Be an (Amateur) Rx-pert

Knowledge is power, people. When it comes to over-the-counter meds, do not be fooled. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times... some things are not what they seem. Read more to find out how you, too, can become an amateur rx-pert - not to be confused with a real rx-pert like my baby brother, the pharmacist ;) //end shameless plug...

We've all been so sick with a cold we will buy anything... ANYTHING... that promises (or even kinda looks like it might try) to make us feel better. We'll spend dozens of dollars on over-the-counter products to treat all of our 103 symptoms (fever, stuffy nose, runny nose, headache, sore throat, general feeling of slowly dying, as though each labored breath might be your last...), hoping for some small bit of relief. So it's no wonder that the pharmaceutical companies have figured this out and have made it their mission to charge us scandalous amounts of money for super specific products aimed at helping your exact cold and flu symptoms. Some examples are Tylenol PM®, Advil PM®, Tylenol® Severe Allergy, Advil® Cold & Sinus, and Sudafed PE® Sinus + Allergy. But I felt like I had to write this blog to let you know that it's all an illusion, and this apparent abundance of choices is all part of a devious ploy by the pharmaceutical companies to separate you from your hard-earned dollar. So come along and learn how you can save a little money and feel better, too.

Let's start with the seldom-looked-at ingredients in 2 of these popular drugs:

Advil PM®

Active Ingredient: Ibuprofen (200mg)

Purpose: Pain reliever

Active Ingredient: Diphenhydramine citrate (38mg)

Purpose: Nighttime sleep aid

Tylenol PM®

Active Ingredient: Acetaminophen (500mg)

Purpose: Pain reliever

Active Ingredient: Diphenhydramine HCl (25mg)

Purpose: Nighttime sleep aid

Hey! Guess what else has Diphenydramine listed as its active ingredient!

Bendadryl®

Active Ingredient: Diphenhydramine HCl (25mg)

Purpose: Antihistamine

The Alternative: Take 1 extra strength Tylenol® or 1 Advil® and some generic Bendadryl®, and you'll be sure to save a few bucks buying these two "specialized" medicines (i.e. specially formulated to empty your wallet faster than a subway pick pocket). Isn't it funny how they figured out Benadryl® makes us sleepy so now they can call it a "nighttime sleep aid?" :P

And I particularly love this one...

Tylenol® Severe Allergy

Active Ingredient: Acetaminophen (500mg)

Purpose: Pain reliever

Active Ingredient: Diphenhydramine HCl (12.5mg)

Purpose: Antihistamine

The Alternative: Take 1 extra strength Tylenol and half of a Benadryl® (hey, even more of a money-saver!).

You want more? You got it... Let's compare

Sudafed PE® Sinus + Allergy

Active Ingredient: Chlorpheniramine maleate (4 mg)

Purpose: Antihistamine

Active Ingredient: Phenylephrine HCl (10 mg)

Purpose: Nasal decongestant

Advil® Congestion Relief

Active Ingredient: Ibuprofen (200 mg)

Purpose: Pain reliever/fever reducer

Active Ingredient: Phenylephrine HCl (10 mg)

Purpose: Nasal decongestant

Advil® Allergy Sinus

Active Ingredient: Ibuprofen (200 mg)

Purpose: Pain reliever/fever reducer

Active Ingredient: Pseudoephedrine HCl (30 mg)

Purpose: Nasal decongestant

Active Ingredient: Chlorpheniramine maleate (2 mg)

Purpose: Antihistamine

I look at these 3 and wonder... none of them are exactly alike BUT if you're like me and are sensitive to Pseudoephedrine (i.e. it makes you sleep for a day and a half and then you wake and feel like you need to sleep a day and a half longer just to get rid of the drowsies), then the best thing to do would be to buy Sudafed PE® Sinus + Allergy and take an Advil® with it if you have a headache or fever. It has more of the antihistamine than the Advil® Allergy Sinus anyway and the same decongestant.

The point is, it pays to read the label and know what you're taking. And you can use that extra coin you save to buy you some of that ridiculously awesome ice cream you love... 'cause we all know ice cream makes everything better in ways that medicines never could. :D

This has been a public service announcement by Geekiness Unlimited, a subsidiary of Ponderings & Pensées. We're here to help.