First, Wal-Mart, Target, Dillons and others said they’d offer certain prescription drugs for $4 for a 30-day supply.
The next big marketing move was offering 90-day supplies for $10.
Now comes Giant Food. Through March 21, it’s offering 14-day supplies of the most commonly prescribed generic antibiotics for free. “With cold and flu season in full-swing, we want to do what we can to help keep you and your family feeling your best during the winter months,” the company says.
And to keep you coming back.
4 Comments
There are downsides to taking anti-biotics. I should let a medical professional discuss this.
#1 … taking anti-biotics builds up an immunity to the anti bacterialogical benefits. The bacteria become immune to particular anti-biotics making them useless.
#2 … anti-biotics also kill off the beneficial bacteria in one’s system which can cause various problems with digestion, etc.
And, of course, anti-biotics do not fight viruses which generally cause colds.
Did I explain this properly?
The only way giving ‘free antibiotics’ would be a good idea is if they are placebos.
Influenza and the rhinovirus (causes the common cold) are both viruses; antibiotics kill bacterial infections, not viral infections. Taking antibiotics for a cold or flu is useless for fighting either. A placebo would do the same thing an antibiotic would in either case (make people think they are doing something that will make them better so they will then feel better, which will help them get better).
I’m anti anti-biotics.
A smart marketing tool. It will still require the DR prescription so the concerns above are pretty much moot. What it will do is bring people into the stores – just like any ‘loss leader’ that is advertised.