Growing up we always had the name brand item. At least that is my recollection. Then, after college, I went to work in the garment industry. I learned about private labeling – a major fashion house would make the house brand for a department store. Private labeling is in every industry, so, coupled with the fact that health insurance plans started demanding that you buy the generic medications awoke me to the fact that the store brand is not only just as good as the name brand, but it may even be made by the name brand company!
650 mg of acetaminophen. I was told to take Arthritis Strength Tylenol for back pain by my doctor. Well, it seems their production controls were not so great and many of those products went away. That is why I first moved to the Walgreen’s house brand, and guess what? It works exactly the same! So now, I am forced to save money as well! That is what is known as a win-win!
If you know your allergy medicines, you know that the names that Walgreen’s has chosen are awfully familiar! I love this, as long as the lawyers don’t see any copy infringement! I will buy Allegra if there is a sale, a discount and a coupon. But if I can get that same deal on the almost half priced house brand, Wal-Fex (the fex is short for fexofenadine, the active ingredient in Allegra), then I am going to stock up for a year at the minimum. On heavy allergy days I take one of the other 2 allergy items as well, 12 hours later.
I couldn’t take a picture of the men’s vitamins as my spouse grabbed them as soon as he saw them in the house and took them to work. Walgreen’s house brand vitamins come in several different choices and combinations, no need to spend extra for the name brand.
Other allergy items, again, the names crack me up. Anefrin reminds me of Afrin, but I am sure that is purely accidental, and cheaper!
And more generics! Again, I might by the name brand if there is a coupon, a sale, and a discount. And sometimes there is and I save a lot of money. But that is a lot of work, and I trust the Walgreen’s house brand to deliver the same medication, and it is always less expensive.
Visit Walgreens.com for more info.
Disclosure: I won a goody bag of Walgreen’s products at Blogher13 and was not required to write this post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.
I agree they can be the same or better or worse. To me it’s just another brand. For food products we do taste tests and sometimes I’m surprised by how much better they are. Of course, sometimes we’re not at all surprised. I do like the generic of most, if not all medicines. You can just look on the label to see if they are selling the exact same ingredients.
Same active ingredients..count me in too! Love to be forced to save money $$$$$
hehehehe
Mitch, The Walgreen’s brand OTC medication products are wonderful. I have allergies, acid reflux & arthritis pain.. I really appreciate having a lower cost alternative, it saves me a bundle that can be put to use on other things 🙂
I always buy the store brand and I love the Walgreen ones.
Hey Mitch! It was nice to meet you at the Disney Cocktail Party in Chicago! 🙂
I also won the Walgreens Goody Bag and have to say how IMPRESSED I was at how much they stuffed in there! I have been a Walgreens customer for YEARS and agree with you that their brand is JUST as good as the expensive name brand stuff! 🙂
We stocked up too and MAN I was impressed! I didn’t realize they had those little vapor plugins. Totally cool. (PS had sooo much fun with you))
Kas
congrats on the win! I like generics cuz they do the same thing and they’re saving me money!
I love the Walgreens brand of medicine. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
I love the Walgreens advil brand. I have back pan occasionally and it kills any pain I have fairly quick!
We love the Walgreens store brand! We always buy them!
husband worked for company that filled containers with orange juice- same stuff went into all stores brands- and then into a name brand!
I am a huge fan of store brands in general, but with medication I am absolutely sure I’m getting the same thing!