What's the deal with OTC medications in pregnancy?

[tellamewhasyouflava]

I'm 36 weeks; the hospital Pregnancy Assessment Unit called today to say that a swab they took at the start of the week showed mild thrush. They told me to go to the pharmacy and buy Canesten, stressing I needed to start treating today. All fine.

Pharmacy refused to sell me Canesten because I'm pregnant. The pharmacist told me it's against the law to sell a pregnant woman ANY over the counter medication other than paracetamol.

It was 3pm on a Friday, so I then had to petition the GP receptionist to deign to arrange a phone consultation for me at short notice; then a GP had to call me, listen to my story of having been told I have thrush, then fast track a prescription to my pharmacy.

I eventually got the medication on prescription. It seems such an unhelpful system, such an unnecessary drain on NHS resources; and kind of patronising - what is it about having a baby in my uterus that makes me less capable of decision making about medication?

Also, is it really true that it's against the law to sell a pregnant woman any OTC medications? I've bought Peptac from several different pharmacies over the past few weeks, each time explaining explicitly to the pharmacist that it was for pregnancy heartburn.

Any insights very welcome!

You could have bought it off the shelf in the supermarket with no need for a prescription. I dont think its licenced to be dispensed by a pharmacist to pregnant women.

pharmacies have their own rules and have to abide by them or they risk losing their license.
they cannot sell otc 'off label' (i.e. not as per medicine licence which often excludes pregnant women)

the gp is bu for not giving a prescription tbh as they should know this.

Oh really? That's very helpful to know. My pharmacy had it in one of the locked sections, so you can't get to it without asking a pharmacist for it.

What's the point in restricting its sale at pharmacy but not in supermarkets?

The GP did give a prescription though?

The hospital are the ones BU they should have sent a script to a pharmacy for you.

Or send your OH and mention nothing about pregnancy.

There are some OTC medications that you can have. However medicines are generally not tested on pregnant woman, for obvious reasons, so that is why they are not licensed to be sold to them. And even some things like generic multivitamins are not suitable for pregnant women. Its just about keeping mother and baby safe. You may feel happy buying whatever, but a pharmacist is responsible for what is sold in their pharmacy. It would be them going to court if they had sold something to you that had harmed you or your baby.

I feel your pain OP, I had a similar situation earlier in my pregnancy, I have persistent thrush that doesn't want to go away and there's nothing else they can really try. I've resorted to buying it on amazon as the pharmacist won't sell it to me yet midwives have told me it's perfectly fine.

Its the same with antihistamines. They are unlikely to sell them to you in the pharmacy if pregnant but you can buy them in the supermarket too

I've had to have a prescription for antihistamines (I'm 39 weeks) due to suffering from PEP. As I hadn't bothered to get my maternity exemption form I was loathed to pay the prescription charge, since it's basically Clarityn which I could have bought over the counter for less than the prescription fee.

However, since I'm very obviously pregnant and wanted it there and then I went for the prescription (and the lovely pharmacist didn't charge me even without the form). I did wonder whether I would have had an issue if I just wanted to buy it - but I'm sure I could have just gone through the Boots self serve if I wanted to? Or got my husband to buy it?

Why buy from Amazon when any supermarket will stock it on their shelves?

it seems a stupid situation.
when I was very pregnant dh had flu and gp said to go buy paracetamol, ibuprofen and decongestant nose spray for him.
I wasn't able to.
even the supermarket refused (was before self checkout).
I had to call a friend to buy it so my bed bound dh could feel better.

@dementedpixie it was cheaper from amazon and next day as I have prime