Now that we’re knee-deep into the watery eye, runny nose, phlegm spitting, loogie hocking part of the season, my saving grace has been the generic equivalents of Claritin-D.  It’s the one type of medicine that actually works for me.  Unfortunately, the “D” in this product means it is sold behind the counters now since it contains a main ingredient in the creation of crystal meth.  It’s easier to get a prescription for Vicodin or Oxycontin   OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but you have to really want this drug now in order to get it.

Not only do you need to request it from a pharmacist, you have to sign your name and address and show them your driver’s license.  The date and amount of pills you bought is also recorded.  We all know how awesome that War On Drugs is going so this policy should put an end to crystal meth production in about 250 years.  I can understand if someone is trying to buy 5 or 10 boxes of the stuff.  Yes, that should set off some alarms.  But I think single-box purchases of pseudoephedrine should be viewed as just that – legitimate people buying cold medicine that they need.  If my jawbones aren’t sunken in and I don’t smell like paint thinner and I actually sound congested, chances are I simply have a frickin’ cold.

Speaking of generic drugs, is there any reason why people buy name brand drugs when the generic equivalents contain the exact same ingredients and dosage?  I can understand brand loyalty for certain goods such as clothing or shoes or cars but when it comes to drugs I don’t see any scenario where you would choose the name brand drug that costs a lot more for the exact same ingredients.

I noticed that my new Advair inhaler (still patented so there’s no generic equivalent yet) has a retail cost of $175!  There are 120 puffs in one of the new inhalers (they look like albuterol inhalers instead of the old disks) so that comes out to more than a dollar per puff.  Even with my discounted health plan rate of $30, it’s still a pricey way to inhale.  I’m not sure the going rate of crack or meth but it’s got to be cheaper to inhale that stuff AND you get a resulting high.  Sure, there might be side affects like massive weight loss, probable job loss, and the willingness to sell your body for the next high but that’s just splitting hairs.