Fixed pricing for over-the-counter medicines has come to an end with a court ruling dismantling "resale price maintenance (RPM)".

Supermarkets joyfully announced immediate price cuts. But how much difference is it really going to make to the shopper?

BBC News Online took its shopping list of remedies to the high street to find out.

The products on its list were:

• A box of 10 Calpol child pain relief sachets
• A box of 10 Lemsip Cold + Flu Original Lemon sachets
• A box of 48 Rennie original indigestion tablets
• A box of 16 regular Nurofen pain relief tablets
• A box of 16 regular Anadin pain relief tablets.

Asda was at the forefront of the campaign to lift fixed prices on the 2,300 or so medicines covered by the RPM agreement

It has already cut the price of several brands, and says customers can expect prices to continue to fall over the next six months.

Most high street chain pharmacies, such as Lloydspharmacy and Boots the Chemist, had argued against the lifting of RPM.

Lloydspharmacy said it was more concerned with offering expert advice than "stacks and stacks of Nurofen at cut prices".

Boots said it was "disappointed" - although that has not stopped it running special offers on some over-the-counter drugs.

Over-the-counter medicines are available online from independent "e-tailers".

These companies are currently reviewing the prices of a range of medicines, and expect to make various changes over the next few weeks.

Pharmacy2U has concentrated on "summer" medicines such as hayfever remedies and travel products. However, it has also cut the prices of some other goods.

Most independent chemists say they have not yet had a chance to react to the ruling.

Most are still selling stock bought from wholesalers at specific prices, on profit margins which offer little room for manoeuvre.

They are at pains to point out that although their prices may be higher, they include customer care and advice.

However, they are also likely to be dropping prices within the next few weeks. As Andrews Pharmacy in Selsey, West Sussex, put it, "some price-cutting is going to be inevitable."