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AIBU?

Chemist refusing to sell cocodamol

95 replies

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 06/04/2017 11:44

Not really an aibu more of an is this normal.
I had minor surgery last week and am in a lot of pain.
This morning I asked dh to pop to the chemist for some cocodamol as paracetamol and ibuprofen are not touching it.
The lady in the chemist asked if they were for him to which dh truthfully said no they were for me.
She then refused to sell him them and said that I would have to come and get them myself. Dh said that if I could do that then I wouldn't need them, but she wouldn't budge.
In the end he had to go to a different chemist and told them that the cocodamol were for him to save the faff but this made him late for work so he can't drop them in to me until his lunch break.
Just wondered if this was normal practice and what the reasons for it might be.

OP posts:

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Blink1982 · 06/04/2017 11:58

Sounds about right, although over the counter cocodamol aren't very strong so not sure why they got so upity.

I got a prescription at about 20wks pregnant for some cos I was in agony and the pharmacist nearly wouldn't hand them over. I was like I've had my advice off the doctor and I would now like my prescription, thanks. I nearly lost my shit with her 😂

TheMaddHugger · 06/04/2017 11:58

Not normal for me what I am in australia

((((((((((Hugs)))))))))) Hope you feel better soon

TheMaddHugger · 06/04/2017 11:59

But. Not what

CotswoldStrife · 06/04/2017 11:59

It's an opiate (codeine) so probably sold at the pharmacist's discretion.

Have you spoken to your GP or the ward that did your surgery if you are in pain, they may be able to prescribe some for you? Hope the pain eases ASAP!

MsJolly · 06/04/2017 12:00

No not normal, I've bought them for DH before.

I also had a problem with a prescription when pregnant which was for thrush and they wouldn't fill it! Had to get DH to take it in for me 😡

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 06/04/2017 12:24

Thinking about it the same chemist refused to sell me pile cream when I was pregnant even though the dr had told me to get it. I had to go back for a prescription and even then they weren't happy. Maybe they are just a bit over zealous.
Dh has taken an early lunch and just dropped them in to me. Love him.

I feel like such a whimp. Honestly, I didn't make this much fuss when I had dd.

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BubbleBed · 06/04/2017 12:27

I'd say unusual if it's the 8mg/500mg cocodamol as they're on the shelves. But anything stronger i can understand them refusing to sell, they're addictive and codeine is a lot stronger than paracetamol and ibuprofen. Not everyone buying for someone else knows the risks and strength of what they are buying. I've known people pop pills daily just to prevent headaches etc - that's the kind of thing the pharmacist is trying to avoid.

BubbleBed · 06/04/2017 12:28

Ps get well soon

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 06/04/2017 12:30

It is tge 8/500s. Oh well, got them now. Will just have to remember to fib if we need to use that chemist again.

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WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 06/04/2017 12:30

Thank you

OP posts:

BubbleBed · 06/04/2017 12:33

I'm sure our local supermarket sells those on the shelf, or used to at least. You just got age checked and no more than two packets on the till. I think the chemist was just doing his job as best he could - we don't know if there was a back story to him being extra vigilant today.

Hope the painkillers kick in quick, and you get a little respite. Have you taken them before?

expatinscotland · 06/04/2017 12:33

He should have lied in the first place.

Lemonnaise · 06/04/2017 12:34

I worked in pharmacies for years. I seen this happen with various different things. Some pharmacists will sell, some won't. It tends to be the younger, newer qualified pharmacists that are stricter.

Renaissance2017 · 06/04/2017 12:37

Expat

So how was he to know that he should of lied?

IloveBanff · 06/04/2017 12:43

I was refused co-codamol at a supermarket pharmacy. They were for myself and I said that my GP had told me to take them with ibuprofen whenever the joint pain was bad, which was true.. Both the prescribed medications I take for other things have joint pain as one of the side-effects. She was not the pharmacist but she said I would have to bring in a letter from my doctor before they would let me buy them! This was in Morrisons and has never happened anywhere else. I got the impression she was on a power trip.

BillSykesDog · 06/04/2017 12:44

There is a big problem with codeine abuse at the moment and individual chemists use their discretion because they won't sell if they have reason to believe it's being abused. So sending in other people to get it or going to lots of chemists. Did your husband explain you were currently immobile because of surgery?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/04/2017 12:44

I always lie if I'm buying something for someone else as I don't want to be questioned about why I'm buying it.

Hope you feel better soon OP

BillSykesDog · 06/04/2017 12:45

And the reason some places are stricter than others is often because of specific problems they are having.

expatinscotland · 06/04/2017 12:48

'So how was he to know that he should of lied?'

Should have. Should have lied. Because common sense will tell you what chemists are like. C'mon! Of course they're not going to sell it if it's not for you. Duh!

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 06/04/2017 12:52

Yes he explained it. It wasn't actually the pharmacist, just the shop assistant. It's not a problem really. I'd just never experienced it before and wondered.
I'm not going to go complaining or anything silly like that. Maybe dh just looks dodgy!

They have made such a difference already. Thank you all.

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Renaissance2017 · 06/04/2017 12:54

Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. Einstein.

I apologise that my grammar was not to your standard Expat. The OPs husband is a man so obviously in the wrong.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 06/04/2017 12:54

It's likely the chemists due to codeine abuse.

I've been at the local chemist before when someone quite clearly addicted was refused, being told there were none available. He was actually banned from the chemists anyway due to his aggression over constantly trying to buy them. He said he'd get his girlfriend to get some...

They're just being careful.

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WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 06/04/2017 12:54

He didn't lie initially because he didn't think it would be a problem. We've both bought meds and collected prescriptions for the other lots of times.
Honestly being the best policy and all that he automatically told truth when she asked.

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TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 06/04/2017 12:55

*likely the chemists are cautious

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 06/04/2017 12:57

The OPs husband is a man so obviously in the wrong. only when it suits me Renaissance

Joking obviously

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