Thursday, February 7, 2013

Aspirin induced headache

The pharmacist pushes a 20 tablet aspirin package towards the customer and asks for six euros (some 8 dollars).

If you didn't have a headache before, you may get one right then.

An everyday scene in Germany.

You can only buy meds at a pharmacy or an online pharmacy, and they do not come cheap.

We asked around and found it used to be even worse. Online shopping and maybe the EU have kept prices for basic over the counter meds somewhat in check, we were told.

The vagaries of pricing have hit us at the most unexpected moments, the one example we will tout forever is the price of the humble H2O2, hydrogen peroxide, our favorite everyday cleaner and bleaching agent. Even online, you won't find it under 5 euros (around 7 bucks) a quart.

Compared to about 75 US cents a quart when we last checked at Walgreens.

But, as eternal expats, you know how to roll with the different prices.

On occasion, we have successfully replaced aspirin with chocolate - much better and cheaper here than in the US.

The chocolate did not always cure the headache but it made the trip to the pharmacy much more bearable.

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