Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Pharmacist and Codeine near refusal

112 replies

OatALot · 01/12/2023 12:12

I take Solpadeine Max for period pain which has started to ramp up with the onset of peri.

I buy a box a monthish and would never dare to take more than the recommended amount per day because of the paracetamol. I understand a box a month may be a lot but ibuprofen and naproxen make me feel sick so this works.

Pharmacist came over after I asked for it and said in front of the staff and other customers that I was buying too much and next time he will refuse the sale. Understand he was doing his job but it was in front of other people. I remained calm and polite told him it was for period pain, but he said go back to you GP. The man serving me looked really embarrassed. As was I. Is the tactic to embarrass people?

Don't want to go down the HRT route yet.

OP posts:
GigiAnnna · 01/12/2023 12:20

Go to a different pharmacy in future and put a complaint in about that one. Agree about going to your doctor if you're struggling with period pain. They may be able to prescribe something more effective or give you guidelines on how much you can take.

JesusAndMaryPain · 01/12/2023 12:23

I agree that you should speak to your GP instead of self medicating. Codeine addiction creeps up on you instead of going tahdah! The pharmacist was only doing their highly trained job.

Original poster
OatALot · 01/12/2023 12:24

It's not so much the pharmacist doing their job I have an issue with, more the way they did it.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Megifer · 01/12/2023 12:26

Just go to a different chemist, a box a month probably just covers the days it's needed for? Some pharmacists can be a bit excitable 🙄 I was grilled years ago over buying 2 small bottles of calpol in a month (2 kids!)

SgtJuneAckland · 01/12/2023 12:27

There was a recent thread from someone addicted to codeine, it was heartbreaking, it is very very addictive. You need to go to your GP for alternatives. I was given dihydrocodeine after a recent surgery, I only took it for a few days because it made me feel awful, and even then coming off it my while body was itchy. The surgeon was really assertive about only taking it when needed, that I absolutely should not take it for any more than 5 days without talking to her again. Honestly you're playing with fire

Ceci03 · 01/12/2023 12:32

You have my sympathy OP. I think the regs need to be clearer as it seems to depend on the specific pharmacist. I had a "jobsworth"
A couple of weeks ago. It was a pharmacy that I hardly ever go to maybe I've been there once before as it's out of my way but it was on the way back from ds football match and I was in agony. She refused to sell me the codeine and ibuprofen. Said she had seen me too many times. I said I was never in the pharmacy but she was so rude to me in front of all the customers I was mortified she called me a liar ! I had to leave without them and go to my local where the pharmacist knows me and trusts me. It makes me anxious thinking I might not be able to get the tablets if I need them. It's hard to get an appt wit my gp. I have to renew etc. all takes time iukwim

IkaBaar · 01/12/2023 12:32

Codeine is addictive and the quantities available over the counter are not very effective for pain. Codeine is no longer available over the counter in Australia for these reasons.

Maybe their manner could have been better but they were merely doing their job.

Ceci03 · 01/12/2023 12:34

Ps I'm not addicted but it's the only ones that touch the pain. Paracetamol or ibuprofen on their own does nothing for me

Ceci03 · 01/12/2023 12:34

IkaBaar · 01/12/2023 12:32

Codeine is addictive and the quantities available over the counter are not very effective for pain. Codeine is no longer available over the counter in Australia for these reasons.

Maybe their manner could have been better but they were merely doing their job.

Really? I find them very effective. I couldn't go to work on my period without them

IHS · 01/12/2023 12:35

I buy it from an online pharmacy for sinusitis pain. You just fill the form in and they send it to you. I wouldn't buy it from a pharmacy.

Original poster
OatALot · 01/12/2023 12:37

They are effective for my pain too. I use space out paracetamol and ibuprofen but the ibuprofen makes me feel sick.

It was my local supermarket and I have to walk past the pharmacy to enter the store. I'm going to feel like a criminal every time I go in. Can't they take people into the little room they have?

OP posts:
FictionalCharacter · 01/12/2023 12:41

IkaBaar · 01/12/2023 12:32

Codeine is addictive and the quantities available over the counter are not very effective for pain. Codeine is no longer available over the counter in Australia for these reasons.

Maybe their manner could have been better but they were merely doing their job.

She’s not going to get addicted if she only uses it for period pain, because she isn’t taking any on all the days she isn’t on her period. OTC paracetamol & codeine did work for me for period pain.
This was more than a poor manner from the pharmacist, it was completely inappropriate to speak to her like that in front of others. He could have asked to speak to her in private.

nluebackground · 01/12/2023 12:44

I went into a pharmacy recently to ask for codeine cough medicine (it's now only available on prescription) and the woman behind the counter looked at me like I'd asked for Meth! They are of course only doing their job but the pharmacist absolutely should not have spoken to you publicly like that. You should have been asked to step into a consultation room and treated with respect.

witchypaws · 01/12/2023 12:45

Have you tried mefanamic acid? It's been amazing for me
I take dihydrocodiene daily anyway but it wasn't touching the period pain

uncomfortablydumb53 · 01/12/2023 12:46

They only sell enough for three days anyway so the pharmacist was wrong on that and it should be automatic for them to be discreet
I would've been embarrassed too
I used solpadeine myself
You could request 30/500 from your GP which is stronger
You might be able to request online

Original poster
OatALot · 01/12/2023 12:46

Maybe they get people reacting badly so didn't want to take me into the room? Wonder how many times it happens?

OP posts:
Headshoulderscheeseontoast · 01/12/2023 12:46

You can buy it online can't you? I'm sure I've done that before

Original poster
OatALot · 01/12/2023 12:48

No idea what menfamic acid is. I'll take a look. I don't think I need prescription strength as OTC works.

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb53 · 01/12/2023 12:50

Don't worry about going into the supermarket again
You did nothing wrong
Most pharmacies sell Generic soluble paracetamol and codeine which are much cheaper than Solpadeine if that helps

Original poster
OatALot · 01/12/2023 12:54

So Mefenamic acid is another NSAID. I'll give it ago but they tend to make me feel sick / set off IBS.

OP posts:
Kayte198999 · 01/12/2023 12:56

Yes they are doing their job but using it for period pain should have been a good enough explanation of why you buy it every month. You aren't buying enough to be able to take it for longer than a few days. Some pharmacists are just very keen. I went in with a friend as we both wanted to buy co-codamol. The pharmacist wouldn't sell it to me as he had seen us talking and asked if we knew each other, even though the rules are a certain amount per person, not per couple or per group of friends

Leah5678 · 01/12/2023 13:00

Unfortunately it is addictive and other people abuse it. So the pharmacist has to be strict or they could get in trouble. I work in the gambling industry and it's the same here. It's a shame for the sensible adults who just want to spend their money how they want though.
(Codeine is in the same drug group as heroin and norphine)

Ap24 · 01/12/2023 13:05

The rules drive me mad. If I wanted to I would just go to all the different pharmacy's in my local city.

HappyHamsters · 01/12/2023 13:07

I was frequently grilled loudly in front of customers by the counter staff when I tried to buy post op cocodomol, why did I need it, how long had I been on it, I asked to speak to the pharmacist in private and put in a complaint,

jolaylasofia · 01/12/2023 13:08

OatALot · 01/12/2023 12:24

It's not so much the pharmacist doing their job I have an issue with, more the way they did it.

probably because they have to deal with addicts doing their daily pharmacist rounds to get codeine. I was one of them once upon a time. a can't blame the pharmacist

Swipe left for the next trending thread