Go For The Generic, Save Your Money
Written: Mar 10 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Gives all the benefits of aspirin in preventing stroke and heart attack.
Cons: Overpriced when generic aspirin from your drugstore or supermarket will do the same job.
The Bottom Line: Go for the Generic Equivalent, it's cheaper an has the same potential benefits.
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| nursefriendly's Full Review: Bayer Aspirin Regimen Tablets Adult Low Strength 3... |
Will address two points in this Epinion.
1. Generic Brands of Aspirin are as effective as Bayer and other Name Brands.
2. Who may benefit from taking aspirin.
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Working in the medical field as a Registered Nurse, I always chuckle when drug companies try to convince consumers that their "Brand" will somehow give superior benefits than their generic (and much cheaper) counterparts.
In the case of Bayer Aspirin vs the generic equivalent, millions have been spent marketing the "Brand" where the generic is just as good.
I'm 31 and not a candidate for aspirin therapy for either stroke or heart attack. My patients in both nursing homes and hospitals are very much candidates and in need of either preventive therapy, or maintenance therapy to prevent recurrences of disease.
Years of passing medications to patients has impressed upon me the significance of drug costs and how they relate to patient care.
In a hospital, for purposes of effectiveness and liability, you cannot cut corners or save money at the expense of the patient where medications are concerned.
Pharmacists have long recognized that generic brands of a medication are typically as effective as the brand name.
The proof of this is evident on doctors prescription pads and physician order sheets in hospitals, which state "unless specifically indicated, the generic equivalent of this medication will be dispensed."
The proof of this is evident by the number of generic equivalents your pharmacist gives you despite what the doctor may have prescribed.
You will not find Bayer Aspirin or the Brand name equivalent in a hospital or nursing home.
You will not find cost conscious doctors prescribing the Brand name aspirin for their patients who are on a budget.
You will not find Pharmacists filling prescriptions or recommending Bayer to patients (unless it is to boost sales in pursuit of profit).
Why? Because generic aspirin has all the potential health benefits of Name Brand aspirin.
There is no difference in the chemical make up of the generic vs Name Brand.
The added features such as enteric coatings (which make them easier on the stomach) can be found in generic equivalents as well.
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Who may benefit from taking aspirin. Why take aspirin?
Aspirin is a blood thinner and has the effect of an anticoagulant. That is it prevents blood from forming clots by inhibiting platelet aggregation.
Platlets are blood components whose function is to form clots when the skin is injured and bleeding occurs. Normally, they rapidly collect at the site of bleeding and assist in "plugging" the hole through which blood is escaping.
A recognized cause of both Heart Attack (also called Myocardial Infarction) and Stroke (also called Cerebrovascular Accident or Brain Attack) is the formation of blood clots which block arteries in either the heart or the brain.
When this occurs, the blood supply to either a portion of the brain or heart is slowed or cut off.
Both of these organs, the heart and brain, are dependent on a constant supply of blood (which supplies oxygen) for normal function.
When a blockage forms and not enough blood is supplied, portions of the heart and brain can start to die. As the tissues are damaged the function of those areas is lost, often permanently.
When it's the heart, the ability for it to pump blood to the body is affected. Many heart attack survivors end up with Congestive Heart Failure, an inability of the heart to pump blood effectively due to damage sustained.
When it's the brain, speech, coordination, swallowing function, vision and other vital functions can be lost depending on which portion of the brain is affected.
Aspirin is being recommended in hopes that it can prevent these clots from forming and minimize the risk of heart attack and stroke.
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The bottom line when considering taking aspirin is this.
1. If your doctor feels it may be beneficial to you, the generic brand will often be just as effective as Bayer.
2. Realize that it "may minimize" and will not totally protect you from a heart attack or stroke. Many other lifestyle and genetic factors can put you at risk.
3. Do not start aspirin if you have a history of gastric ulcers or bleeding disorders unless specifically recommended by a physician (you may consider getting a second opinion).
Sincerely,
Andrew Lopez, BS RN
The Nursefriendly National Nursing & Consumer Healthcare Directories
http://www.nursefriendly.com, epinions@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137, AOL “andypulse2”
867 Dante Court, Mantua New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618
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Member: Andrew Lopez, BS RN, Nursefriendly, Inc.
Location: Mantua, New Jersey
Reviews written: 66
Trusted by: 72 members
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