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Original poster

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

153 replies

Pumpkinstace · 30/04/2022 15:18

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?

OP posts:
ChloeHel · 30/04/2022 19:42

As a pharmacist I must disagree with the decision of the other pharmacist! If you had been in the day before to purchase co-codamol then yes the pharmacist can say no and that should be respected, but to deny a sale based on how a person looks…unacceptable!

Also you haven’t taken the co-codamol for this current issue, which you explained, so again, no reason why the sale was refused.

If it ever happens again I would be asking the pharmacist why they are refusing.

We refuse sales if we notice the same person coming in multiple times a week for co-codamol. But unfortunately you probably won’t get far complaining as the response would be along the lines of it being down to the pharmacists professional judgement.

ChloeHel · 30/04/2022 19:57

Also to point out to some PP’s saying that pharmacists are likely to sell codeine if you dress smart…no. I’d sell it to a patient that needs it, whether they are smart or not. I would have taken OP into the consultation room and spoke with them privately about why she wanted it. I would have then made the decision to recommend an appropriate pain killer, which more than likely would have been co-codamol, but I would have too referred you to the GP.

@FictionalCharacter we are most certainly medical professionals. I didn’t spend 5 years studying medicine and healthcare to not a be a medical professional.

Memyselfandfood · 30/04/2022 20:35

Disgusting.
should not discriminate on looks, fuck i can go a week not washing my hair due to my problems!
also try movelat gel you can use it along side pain relief.

Interested in this thread?

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General health
Gensola · 30/04/2022 20:39

@tomatoandherbs have reported you for your nasty goady behaviour 😊

JennyForeigner · 30/04/2022 20:39

whataboutbob · 30/04/2022 16:04

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.

Lol, sorry to laugh but this is wonderfully mumsnet.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 30/04/2022 20:46

They wouldn't sell them to you because they are not suitable for your particular complaint. Nothing to do with thinking you are an addict. I've bought them loads of times.
The things I've bought them for are severe toothache, trigeminal neuralgia flare up, back pain but acute not chronic.
Most of the time they don't even bother asking. Try another pharmacy.

Wintersgirl · 30/04/2022 20:49

WhoWants2Know · 30/04/2022 18:06

Aren't there other options apart from Codeine as well? Naproxen or Diclofenac are both non-addictive pain killers. If you ask for a diclofenac suppository, the pharmacist can be pretty sure it's not for recreational purposes.

Naproxen and Diclofenac are prescription only in the UK...

ChloeHel · 30/04/2022 20:53

Wintersgirl · 30/04/2022 20:49

Naproxen and Diclofenac are prescription only in the UK...

Show quote history

You can purchase naproxen OTC but for menstrual pain only.

dianthus101 · 30/04/2022 20:53

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 30/04/2022 20:46

They wouldn't sell them to you because they are not suitable for your particular complaint. Nothing to do with thinking you are an addict. I've bought them loads of times.
The things I've bought them for are severe toothache, trigeminal neuralgia flare up, back pain but acute not chronic.
Most of the time they don't even bother asking. Try another pharmacy.

Why would co-codamol not be suitable? The refusal was certainly due to suspecting OP is an addict.

StarCourt · 30/04/2022 20:56

So many patronising people on this thread.

Memyselfandfood · 30/04/2022 21:00

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 30/04/2022 20:46

They wouldn't sell them to you because they are not suitable for your particular complaint. Nothing to do with thinking you are an addict. I've bought them loads of times.
The things I've bought them for are severe toothache, trigeminal neuralgia flare up, back pain but acute not chronic.
Most of the time they don't even bother asking. Try another pharmacy.

i take pain relief for chronic pain.
never been refused.

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 30/04/2022 21:09

Get yourself to a physio for assessment, you could have torn a cruciate ligament or something similar. Youre still in a lot of pain 2 weeks later, you need assessing.

Moser85 · 30/04/2022 21:20

ChloeHel · 30/04/2022 19:42

As a pharmacist I must disagree with the decision of the other pharmacist! If you had been in the day before to purchase co-codamol then yes the pharmacist can say no and that should be respected, but to deny a sale based on how a person looks…unacceptable!

Also you haven’t taken the co-codamol for this current issue, which you explained, so again, no reason why the sale was refused.

If it ever happens again I would be asking the pharmacist why they are refusing.

We refuse sales if we notice the same person coming in multiple times a week for co-codamol. But unfortunately you probably won’t get far complaining as the response would be along the lines of it being down to the pharmacists professional judgement.

You weren't there and you're not the other pharmacist so you don't know what it was that made the pharmacist say no.

It would take someone coming in the day before or multiple times a week for you to refuse it? It's quite worrying that that is the only criteria that you would use.
They are pretty strict on it here in Ireland and yet we still have a huge codeine issue here. second worst in the world I believe and twice as bad as the UK. We have double the amount of pharmacies though so it's extremely easy, I have 50 or more pharmacies within a 25 minute drive from me!
If the only criteria was coming in multiple times a week then if a person rotated pharmacies they'd never arouse suspicion.

I'm not sure of all the things the pharmacists here look out for but I know people who haven't been allowed it if they wear the same work uniform for example as other people who have been in to buy it recently as they think one of them was buying it for the other.

Also as a pharmacist why would you say it would be unfortunate that the OP wouldn't get far refusing as the response would be along the lines of it being down to the pharmacists judgement, do you not appreciate the fact that a pharmacists judgement is generally accepted and respected?

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 30/04/2022 21:28

I've never been refused either for those of you commenting on my reply but some pharmacies are stricter than others. My local pharmacy doesn't even bother to ask any questions but the one in town wants to know your grandma's inside leg measurement.
I think you should have asked the pharmacist why they refused to sell them to you just so you know but please do try somewhere else.

tootiredtoocare · 30/04/2022 21:32

Paracetamol and ibuprofen together. Paracetamol every 4hrs, ibuprofen 3x daily, and keep taking them. Painkillers on an occasional basis for a longer term injury like this won't help much. Go to a different pharmacy, but check online so you know what dose you should be taking cocodamol or solpadine in, that way you sound knowledgeable and sensible if they ask any questions. Also, DH and DM both swear by ibuprofen gel.

Changingmynameyetagain · 30/04/2022 21:33

ChloeHel · 30/04/2022 20:53

You can purchase naproxen OTC but for menstrual pain only.

Show quote history

Feminax ultra has been discontinued, you can’t buy any other Naproxen products OTC

BungleandGeorge · 30/04/2022 21:33

I think with your connective tissue disease and a tendon injury taking increasing strength painkillers so you can push through the pain and carry on as normal is potentially not a great idea. And codeine can be a worry if you’re driving. GPs don’t generally treat acute injuries like yours, they usually tell you to go to minor injuries. I think you’d probably be better going there than back to the GP. Your pain has got worse and you have more symptoms after 2 weeks, I’d go tomorrow if you can. Or try and see a physio. Have you seen one since your diagnosis? They can give lots of exercises to strengthen your joints and try and avoid injury in the long term. I’d also try RICE for the pain if you haven’t already.

ChloeHel · 30/04/2022 21:46

Moser85 · 30/04/2022 21:20

You weren't there and you're not the other pharmacist so you don't know what it was that made the pharmacist say no.

It would take someone coming in the day before or multiple times a week for you to refuse it? It's quite worrying that that is the only criteria that you would use.
They are pretty strict on it here in Ireland and yet we still have a huge codeine issue here. second worst in the world I believe and twice as bad as the UK. We have double the amount of pharmacies though so it's extremely easy, I have 50 or more pharmacies within a 25 minute drive from me!
If the only criteria was coming in multiple times a week then if a person rotated pharmacies they'd never arouse suspicion.

I'm not sure of all the things the pharmacists here look out for but I know people who haven't been allowed it if they wear the same work uniform for example as other people who have been in to buy it recently as they think one of them was buying it for the other.

Also as a pharmacist why would you say it would be unfortunate that the OP wouldn't get far refusing as the response would be along the lines of it being down to the pharmacists judgement, do you not appreciate the fact that a pharmacists judgement is generally accepted and respected?

Show quote history

No I don’t, but from what the OP is saying, the decision was clearly made on how she looked, for which I am saying I disagree with that pharmacist.

Within reason yes, obviously I wouldn’t sell it to someone underage or a patient that is well known to be to be involved with substance misuse. I most certainly wouldn’t judge a patient based on the way they looked. As I said I would be having a private consultation with a patient if I had any concerns and make my decision from there. I wouldn’t straight up say “I’m not selling you codeine” as this pharmacist did.

Again I believe along with OP and many other PP’s on this thread, that OP was judged based on her appearance. This would generally warrant a complaint, however, the pharmacist would back it up with it was “their professional judgement”, of which in this certain case I do not think was professional enough as a private consultation should have been conducted!

ChloeHel · 30/04/2022 21:46

Changingmynameyetagain · 30/04/2022 21:33

Feminax ultra has been discontinued, you can’t buy any other Naproxen products OTC

Show quote history

No, you can purchase generic Naproxen 250mg OTC. I sell it in my pharmacy.

shreddednips · 30/04/2022 21:58

FictionalCharacter · 30/04/2022 17:31

@tomatoandherbs A pharmacist isn’t a medical professional.
She didn’t specifically ask for codeine.
He could have refused her in a polite and kind way, instead of assuming she wanted codeine and being abrupt.

Exactly. As OP didn't ask for codeine, he could have just not mentioned codeine at all and said 'I recommend...'- whatever painkiller he was prepared to sell

JamieFraserskiltspeaksout · 30/04/2022 21:58

Don't worry op. The pharmacy near me refused Night Nurse. My husband had a really heavy cold, struggling to sleep due to being so full of cold and headache. The pharmacist asked me why I wanted Night Nurse instead of just paracetamol and ibuprofen. I explained my husband had a heavy cold and wanted it to relieve his symptoms so he could sleep. The pharmacist announced that they do not sell Night Nurse to assist people to sleep and refused the sale! Clue's in the fucking name... I was so annoyed.

Moser85 · 30/04/2022 22:24

@ChloeHel
The OP thinks it was based on her appearance, but that doesn't mean it was.

It's also possible that the woman in the pharmacy said to the pharmacist "she wants something stronger? codeine?" and the pharmacist thought she specifically asked for it or the woman might have said she thought she looked like someone who bought it recently or the pharmacist himself might not thought that.

We don't even know what way the conversation actually went leading up to it. All she said was

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.

It sounds like part of the conversation is missing as if someone asks for stronger painkillers they would generally explain what it's for so that the person in the pharmacy can advise the best ones? or the person working there would find out the required information from the customer that the pharmacist might need before asking the pharmacist.

The conversation wouldn't go like

"I need some stronger painkillers"
"Ok, I'll just check with the pharmacist"
"No, I'm not selling you codeine"

BungleandGeorge · 30/04/2022 22:45

@ChloeHel so which of these generic naproxen are you selling as they all seem to say POM? bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-forms/naproxen.html

the only one for sale otc appears to be Boots branded and I don’t that is available anymore…

Original poster
Pumpkinstace · 30/04/2022 22:49

I should clarify that I did actually explain what the problem was.

I told her about the fall, the gp (who prescribed naproxen which I took, but he sold it as more as a muscle healing aid thing not a painkiller, but that's run out now.) I told her how many weeks it had been and that I'd taken ibuprofen and paracetamol approx 6 hours earlier but they hadn't helped.

I didn't just rock up demanding strong painkillers.

She looked uncomfortable when she said she would need to check. It gave me weird feeling and then the pharmacist came straight over and said that. I was shocked because I hadn't mentioned codeine at all just asked her advice on if there was anything I could buy otc that might help.

OP posts:
ChloeHel · 30/04/2022 22:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request