

I don't see why there would be a restriction on the 400 size, though, as the 200 size is freely available and it's as easy to swallow two as it is to swallow one.

That's what I was thinking!

If someone can buy a bottle of 20 200mg caplets, why would 10 400mg caplets require a prescription?

I buy the extra strength because I almost always need to take two regular strength, and buying the 400mg gel caps are cheaper per dose.

400mg gel caps have been available for many, many years here. I'm glad I live in Canada.

[protege]

Back to dish-washing soap... Add me to the people who use name-brand stuff. I've tried the cheap shit, and it didn't seem to work as well. It seemed that if I didn't use Dawn, it took longer (not to mention, more of the stuff) to get the grease off of my pots and pans. I also noticed, that the stuff works well on greasy engine parts too. I figured, if it can easily dissolve the grease on old MGB parts, then it will work fine in the kitchen

[muses_nightmare]

400mg gel caps have been available for many, many years here. I'm glad I live in Canada.

I second that!

[linguist]

The regular Excedrin is exactly identical to the migraine Excedrin.

this is true, but some types of excedrin do have different formulations. the standard formulation for extra-strength excedrin (and thus the migraine formula) is 250mg acetominophen, 250mg aspirin, 65mg caffeine. however, excedrin pm has no caffeine and includes diphenhydramine hcl (benadryl, basically), the tension headache formula has no aspirin, and the back and body pain formula has no caffeine and buffered aspirin.

[tropicsgoddess]

For the most part I go generic, but there's a few things I don't buy generic.

My I don't ever buy generic list (and why):

Feminine Hygiene products : the generics are lower quality and the maxi pads no matter how thin they say feel like diapers and the absorption isn't as good.

Ketchup: SO is a ketchup lover and Heinz is the only brand he likes.

Batteries:The brand names last longer than the generics or no-namers

Electronics: higher quality and better reputation.

Toiletries: I use Dove because I love how it moisturizes my skin and still makes me feel clean and fresh. SO uses Right Guard (spray) for his deodorant and he likes how it works for him. For toothpaste, we prefer Tom's of Maine or Arm and Hammer since it does the job (especially the whitening) without any harsh ingredients.

[Andara Bledin]

For toothpaste, we prefer Tom's of Maine or Arm and Hammer since it does the job (especially the whitening) without any harsh ingredients.

We recently switched to Tom's in my household, and we prefer it a ton over the others we've had.

^-.-^

[XCashier]

also toilet paper/paper towels. the cheap ones disintegrate and you actually use more than you would if you bought the good kind.

Actually, I've had very good luck with Target's store brand. The paper towels especially are nice and thick, and you can get either the standard sheets or the ones that are perforated at half-size for smaller jobs.

Cola: gotta be Pepsi. Only non-Pepsi colas I like are Cherry Coke and Cherry RC (haven't had that in a long time).

Macaroni & Cheese: if it's not made from scratch, it should be Kraft. I've tried other kinds with very mixed results, and always inferior to Kraft.

Cereals: really, the Malt-O-Meal varieties are very close in quality to the name brands, and much cheaper. Unless you like a very specific kind of cereal that they don't make (like Peanut Butter Crunch or Chex).

Canned products: there are a few that I specifically go for the name brand (like Dole Mandarin Oranges in fruit juice, oh, those are yummy!), but most of the time, I can get the store brand with little to no difference.

Dairy: usually store brand. Surprisingly, the local store brand string cheese actually tastes better than the name brand.

Shampoo: I buy the generic version of Paul Mitchell's Shampoo One and The Detangler from the local beauty supply shop. It's cheaper than real Paul Mitchell and works and smells just as good.

[DrFaroohk]

Damn now I worry about my liver. Several years ago I had a mild OTC drug problem and was taking Tylenol PM and it's equivalents like candy. no I wans't doing it to get high. Helped me sleep. Mass insomnia here.

[Greenday]

Yea, long-term use of acetominophin is toxic to your liver. You should be okay though if that was a past thing and you don't use it all the time now.

I'm worried about how I'm taking antibiotics daily and I've been taking them for about three months straight now. That can't be good for my liver.

[Andara Bledin]

Forget your liver, what is that doing to create new antibiotic-resistant germs?

Although your liver is important, too.

^-.-^

[Greenday]

Forget your liver, what is that doing to create new antibiotic-resistant germs?

Although your liver is important, too.

^-.-^

It's that or take my chances with malaria and other random diseases.

When I go home, I'm going to look into the once a week version of my antibiotic.

[BlaqueKatt]

It's that or take my chances with malaria and other random diseases.

malaria is not caused by a bacteria, antibiotics will do nothing to help or prevent it. it's caused by a parasite from the plasmodium family(any one of four will cause it)

and taking antibiotics for that long, you may get the joy of meeting my good friend Colistridium difficile*-which can kill you in a matter or days.(it's a bacterial sibling to Colistridium botulism, and it produces a similar toxin)-and it's horrifically painful, you spend about 4-5 days pooping out your intestinal lining-severe stomach cramps and in the bathroom every 10 minutes or so. I've been lucky enough to avoid hospitalization, though I have required IVs and antibiotics to kill it off, then massive amounts of probiotics.

Since many antibiotics can cause C. difficile infection, all antibiotics should be used prudently. Self-administration or using antibiotics without an accurate diagnosis or a proper reason should be discouraged

*almost everyone has C. diff in their gut, the other bacteria keep it in check, antibiotics kill off the beneficial bacteria and C. diff flourishes.

[HYHYBT]

Now, certain personal products I'm VERY set in my ways on. Laundry detergent, bath soap, and deodorant I *always* get the same thing, unless I'm completely out and they don't have my kind. (And the deodorant has been hard to find the last few years, since Wal-Mart doesn't stock it anymore, so I buy it well ahead when I do see any.)

But if I get the "wrong" deodorant, I smell funny to myself all day, and that's just weird. And I've found that some kinds either don't work all that well, or turn the armpits of my shirts permanently white if I use them long enough. The kind I like doesn't cost much, when it's there, so why take the chance? Soap, the same way: there are some I really dislike, and the kind I use, a bar lasts me at least a month; for the little difference there is (and the possibility that another kind may wash away faster), there's just no point in switching. Laundry? I've used the same stuff for about 15 years. Partly because one other kind I tried just didn't get the clothes clean if there was anything on them, such as the grease or ketchup you're very likely to pick up now and then in a McDonald's, and another other kind sometimes left residue patches on my black pants that (how to put this?) looked like indecent stains. Sure, they came out the next wash, but still. And I don't even remember which brand or type either of those was. I just know I don't want any more of it, or anything like it. And again, since I live by myself I'm not doing much laundry; I buy *maybe* three bottles a year. Divide the price difference (when there even is one) by four months and it's not enough to bother about.

[McDreidel09]

There are certain things that I have to use brand name products.

Treseme or Garnier Fructis for shampoo and conditioner. Everything else dries out my scalp and makes it itchy. It's been a while since I used Rusk, but it worked for me when I did use it. I usually just get Treseme for $4 a bottle. One bottle of shampoo and one bottle of conditioner lasts me a school year and then some.

For bar soaps, I can only use Caress. With the other bar soaps, I break out or feel dried out.

For face wash, I can only use Johnson and Johnson Clean and Clear with scrubbing beads. Anything else and I become more oily than I already am and I break out in pimples.

For my milk, I prefer to use Kwik Trip's milk that comes in half gallon bags. I don't know why, but it just tastes better.

I can only get Meow Mix Hairball Control for the cats, since it is the only food they will eat, plus His Royal Fabulousness is a long haired cat and it really helps with the hairballs. For their litterbox, we only get Fresh Step, since it is the only one that His Royal Fabulousness will use. He refuses to use the litterbox if it is anything else.

Other than these things, I am willing to at least try generic brand. I was told not to have Wal-Mart brand ice cream or whipped cream though.