talkmagic.co.uk

True. I'm pretty much an unbranded meds boy all the way!

I know people who swear by certain brands of painkillers. When they say that a branded painkiller works better than inferior own brand stuff, even though the tablets may have come from the same machine in the same factory and are chemically identical, are they falling for the placebo effect in reverse?

Tomo wrote:I know people who swear by certain brands of painkillers. When they say that a branded painkiller works better than inferior own brand stuff, even though the tablets may have come from the same machine in the same factory and are chemically identical, are they falling for the placebo effect in reverse?

Probably - it's like comparing tesco value to branded items, or bottled water to tap water

Generally, they include some slightly crappy other additive, like caffeine, which may have some vague extra effect. But you can buy generic brand paracetamol plus caffeine now anyway. Often the additive is as scientifically "proven" as the mumbo jumbo they use in shampoo or yoghurt drink advertisements.

There's a certain license that's held for a number of years (3 or 5, I don't remember). After that, it becomes generically available. Funnily enough, pharmaceuticals always come out with a "breakthrough new formulation" just as their last breakthrough new formulation becomes available generically

It's not always rubbish, but would often just be cheaper to buy separately. I think the standard Anadin is paracetamol and aspirin, so to say "anadin works better than just paracetamol" - well, duh! But it's still cheaper to buy 16 aspirin and 16 paracetamol at 11p a throw at Morrisons than £2.70 on 12 Anadin.

There is a painkiller (somethingdol I think?) which includes an anti-histamine. Most anti-histamines are now "non-drowsy making" if you want them for the actual effect they have on your allergies, but the older ones that make you drowsy are quiet useful for... well, making you drowsy. So they do help people to sleep better at night (and therefore give the appearance of taking away pain better, because people feel they are more of a "knock out" pill), but again - far cheaper just to buy paracetamol and promethazine hydrochloride separately.

...You just have to know what to ask for

Tomo wrote:are they falling for the placebo effect in reverse?

Reverse nothing - the placebo effect is there in conventional medicine too. A fair amount of research has been done into the placebo effect and painkillers. Painkillers that are identical save for being, if memory serves, blue rather than green are more effective. Painkillers that are perceived as being new are more effective than painkillers that are perceived as being old. Painkillers administered by someone in a white coat are more effective than ones administered by someone in civvies...

Although I think the power of the placebo effect is often over-stated, it is nevertheless fascinating.

Beardy wrote:

Tomo wrote:I know people who swear by certain brands of painkillers. When they say that a branded painkiller works better than inferior own brand stuff, even though the tablets may have come from the same machine in the same factory and are chemically identical, are they falling for the placebo effect in reverse?

Probably - it's like comparing tesco value to branded items, or bottled water to tap water

And what's Evian spelt backwards?...