Rude pharmacist

[Winniesalot]

I take a medication for a condition that it is not strictly licensed for. I am prescribed it by my consultant long-term. It is also available to buy OTC.

For one reason and another (health) I haven't been able to get to the surgery for a repeat script. It can only be done in person. So last week I bought the medicine, pharmacist asked me what I was using it for and I was honest. My Dr told me to say that it was for nighttime allergies if I had to get it OTC. But I don't like lying so I was truthful. They sold it to me no problem.

I went back in today to get some more and the pharmacist came out and asked why I was buying it. I told her. She then said "Well, I won't be selling that to you again, it's the second time you've bought it in a week." I replied that yes, I'm using it long term. I should also add that this chemist dispense my scripts so she does know I have them on repeat.

She then said in an incredibly patronising, aggressive tone "Like I say, I WILL NOT be selling them to you again." Like I was a bloody child!

"I can bring my repeat script in if you like?"

She then snapped at me before I'd even finished my sentence "Doesn't matter. I won't sell them to you."

"Even if I show you the script?"

"I SAID it doesn't matter. You haven't got a valid prescription."

Her tone was incredibly aggressive, abrupt and patronising throughout. Really horrible. I wasn't arguing with her, I was just trying to find a way to reassure her that I am supposed to been on this medicine.

I'm a tough cookie but I've come away from this situation feeling tearful and embarrassed. There were three other members of staff standing there and we were the only people in the shop. After we left my dd said "She was rude! There was no need for that tone."

I think I'd like to file a complaint. I'm not normally like that, but her manner was so off and horrible that I think it warrants it. But who do I complain to?? Or the other thing I could do I suppose is go back next week, ask to speak to her privately and say how I felt after that exchange.

AIBU?

[Ansumpasty]

I would, not sure who you’d complain too, though! I’d be tempted to go back and say, ‘I’m still shocked about how you spoke to me, i found you incredibly rude and won’t be coming back, and will be telling everyone I know to do the same.’

[Heratnumber7]

What are "night time allergies"?

[Ragaroo]

What a moron, if she sold it OTC first time no problem then she can do it again! Plus there is no need to say it in such a rude way. I would ask her (or another member of staff in her presence) to outline the complaints procedure, which they legally have to do if you ask, and see what she has to say for herself. I believe you can complain to NHS directly (just Google it). Or just forget about it and go to a different pharmacy in the hope that she is just a blip in the health service. Sigh.

[CocoDeMoll]

Was it promethizane?

[Iknowwhoyouare123]

You seem to her to be buying excessive amounts of this medication on top of what you're already prescribed. She's not to know you haven't had your prescriptions dispensed elsewhere.

Pharmacists see people misusing medications all the time so they are wary.

[Winniesalot]

Know - that is a very good point. I hadn't thought of that.

No, not promithazine (whatever that is!)

Nighttime allergies - no idea. That's just what I was told to say.

[GoneWishing]

I was thinking is it promethizane, too. I use it quite regularly (buy OTC) because of allergies (completely fine for my GP), but I do get pharmacists assume I must be using it to sleep. (It doesn't make me the slightest bit drowsy, so would be useless for that!)

[SpottingTheZebras]

It’s her job on the line if she has any doubts about why you are using it and whether you are abusing it.

No need for her to be rude about it though.

[FromageRay]

Her manner doesn't sound particularly nice but she could lose her registration selling a drug outside of its license. She was wrong to do it the first time but that doesn't mean she should a second time.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

The pharmacist is right to query why you need it, but her attitude sounds terrible.

If you want to complain you should either approach the chain directly, or the owner if it is an independent. You can also complain to NHS England, if you are in England (see right at the bottom of the page) www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/pharmacists/Pages/pharmacistsandchemists.aspx

Alternatively you could approach the GPhC. www.pharmacyregulation.org.

Does your GP practice not have the facility for email/online prescriptions? That’s a bit rubbish.

[madamginger]

Was it cyclizine or phenergan?

[Winniesalot]

Yeah cyclizine.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I shall have a think overnight and decide tomorrow what to do.

[Winniesalot]

And no, it's in person scripts only. But I agree, the surgery seems to be from the last century!!!!!!

[FinallyHere]

Another vote for asking your GP practice about online requests for repeat prescriptions...

[BananaToffo]

There was no need to be rude to you like that. I suspect she has to be wary of cyclizine because people on methadone take it to give themselves a high.

[sulflower]

I thought cyclizine was prescribed for nausea not allergies? That's what I had it prescribed for. I had no idea about the methadone thing.

[Sirzy]

A pharmacist is responsible for what she dispenses. If you are asking for it twice in a week that will ring alarm bells. Perhaps her rudeness came from exasperation at your arguing

[Mrsmorton]

Ah don't complain FFS. It drives people out of their professions.

Pharmacist is well within their rights to not prescribe it.

Clinicians fucking commit suicide after shitty complaints.

Vote with your feet & use a different pharmacist.

[LakieLady]

Cyclizine is an anti-histamine, but it is used for nausea/travel sickness. I was prescribed for balance problems caused by Meniere's.

I didn't know that about the interaction with methadone, Banana, I'll bear that in mind when I'm working with clients on methadone programmes.

Every day's a schoolday on MN.

[CluedoAddict]

She could be risking her job. She had already told you once you couldn't have it but you persisted which led to her being forceful.

[HoleyCoMoley]

Can cyclizine be bought over the counter. I would be wary of someone coming in twice a week to ask for it, it used to come in bottles of 50 and I thought it went out of fashion a bit because it caused confusion and hallucinations in some people.

[weallneedcounselling]

I would just write her a letter saying you felt she was rude and it was not appropriate to speak to you that way.
It’s a bit ott to report her to her governing body and all that could entail, just for doing her job.
I do think if she is upset you then let her know about that and hopefully it will shock her and she will think twice in future.
Also, pharmacists can actually be legally prosecuted if they make an error and so I feel they have every right to be cautious with what they dispense when you admit you told her that you were buying it for a different purpose than it’s legal OTC use.

[HoleyCoMoley]

What do you take it for and what dose do you get from the doctor, I don't understand what night time allergies could mean. Maybe the pharmacist doesn't understand either.

[smurfy2015]

Cyclizine is often used by people who are going thru drug addiction (I'm not keen on word addict as such as they are people first) esp with heroin and other drugs of similar ike adding it to the mix which is usually IVed leads to a better, longer lasting high.

I take it every so often when I'm on certain meds (antibiotics) as they work better when can stay in my body, I am only ever given the exact number of doses for the corresponding ABs any spares needs a full enquiry

I also have a different med of the same general family for frequent vertigo, such as today. I've had my limit of them. Had to fight GP to get it prescribed as it is a weak antipsychotic when I'm already on one but this one treats the symptoms I need it to treat and is the only thing that works.

My advice - put in a letter/email stating how you were made feel and how you would like things changed for future customers and for yourself and pick up in a different pharmacy unless that is the most convenient one for you then ask that you are not humiliated like you have been

[madamginger]

By all means complain about they way you were spoken to but I’m a pharmacist and I wouldn’t have sold you the first box in the first place. I can use my professional judgment and refuse to sell anything, my employer wouldn’t discipline me for refusing a sale of any product if I felt it was inappropriate to sell.
2 boxes in a week is a lot, they come in a box of 100, I would question why you needed that many and referred you back to your GP.