What they won’t tell you about your painkillers

GlaxoSmithKline say it's twice as fast. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

AUSTRALIANS are paying up to five times more for painkillers with flashy names when they contain virtually the same ingredients as typical drugs.

That's the claim made by consumer watchdog Choice, who say Aussies are forking out too much for premium versions of Panadol and Nurofen.

"The fast and flashy names such as Zavance, Panadol Rapid and Optizorb dress up paracetamol and ibuprofen to get you to pay up to five times more for effectively the same product," spokesman Tom Godfrey said.

This is fast and flashy, too. Picture: Panadol ad Source: NewsComAu

The consumer group pointed to two different medications, Panadol Osteo and Panadol Back and Neck Long Lasting brands.

The painkillers contain virtually the same ingredients — but Panadol Back and Neck is up to four times more expensive.

A spokeswoman for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), who own Panadol, said the prices are different because Panadol Osteo is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Panadol Back and Neck is not.

Choice said it purchased the Osteo medication over the counter without prescription.

ARE 'RAPID' PAINKILLERS ACTUALLY FASTER?

Dissolved. Picture: Thinkstock Source: ThinkStock

Associate Professor Greg Kyle from the University of Canberra said drugs can be tweaked for quicker absorption. But it doesn't make a big difference.

"It doesn't make a huge amount of difference at a clinical level," Mr Kyle told news.com.au.

Choice says you shouldn't be fooled. Most painkillers can be absorbed within 15 to 30 minutes.

The major factor that affects how long it takes for a painkiller to kick in is whether or not you have eaten.

GSK said Panadol Rapid can be absorbed twice as fast as a regular Panadol because of a special formulation including sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

The spokeswoman said Panadol with Optizorb also absorbs faster because of a unique combination of ingredients.

Reckitt Benckiser, the parent company of Nurofen, was approached for comment.

CAN PAINKILLERS 'TARGET' PART OF YOUR BODY?

Mr Godfrey said claims that some medicines can target particular parts of your body for, say, a headache or period pain, are hard to swallow.

Pharmaceutical expert Greg Kyle agreed. He said painkillers claiming to directly target headache, back or period pain are a "heap of garbage".

"There's no specific road map the drug follows," Mr Kyle said. "It's a molecule. It's not an intelligent life entity."

Drugs get absorbed into your bloodstream and travel through your entire circulatory system acting where they needed.

GSK said it has never claimed Panadol could target particular types of pain. Reckitt Benckiser did not respond to comment by deadline.

Greg Turnbull from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia said consumers should consult their pharmacists if they are unsure about a medication.

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