Price matters — but the cheapest box is not a bargain if it is the wrong strength, badly stored, or not genuine. Here is what is worth checking before you buy.
Buy from a licensed pharmacy
Medicines sold outside pharmacies — at a market stall or by the roadside — may be counterfeit, expired, or damaged by heat and sunlight. A licensed pharmacy is accountable for where its stock comes from and how it is stored.
Check it is actually in stock
Before crossing town, find out whether the pharmacy really has your medicine — the exact one, at the exact strength your prescription asks for.
Talk to the pharmacist
A pharmacist can explain how and when to take a medicine, what side effects to watch for, and whether it mixes safely with what you already take. That advice is part of what you are paying for — use it.
Compare prices fairly
Compare the same medicine at the same strength and the same pack size. A generic version can cost less and work the same way — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it is suitable for you.
Think about hours and distance
Know which nearby pharmacy is open late or at night before you need it — and whether it can deliver when you are too unwell to go out.
This article is general information, not medical advice. For anything specific to you, talk to a doctor — and in an emergency, go straight to the nearest emergency service.
