The pharmacy wouldn't sell me codeine and now I'm upset.

[Pumpkinstace]

I'm not sure if I was wrong for wanting it.

A couple of weeks ago I slipped in the bath and damaged a tendon in the back of my knee. I can't bend my leg or lock my leg straight.

The pain varies day to day but it's slowly getting better. Last night I had a bad night. No matter what position I was in the pain was radiating up my thigh and down my calf and my ankle. I could only get comfy in one position which has now created a stiff neck.

I'm in work today and struggling. I took pain killers last night and this morning but they haven't had any effect.

I went to the pharmacy across the road and asked the woman behind the counter for some painkillers slightly stronger. She said she would need to check with the pharmacist. She went I've and whispered something to him and he came over and quite bluntly said 'I'm not selling you codeine'. He gave me deep heat and told me to rub it on the pain. Except the pain is all over my leg and in my neck where I can't reach.

I've not actually asked for codeine, just something stronger that paracetamol....I've not washed my hair either and I'm wearing dirty work clothes.

He thought I was an addict didn't he?

Go to another pharmacy and explain why you need it. My pharmacist always asks why I want codeine. It is a very addictive substance but they should give it to you under certain circumstances. If you look 'work' dirty I can't think why they should judge you. DH is often covered in mud/ dust/ hay but you can tell he is a working man!

The pharmacist lost a sale
lets presume he doesn’t have a personal grudge against the OP
he declined to sell her over the counter pain relief
so I am more inclined to trust a medical professional who has nothing to gain but actually indeed to lose… that he was correct in the choice he made whether or not the op is actually an addict or not

This is correct.
I've not taken anything except normal paracetamol/ibuprofen.. I bought a 16 pack of each when I first injured myself (3 weeks ago) and I've still got some left in the packs.

The deep heat has taken the edge off a bit.

What an Earth are you on about?

My posts aren't quoting correctly. Sorry.

What on earth do you think the motivations would be for the pharmacist to declines sale of it wasn’t for concern that the op had an issue with pain killers?!

I've just been online to look at the pharmacy reviews and they aren't great.

I think I'll just avoid that pharmacy in future.

I’m struggling to know what the pharmacist did wrong

none of us know the op. But so many presuming the pharmacist, a medical professional who lost a sale, was wepnf

It was the only conclusion I could come to.

I'm mortified.

. I can't bend my leg or lock my leg straight are you sing any physical therapy ?

Don’t be mortified op

he was a medical professional doing his job

You don’t need to wait until Tuesday to see a GP. Somewhere in your area there will be an out of hours service. You might have to wait but you should get seen

Of your injury is actually getting worse two weeks after occurrence - it needs therapy in all likelihood

@tomato and herbs ...you do realize that people in severe pain take codeine for long amounts of time? I have really bad sciatica and have been prescribed codeine

Didn't you ask why he wouldn't give you anything? Surely they wouldn't judge someone based on appearance alone, especially someone who's gone to them in pain.
I've bought cocodamol over the counter loads of times and I've never had any problems or questions asked beyond if I've taken them before.

Dear OP,
the pharmacist was unprofessional. Acting in accordance with his professional standards he should have undertaken an assessment and if he had concerns explored them with you and then given advice about the most appropriate course of treatment. What he should not have done is looked at you, judged you on your appearance and then told you ‘I won’t give you codeine’. That was rude, unkind and unprofessional. Go to another pharmacy, ask for a consultation with the pharmacist and explain fully what is happening.

As an aside, if you bought a pack each of 16 ibuprofen and paracetamol tablets two weeks ago and still have some left you are probably not taking enough to properly manage the pain which, as you start to increase your activity, might be why you are in so much pain now. Make sure you get a GP appointment after the weekend to make a better plan for managing the injury and the pain.

I don't think he did anything wrong.

I'm just highly embarrassed and a bit upset.

I work alone. I didn't need to shower for other people's comfort so I skipped it this morning. My hair is greasy.

I wasn't wearing m make up and was a bit dusty. Hadd no sleep and I have a bit of a (non covid) sniffle.

I'm autistic so dress weird (not really for the weather) and I have a missing front tooth which is getting fixed.

I KNOW what his conclusion was. But it was wrong.

Go to another pharmacy, ask for Paramol. I believe this is the strongest thing you can get OTC.

To codeine related, but I once went into a pharmacy ( run by an orthodox Jewish pharmacist) and asked if he had any citric acid. He looked angry and turned his back on me. “How rude” I thought. I read later his pharmacy was repeatedly targeted by drug users. I also learnt subsequently that injecting drug users use acid to dissolve lumps of heroin prior to injecting. I was mortified, I’d wanted the citric acid to make elderflower cordial.

Phone 111 for an out of hours appointment or go to a minor injuries/urgent care department if you have one locally and get a proper prescription from them.

I second this. I've had many major operations (16 - no exaggeration) and paracetamol is a god send, but you do have to take it continuously for it to work.

It really does work.

Does no one you know have codeine knocking around somewhere quite a lot of people have codeine they haven't used all of. If you cannot get anything off chemist ring 111 explain about your fall and your need for medication hopefully you can get an emergency supply of codeine for the pain. If you are able to take it I would take very regular anti inflamatories too and paracetamol in between just to build levels up. Goodluck

I second volterol gel. It's great. Sorry you're in pain, hope it improves soon.

@tomatoandherbs your post really is not helpful why u on this thread? Do you want to feel like a superior being because you haven't had the misfortune of being in incredible pain that only opiods will fix. Medication is there for a reason.