I Know They're Only Doing What They Are Told, But . . . . . . . .

[chanel5]

I wonder if this irritates anyone else, or is it just me. I buy Paramol occasionally to take for neuralgic pain. As this contains paracetemol and a small amount of codeine, I get the same lecture every time - don't take for longer than 3 days, don't combine medications etc. I can accept this. Codeine has addictive qualities and pharmacy staff are instructed to issue these warnings. But some staff get a bit power crazy. One young chap (he looked about 12 years old) demanded to know what other medication I was on so that he could judge whether or not I should be sold the product. I refused to discuss my medical history in a crowded shop, and challenged him either to sell me the tablets or refuse to do so, in which case I wanted to speak to the head pharmacist. He sold me the product. Am I just being a grumpy old curmudgeon about this, or does it irritate others too?

[ummmm]

Yes...none of their business. I don't mind giving info to doctors receptionists as they need it to prioritise but not to counter staff in the chemist in front of other people.

[bhg481]

As far as the seller is concerned it could be the first time you've bought it, so need a warning. Would you rather you were never warned and were sold something that was bad for you?

[Prudie]

Yes it really irritates me too and even more so for every day stuff I might buy at the chemist counter like travel pills and eye drops. Every time I get 'are these for you, have you taken these before, are you on any other medication'. Pointless questions.

[Prudie]

bhg I'd accept it if it was the chemist asking me but it's not, it's usually the young girls who work in Superdrug.

[naomi24]

It is irritating, but it's damage limitation. If they give you the best advice, they can't be held responsible if anything goes wrong.

[woofgang]

They have no choice, they have to ask and can lose their jobs if they don’t.

[bhg481]

People think that stuff you can buy over the counter is harmless. Take Night Nurse with high blood pressure and you're pushing your luck, the same with lots of cough medicines. I'd rather betold every time than waken up in hospital.

[Prudie]

I think we all accept they have to do it and understand why, it's still irritating.

[woofgang]

Prudie, the questions aren’t pointless....I do think though its a symptom of the litigious society that we live in that such things have become necessary.

[atalanta]

I do intensely resent a pharmacist asking me my age, expecting me to say my age in front of a queue, of people, and then telling me I can't buy a certain product because of my age. If I looked very young, I'd understand, but it's been rather a long time since that applied.

[Jackdaw33]

I just say, "They're not for me, they're for a neighbour. I buy them regularly for her".

[Mamyalynne]

So often we hear complaints about poor staff training and this is possibly one where the staff have taken it to heart a little too zealously in some cases - intimate questions should not be asked in a crowded space but you should be offered a quiet area if needed.

It is important for some meds that you know of any side effects/contraindications etc - this can be irritating when you know you've had them before but the assistant doesn't know that.

I guess it's a case of damned if they do damned if they don't.

Guidelines here:

//Pharmacy medicines

Only pharmacies may sell these medicines and a pharmacist must make or supervise the sale.
You’ll be asked if you have any medical conditions or take any other medicines, to check that it’s safe for you to take the medicine. For example, some nasal decongestants can raise your blood pressure, so you’ll be asked if you have high blood pressure before being sold the medicine.
Some pharmacy medicines may only be sold if the pharmacist is satisfied that it is suitable and safe for you to take.//

Source

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1325.aspx?categoryid=73&subcategoryid=101

[Jackdaw33]

Another thing that irritates me is that they will refuse to give me my dispensed prescription if the pharmacist is out to lunch. I know it's the law.

By the way, to the OP, Paramol is an expensive brand. Generic co-codamol is much cheaper and just as good.

[Baldric]

It's the same with Doctor's Receptionists and their "What's the problem, is it urgent?" question.
I always ask them what Medical Qualifications they have because I'm not prepared to discuss it with a layman.
That's when I get my appointment.

[vulcan42]

Why is it the chemist have to ask you these questions but although some of these products are available in supermarkets, nobody tells you about the dangers?

[woofgang]

atalanta, its not youth but age that is the issue, Pharmacists are now not allowed to sell certain items or give advice on certain things to people over 60.

vulcan42, the difference between supermarkets and pharmacies is that pharmacies can sell larger packs or amounts at one time of some items eg paracetamol; and, of course some OTC meds can only be bought where there is a supervising pharmacist.

I am in two minds about the telling the GP receptionist my business thing. If it is something personal then I would say so, but a couple of years ago I phoned up for an appointment because I had got a lump and I was seen within the hour. happily it wasn’t anything serious.

[theprof]

Oh dear, let's clarify this once and for all. Woofgang, pharmacies cannot sell to the public larger pack sizes of drugs such as paracetamol to the public merely because they are a pharmacy. They still have to restrict over the counter sales to the maximum allowed by legislature, which is 32 tablets of paracetamol. And yes, you can buy two packs of 16 paracetamol at some supermarkets but not all. Pharmacies can only provide greater quantities than 32 via a physician's prescription. I'm unaware what other medications you have in mind, but that's the score regarding paracetamol.

Vulcan42, the reason for this ambiguity over staff asking for the reasons for purchase depends on the classification of the medicine. General Sale List medicines can be sold freely in supermarkets without the intervention of a pharmacist. It is not necessary for staff to enquire why you want the medication or how to use it. I do agree though that many pharmacy staff are over-zealous in asking questions about the use of even basic medicines, but you have to remember that these people work for an employer and if the pharmacy owner demands that they ask, they have no choice. You can always take it up with the superintendant pharmacist or the pharmacy owner.

Further info on medicines classification can be viewed here:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1325.aspx?categoryid=73&subcategoryid=101

[Jackdaw33]

Another anomaly is that if you buy paracetamol tablets you can only buy 32, but if they are soluble you can buy 100.

[Everhelpful]

If you could be bothered you could go to loads of different Pharmacies and end up with100's,ridiculous.

[Prudie]

Everhelpful exactly