Fans of Martin Lewis might find themselves saving on medication costs by seeking out a specific nine-digit code before making a purchase. MoneySavingExpert, a platform established by Martin Lewis, suggests that examining the ingredients rather than relying solely on brand names can lead to paying nearly half the price for medicines at the pharmacy.

Unknowing consumers often select more expensive tablets, missing out on equivalent, more affordable options, according to insights from the consumer finance site. To avoid overspending on over-the-counter drugs, shoppers are advised to use a unique nine-digit identification code, as reported by the Mirror.

The MoneySavingExpert site highlights, “Significant savings can be achieved by opting for identical pills, albeit in different packaging. Some tablets are available at half the cost of their branded counterparts.”

The site further elaborates: “To determine which tablets are identical, look for the ‘PL number’ on the packaging. This is a distinct license number assigned to a specific drug by a specific manufacturer.”

For those interested in learning more about cutting costs on medicine, the MoneySavingExpert guide offers insights on affordable and even free medications. This advice was recently featured in the MoneySavingExpert Money Tips Email.

Martin Lewis has also underscored the significance of the nine-digit code during his television segments. During an appearance on This Morning, he explained that when tablets share the same PL code, found on the back of the package, they are essentially the same product, not just sharing the same active ingredient.

“Big pharmaceutical companies spend millions of pounds promoting this, ‘Go with the name you know.’ And that’s just baloney in most cases. And I’ll prove it to you.”

Martin provided an example, comparing a £4.99 product with a cheaper £1.85 product with the same PL code.” He added: “This happens all over the place.”

The tip proved popular with social media users when the clip was shared on Facebook, racking up over 2k likes and thousands of comments from people who supported the method.

One response read: “I work in a well-known pharmacy. We tell people of the price difference in pain meds and hay fever stuff mostly, and it’s amazing how many people dare not buy the cheaper own-brand stuff. It can make about £12 difference in some cases. Branding really works.”

A different viewer wrote: “I worked in a pharmacy for years trying to get people to buy the store’s own cheaper brand, but most customers would say only the branded medicines worked!!”

Another social media user shared: “Used to buy expensive hayfever tablets for my daughter. Now buy Wilkinson’s own, same PL code and only 89p a box.”

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