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Original poster

Why couldn't I buy this OTC medication?

57 replies

Silvercatowner · 03/03/2022 12:08

I'm struggling to understand. I have co-codomol prescribed by my GP - I have arthritis. I ran out and realised my usual pharmacy had lost the repeat prescription that the surgery sent over. I went into another pharmacy - the person behind the counter asked why I needed it and explained - but they wouldn't sell me any. Apparently I needed to contact my surgery (an hour on the phone usually) or 111. I went to another pharmacy and bought the pills - I wasn't asked why I needed them (but was ready to say I had toothache or somesuch limited condition).

OP posts:
Mamamia7962 · 03/03/2022 12:17

Maybe they thought you were trying to double up on your tablets as some people are addicted to co-codamol.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 03/03/2022 12:18

The above is very likely. From personal experience they won't give them to you if you are prescribed analgesia already.

LizDoingTheCanCan · 03/03/2022 12:19

As above, if you normally get it on prescription you shouldn't need to be buying more. How had they lost your prescription, was it not sent electronically?

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FudgeSundae · 03/03/2022 12:36

Every so often you get a ridiculous pharmacist. I had one that wouldn’t let me buy baby aspirin (which is an OTC medication) because I was pregnant. Even though the midwife had told me to take it because I was pregnant! Luckily my GP is amazing so I was able to get a prescription sent to the pharmacy the same day. But they absolutely can and do refuse OTC medication.

Original poster
Silvercatowner · 03/03/2022 12:40

Yes, prescription was sent electronically but chemist loses stuff very regularly. I didn't realise that it wasn't ready - my fault but didn't think I wouldn't be able to buy it OTC. But I could buy it OTC... just not from that chemist!!!
And yes - I probably am addicted to codeine - it's prescribed separately as well and I've been taking it for 15 years now. My GP is happy with the management of my arthritis and so am I (and I don't drink or smoke, or take other drugs, just to add).
Weird. If it happens again I'll just say I've got toothache or something.
Thanks for the thoughts. I suspect @FudgeSundae is closest to an explanation!

OP posts:
LizDoingTheCanCan · 03/03/2022 12:49

Electronic prescriptions don't get lost. If it wasn't ready they could have dispensed it while you waited.

It does come across that you were trying to get more, and the first chemist did the right thing. Please speak to your GP for more support. (No judgment, I'm also on medication I'll never be able to come off.)

Original poster
Silvercatowner · 03/03/2022 12:55

@LizDoingTheCanCan

Electronic prescriptions don't get lost. If it wasn't ready they could have dispensed it while you waited.

It does come across that you were trying to get more, and the first chemist did the right thing. Please speak to your GP for more support. (No judgment, I'm also on medication I'll never be able to come off.)

Really? I'm not sure how you got that from my (quite brief) post!!! And please tell my chemist that electronic prescriptions don't get lost....
OP posts:
Riverlee · 03/03/2022 12:55

There are different strengths of co-codamol. You may find that the product they sold you was a lower dose than what you normally get prescribed.

You may find that as you said you had a prescription waiting (even though missing), the pharmacy refused to sell it to prevent it being abused. Co-codamol is a very commonly abused medication and can be addictive.

Riverlee · 03/03/2022 12:58

Electronic prescriptions do get lost, or at least can get stuck on the system. If you ask the surgery for a prescription token number, then the pharmacy can pull it down off the system using this number. Possibly the prescription was still waiting to be signed by the doctor also, so hadn’t reached the pharmacy yet. Also, The pharmacy should have been able to track the prescription to see where it was on the NHS prescription tracker.

LizDoingTheCanCan · 03/03/2022 12:58

If a prescription has been issued by your GP to the spine then it cannot be lost. The simple solution here was for you to wait until it had been recalled and then dispensed, not to keep going to different pharmacies until you found one that would give you what you wanted.

Original poster
Silvercatowner · 03/03/2022 12:59

@LizDoingTheCanCan

If a prescription has been issued by your GP to the spine then it cannot be lost. The simple solution here was for you to wait until it had been recalled and then dispensed, not to keep going to different pharmacies until you found one that would give you what you wanted.
Well... except it was a solution... I got what I needed.
OP posts:
LizDoingTheCanCan · 03/03/2022 13:00

Indeed, any of the pharmacies would be able to look up your prescription, and allocate it to them for dispensing.

Original poster
Silvercatowner · 03/03/2022 13:01

Thanks everyone for the perspectives. I understand more now. (Loving the touching faith in GP/pharmacy practices though - that has made me laugh).

OP posts:
drivinmecrazy · 03/03/2022 13:01

I had this recently at Tesco pharmacy.
I don't have co codamol on repeat but when Dr prescribes it it's double strength. When I go to pharmacy to buy the OTC ones I'm referred back to my GP.
I only need it intermittently so seems cheaper and easier all round if I buy as and when OTC. I only go to GP if I need the stronger dose.

LizDoingTheCanCan · 03/03/2022 13:02

Well... except it was a solution... I got what I needed.

And that's the problem, you searched for a way to get what you needed and it was more than what you have been prescribed. Speak to your GP when you feel up to it, there's no shame in admitting you need more support.

Justkeeppedaling · 03/03/2022 13:04

What dose were you trying to buy? You can only buy low dose co-codamol without a script.

drivinmecrazy · 03/03/2022 13:05

I know people are well meaning in their posts but there is some pain that is only resolved by cocodamol.
I don't take it for a headache for example but if I were to take paracetamol it really does nothing.
Added to which I'm on other medication which means I can't take ibruprofen, which has no impact on my particular pain anyway.
Not helpful to say that OP needs help

Gladioli23 · 03/03/2022 13:12

If your pharmacy loses your electronic prescription that regularly then change pharmacies. I have literally never experienced this.

Chloemol · 03/03/2022 13:33

The whole issue of pain medication is stupid. I go to Boots and am only allowed one pack of 32 at one store, another allows 3 packs as the maximum you can buy, as long as a pharmacist is present using fact 100

Absolute joke

sueelleker · 03/03/2022 13:36

@Justkeeppedaling

What dose were you trying to buy? You can only buy low dose co-codamol without a script.
I agree. The OTC is codeine 8mg/Paracetamol 500mg. The prescription-only ones are 15/500 or 30/500.
daisyjgrey · 03/03/2022 13:50

Try signing up to Pharmacy2U, you order it, GP okays it and it's posted to you.

smittenkittennn · 03/03/2022 13:53

Why not buy it OTC from the first chemist that "lost" your prescription? Why go to a second and a third chemist? Doesn't sound right....

iklboo · 03/03/2022 14:10

I'd get your prescription delivered OP. Less chance of the request being lost.

TyrannosaurusRegina · 03/03/2022 14:10

I sometimes ask to speak to the pharmacist, these medication advisors that you end up speaking to do a 2 day course or something similar and then think they're bloody pharmacists. I refuse to get any sort of advice off them now as when I last got advice, it was wrong (I knew it was wrong, I'm a nurse myself and it was quite a niche question regarding a medication which I specifically went to the pharmacy to ask the pharmacist about). So I would always ask to speak to the pharmacist if you have any issues.

Musicaltheatremum · 03/03/2022 14:19

@FudgeSundae

Every so often you get a ridiculous pharmacist. I had one that wouldn’t let me buy baby aspirin (which is an OTC medication) because I was pregnant. Even though the midwife had told me to take it because I was pregnant! Luckily my GP is amazing so I was able to get a prescription sent to the pharmacy the same day. But they absolutely can and do refuse OTC medication.
The pharmacists aren't being ridiculous. They have a strict code of prescribing and selling medicines that they must follow.

If they are found to be selling or prescribing anything out with these guidelines they will be in trouble for it.

As a GP I have much more freedom to prescribe within my capabilities. The pharmacists have to prescribe within theirs, and their rules.