Anti-Generic medication

With the PBS reforms going through, pharmacies ain't doing very well these days. We have to survive by pushing generics. Helps not only the pharmacies, but also the government and the whole health care system as a whole. Why pay more for a branded item when the quality is the same with the generic? Its like Lexus and Toyota, they use the same engine but Lexus is a premium brand. You pay more because of the brand and the appearance. The engine's gonna work the same. It will take you from A to B. Fair enough, some people may prefer a Lexus over Toyota coz of the appearance and prestige that comes with it, but medicines - seriously, are you really going to show off to your friends that you are taking Amoxil instead of Alphamox? These are tablets that you are gonna swallow and throw out the box when you're done. Why be a whinger and get non-generics?

Most people these days understand that generics and the original are the same quality and they accept it but there are still those people who still believe their smarter than the doctors and pharmacist.

A lady comes in wanting to fill her scripts. She says NO GENERICS. I checked her history - she's been taking Noten (generic brand for Tenormin) since forever. I look on the doctor's prescription, the doctor wrote Noten. I always use this opportunity to change the patient's perspective on generics.

Me: "Mrs B, just wanted to ask you, have you been taking Noten for a very long time?"
Her: "Yes, I have for many years."
Me: "Well you mentioned you didn't want generics. But Noten is a generic. And the doctor actually wrote the generic brand for you on the prescription. Did you actually want me to change it to another brand?"
Her: "What?? Noten is a generic!!!??!?"
Me: "Yes that's right. Noten is a generic. The original brand is called Tenormin. Would you like me to change it for you since you don't want generics? It will cost you a bit more though."
Her: "No no no. I would like to stick to the Noten please."
Me: "I think that would be the better choice to make. You see, there is nothing wrong with generics. If there was a problem, your doctor wouldn't have prescribed it for you and you wouldn't have been on it for all these years."
Her: "Yeh I don't like generics. They don't work."
Me: "They work exactly like the original brand. Noten is the clear example."


ROCKED YA HARD!