13 October 2023 , 11:37
838
0
The price of cold and flu remedies - including products from Lemsip, Sudafed and Vicks - have "almost doubled" over the last two years Which? has claimed.
The consumer group analysed pricing data from 10 retailers including Superdrug, Asda, Morrisons, and Waitrose between September 2021 and September 2023.
Which? found that the price of cough syrups have seen the biggest increases with Lemsip’s Mucus, Cough and Catarrh oral solution jumping from £4 to £8 at Morrisons and up to £8.45 in February 2023. Bronchostop Junior cough syrup rose also from £3.99 to £7.39 at Superdrug.
Lemsip’s dissolvable cold and flu sachets – which contain paracetamol and a decongestant – also saw price increases, going from £3.50 to £5.50 at Asda and Morrisons from 2021 to 2023.
Which? also found that tubs of Vicks VapoRub increased from £3.50 to £6 at Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, and to £6.30 at Waitrose.
Mum's heartbreak as 'best pal' daughter dies days after 'boozy birthday lunch'
Which? noted that the medicines were also more expensive - often by 50p to £1 - if customers bought them in supermarket convenience stores.
How can i cut costs on cold and flu medicines?
If you need to cut costs on your cold and flu remedies than the easiest way is to swap to unbranded products. Branded cold and flu medicines can cost up to three times more than their own-brand counterparts, despite often containing exactly the same ingredients and being equally effective.
Most supermarkets and pharmacies usually sell their own brand alternatives. Which? explained that pharmaceutical manufacturers can create generic versions of any medicine that isn’t patented, or where the patent has run out.
If you are doing this, one important thing you should do is check whether the "active ingredient" is the same - this is what treats your symptoms.
You can find active ingredients on the front of medicine packaging, often in italics, and also on the back in the list of ingredients. One example provided by which is painkillers. Which? found that a pack of 16 Nurofen Pain Relief 200mg Tablets cost £2 at Asda however Asda's own 200mg 16 pack of 200mg Ibuprofen cost just 80p. These two products both contain 200mg of ibuprofen, but Asda’s own-brand version is less than half the price.
A Superdrug spokesperson told the Mirror that it prioritises offering customers the "very best value" for healthcare products. It also noted that the prices quoted in Which?'s article reflect when the products were on promotion and the higher prices when they were not.
The spokesperson also said that Superdrug does recommend customers consider own brand products as better value alternatives to branded products.
Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, and Sainsbury's have all been approached for comment.
The companies which own Vicks, Sudafed and Lemsip have all been contacted for comment.