Free Drugs

Feoras

I bet that title got your attention :P

I recently received my medical card and want to know what the list of "approved drugs and medicines" is. I can't find it published anywhere. I know I can get some over the counter medicines as long as I have a prescription but which ones? My pharmacist is not very helpful (I'm guessing that he would rather get my retail price than the government discounted price) and my doctor claims he doesn't know.

I have 5 kids so when they all get sick, it costs me a fortune in Calpol and Nurophen for example. I am told these are not covered. Is there an alternative that is?

I found a list on this page but it is not exhaustive and doesn't mention children's medicines.
http://www.mccabespharmacy.com/index.php?page=28

So is the "Approved drugs and medicines" list available anywhere and why is it such a secret?

IsThatSo?

Would it be worth emailing the HSE? OK, that could be a really stupid idea given the state of our health service :rolleyes:

I do recall my GP saying he would put a cough bottle on a scrip for me along with antibiotics, so it does work for some things. TBH its really warped that the likes of calpol or paralink etc would not be available on your medical card. Ok, its one that could be easily abused but they are very expensive and smaller kids in particular get lots of temps and teething probs.

Sorry, this turned into a bit of a rant and ended up not being very helpful. Its a very interesting query though, I will do a bit of googling later. DS wants to build a snowman this very second lol.

Feoras

Thanks for that. I agree it is crazy that kids medicines aren't covered. I received this reply form the pharmacist in my original website link:

The list on our website includes most of the items that are covered on the medical card scheme.As regards to paediatric medicines there isn't many allowed on the medical card scheme.Most of the commom OTC meds such as calpol,dozol,teedex,provin and nurofen are not covered.But there is a prescription only medicine called brufen which is the same as nurofen and is covered.Also paralink suppositories are covered.

Anyone else puzzled why kids meds are not covered? Who has the full list? Why is it a secret? :rolleyes:

IsThatSo?

Its great that the paralink suppositories are covered. They are very good but very expensive. Its my medicine of choice. If you have a baby you can half them so they can be used at all ages. Its a good one to have on the med card Its best part of €10 for 12 (I think its 12).

Brufen would be the generic medicine whereas Neurofen (which is brufen) would be the branded name. Calpol etc would also be a brand. Maybe the card just covers the generic stuff for the kids? Next time you are at Doc get a prescription for both and stock up. Personally I don't use the brufen products much as they have been linked to the sudden death syndrome in kids/teenages. Apparently it affects the heart muscles. OK, you would want to be using a LOT of it, but I save it for overnights when I need an 8 hour stretch. I tend to use the paralink other than that.

Chauncey_freak

I got Lamisil (an antifungal drug) on the medical card.

Talking to my American uncle who's in pharmacy, he said it's a quite expensive drug, and insurance companies over there don't cover it because it's "cosmetic".

Granted they're far worse for healthcare, but i'd say pretty much anything here that is prescribed can be got on the card if there's a genuine need for it.