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by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
They make you pay prescription prices for over the counter substances? It is a naturally occuring substance... How did they even get a pattent on it?
What a jip!
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Comments
Huh?
by Carmella on September 17th, 2008
Melatonon...
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
Who says they even have a patent?
by Carmella on September 17th, 2008
In this country if you sell something by prescription, it must be a pattented drug. Which usually means that they take something natural like a supplement and intorduce a foreign substance into the mix that they are able to say makes it work better and then pattent it and sell it.
If it is a supplement, you cant pattent something that occurs naturally only the name brand that packages it.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
Melatonin I believe??? Is a supplement. Not a pharmaceutical.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
In the UK, I'm pretty sure a drug doesn't need to have a patent on it in order to be prescription... I can't see how such a system would work, there would be no choice or cheaper, generic drugs to use when you fill a prescription. For example I can get Roche Roaccutane, or the generic Isotretinoin. In England that's not really a problem for the person getting the script, because every prescription costs the same (unless you are exempt from charges) but I imagine it saves the government a lot of money.
by Carmella on September 17th, 2008
Here generics have nothing to do with the original "pattent" as in the ownership of the formula...(if im using the correct word? I dont think I am... but that is what I have stuck in my head right now so...)
But anyway... a generic equilivent is a cheaper made version of the originally owned formula that can be sold cheaper because it is an equilivent derrivitave of the orignal with the same, or similar effects and strength.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
Usually the big long word... Implies the clinical formula with its exact active chemical ingredient. A "Brand" drug is simply one that is owned marketed and belongs to a coorporation that has like I said, put something esle into it that makes it uniquely theirs and therefore you are paying for a brand only, not the medication itself. Just like tide and store brand... Same thing.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
For example, lets say Here we have Prozac at $5.00 per pill... and then there is Fluoxetine HCl that is $1.50 per pill because a coorporation doesn't own the active ingredient itself only the brand name of prozac.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
I know the differences between generic and brand name drugs, thanks. That's not the point, the point is -- I'm fairly certain that in the UK prescription drugs do not have to be patented, and therefore there's nothing to indicate that melatonin has a patent on it.
by Carmella on September 17th, 2008
Well if the laws are different then they can sell anything as a prescription at prescription prices I suppose? As far as importing it goes... I imagine it would be illegal on your end but not on ours as in your can take it out but you cant take it into the Uk in any kind of Quantity that would imply resale?
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
Go through Canada... Their laws are different too.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
No, it doesn't mean anything can be made into a prescription drug. There's a regulating body, NICE. I'm unsure as to how going through Canada would help, it doesn't change the UK laws, yes?
I'm not sure I've got the inclination to continue this conversation, I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, but you seem to know less than me about how the UK system works. I was (at the time) looking for a solid answer. As it was, I bought a bottle of melatonin into the UK from the US and was never stopped. Thanks anyway.
by Carmella on September 17th, 2008
okay never mind... Sorry.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
I wasn't aware of the urgency and I was just chatting really and trying to come to a conclusion for you.
I never claimed to be an expert on UK anything I do however know about things from this end, I though it might help. Sorry I wasted your time.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008
No, you didn't waste my time at all. I'm sorry my comment came off as harsh, I didn't mean it to.
by Carmella on September 17th, 2008
There is no requirement that prescription drugs be patented. Patents are there to protect the developer of the drug from infringement by others. Prescription requirements are there to protect the public from taking drugs that may be dangerous without doctor's supervision. The two protections have nothing to do with each other.
by HasntBeen on September 17th, 2008