Money-wise choices for OTC medicines Here are 9 tips on saving money without sacrificing effectiveness, when it comes to OTC medicines. Before I start - let me stress that if you take any medicines or have any medical conditions make sure you ask to check for clashes, and read the patient information leaflet. 1) Ask for PEPTAC instead of Gaviscon Peptac is an indigestion/heartburn liquid very similar to Gaviscon original liquid. A 500ml bottle is less than half the price of similar quantities of Gaviscon. Don't forget to be aware of "red flag symptoms" about your indigestion and see a doctor if any of the red flags apply. 2) Ask for generic RANITIDINE 75mg tablets instead of Zantac Very effective for indigestion and heartburn - the generic Rantidine for a pack of 12 is typically less than half the price compared with Zantac. Don't forget to be aware of "red flag symptoms" about your indigestion and see a doctor if any of the red flags apply. 3) Ask for generic CHLORPHENAMINE tablets or liquid instead of Piriton. Basically the exact equivalent of Piriton but much cheaper. These can cause drowsiness, if drowsiness is likely to be a problem, then ask for generic Loratadine or Cetirizine. 5) Ask for generic TERBINAFINE cream 1% (7.5g) instead of Lamisil cream. Not all pharmacies stock the generic - in pack sizes available OTC. The active ingredient Terbinafine is the most effective topically applied athlete's foot treatment, with seven days of treatment reported to be superior to 4 weeks of clotrimazole or miconazole. Make sure you keep using for a few days after all symptoms have disappeared. 6) Ask for DIOCTYL capsules instead of Dulco-ease These both contain the same active ingredient - docusate sodium - and are an effective laxative and stool softener. Dioctyl is notably cheaper but less advertised and therefore less well known. 7) Generic THRUSH treatments (instead of Canesten and Diflucan). Purchase generic Clotrimazole 1% cream, plus either generic Fluconazole 150mg oral capsule or Clotrimazole 500mg pessary. You will get an effective thrush treatment combination at a few £ cheaper than the branded combos. 8) POTASSIUM CITRATE MIXTURE instead of branded Cystitis relief products. If you are going to use an OTC cystitis relief product, generic "Potassium Citrate Mixture" has the same active ingredient and strength as most branded cystitis relief products, and typically costs much less. If you take any prescribed medicines make sure you mention when purchasing. It should be noted that the evidence base for these products is not all that great - just taking paracetamol (not ibuprofen) and drinking plenty of water may be equally effective. 9) Generic PARACETAMOL, IBUPROFEN & ASPIRIN for pain relief Last but not least - the branded versions of these tried and tested pain relief agents are vastly more expensive and in most informed opinions, do not offer any distict advantage. Here are 8 tips on saving money without sacrificing effectiveness, when it comes to OTC medicines. Before I start - let me stress that if you take any medicines or have any medical conditions make sure you ask to check for clashes, and always read the patient information leaflet. 1) Ask for PEPTAC instead of Gaviscon Peptac is an indigestion/heartburn liquid very similar to Gaviscon original liquid. A 500ml bottle is less than half the price of similar quantities of Gaviscon. Don't forget to be aware of "red flag symptoms" about your indigestion and see a doctor if any of the red flags apply. 2) Ask for generic RANITIDINE 75mg tablets instead of ZantacVery effective for indigestion and heartburn - the generic Rantidine for a pack of 12 is typically less than half the price compared with Zantac. Don't forget to be aware of "red flag symptoms" about your indigestion and see a doctor if any of the red flags apply. 3) Ask for generic CHLORPHENAMINE tablets or liquid instead of PiritonBasically the exact equivalent of Piriton but much cheaper. These can cause drowsiness, if drowsiness is likely to be a problem, then ask for generic Loratadine or Cetirizine. 4) Ask for generic TERBINAFINE cream 1% (7.5g) instead of Lamisil creamNot all pharmacies stock the generic - in pack sizes available OTC. The active ingredient Terbinafine is the most effective topically applied athlete's foot treatment, with seven days of treatment reported to be superior to 4 weeks of clotrimazole or miconazole. Make sure you keep using for a few days after all symptoms have disappeared. 5) Ask for DIOCTYL capsules instead of Dulco-easeThese both contain the same active ingredient - docusate sodium - and are an effective laxative and stool softener. Dioctyl is notably cheaper but less advertised and therefore less well known.6) Generic THRUSH treatments (instead of Canesten and Diflucan).Purchase generic Clotrimazole 1% cream, plus either generic Fluconazole 150mg oral capsule or Clotrimazole 500mg pessary. You will get an effective thrush treatment combination at a few £ cheaper than the branded combos. 7) POTASSIUM CITRATE MIXTURE instead of branded Cystitis relief products.If you are going to use an OTC cystitis relief product, generic "Potassium Citrate Mixture" has the same active ingredient and strength as most branded cystitis relief products, and typically costs much less. If you take any prescribed medicines make sure you mention when purchasing. It should be noted that the evidence base for these products is not all that great - just taking paracetamol (not ibuprofen) and drinking plenty of water may be equally effective. 8) Generic PARACETAMOL, IBUPROFEN & ASPIRIN for pain reliefLast but not least - the branded versions of these tried and tested pain relief agents are vastly more expensive and in most informed opinions, do not offer any distict advantage.