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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:

agent765 · 01/12/2023 14:12

Sceptre86 · 01/12/2023 14:02

Tbh we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. If we take people into the room people take offence because they are not a "junkie". If you refuse a sale in the shop then you are embarrassing someone. We have a duty of care and buying it once a month, every month is too much despite your explanation I would refer to to you Gp as well who may well look at alternatives with you. Buying medicine in a pharmacy is not the same as buying an item in a retail shop, we have every right to refuse a sale. People also lie so whilst your explanation may well be the truth people come up with all kinds of tales to buy it regularly. It isn't a way of being a jobsworth and I take umbrage with posters who sprout that kind of nonsense!

I'm sorry you felt embarrassed though. I tend to remind people when they buy that it is for 3 days use and if they buy regularly it may well be refused.

My friend works at the pharmacy and I'm told the pharmacist asks staff to put a little pre-printed note in the bag asking if advice is required as certain drugs are limited.

WhichIsItWendy · 01/12/2023 14:14

How many days of pain do you get a month? My period pain has generally improved with age thank god but even at its worst I had intense pain for a few hours, it's never lasted days.

Is your pain lasting days and days?

WitcheryDivine · 01/12/2023 14:20

WhichIsItWendy · 01/12/2023 14:14

How many days of pain do you get a month? My period pain has generally improved with age thank god but even at its worst I had intense pain for a few hours, it's never lasted days.

Is your pain lasting days and days?

Lucky you, mine is often on and off for 5 days.

It is annoying because I’m as far from being addicted as possible - hate the bloody stuff - but if I don’t take it then I can’t get through work etc. but yes I will take it for more than 3 days but then would never dream of using it the rest of the time or if having a rare ok period

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Original poster

OatALot · 01/12/2023 14:21

Well it varies but imagine a migraine and put that in your womb. That's what it feels like. And it travels down my thighs so that they ache and I cannot sleep. Alongside it I get a headache that lasts, severe fatigue and I want to burn the world to the ground!

My period may last 10 days or 2. But once it is over I feel I could rule the world and run a marathon, and I excel at work. Never lasts though.

OP posts:

Kitkat2065 · 01/12/2023 14:39

I miss the stuff that contained chloroform 😂

witchypaws · 01/12/2023 14:51

cocunut · 01/12/2023 13:41

@mynameiscalypso no not at all, however I think the OP needs to see her GP and discuss alternatives as it is addictive, and period pain should not be so awful that it warrants strong painkillers in such a high quantity.

I've been on and off dihydrocodiene for the past 6 years as it's all that really helps
Plus mefanamic acid and paracetamol

Yes my period pain shouldn't be so bad I end up on gas and air, but it's a years wait for the specialist endometriosis clinic. So until then I max out pain relief for 8 days a month
I even set an alarm in the night so I can take it because otherwise I can't stand up

witchypaws · 01/12/2023 14:52

Mine goes down my thighs, feels like someone is ripping my uterus out and twisting my ovaries, I can't go to the toilet because of the pain and my bladder and bowel is affected
And it lasts the full 7-8 days of my period

It's not take a paracetamol and work though it, gentle exercise helps pain, I'm on all fours screaming and breaking my ankle hurt less

MargotBlobby · 01/12/2023 14:52

I have had the exact same situation, OP. Pharmacist basically interrogated me. I just never went back.

I have tried everything the GP had to offer and the only thing that works is solpadeine/codeine. I have asked my GP several times about the dangers of codeine and they said as long as it is just period pain (for me that's across about 5 days, though pre-period I only take one tablet at a time) it's fine.

I would definitely complain about the manner in which the message was relayed.

mumda · 01/12/2023 14:59

OatALot · 01/12/2023 14:21

My period may last 10 days or 2. But once it is over I feel I could rule the world and run a marathon, and I excel at work. Never lasts though.

Get to the doctor.
Tell the receptionist the pharmacist has referred you.

Original poster

OatALot · 01/12/2023 15:04

I don't think I am as bad as you witchy, but my back also aches and I get sore throats.

Funny you mention endo - it's a thing in my family. I've had a few internal ultrasounds for unexplained pelvic pain over the years (convinced have hernia on my c section scar, but they never find anything) but I don't think they pick up endo?

But, I can just take the pain relief and get on with my day. I'm not sure why I need to swap an effective solution for another one tbh. I'd still be popping pills for several days a month.

OP posts:

kwetu · 01/12/2023 15:08

Does the doctor not prescribe you omeprazole to help you gut when taking nsaids? I get terribly sick if I take any anti inflammatory medication with it. May be worth asking about?

Vuurhoutjies · 01/12/2023 15:08

OatALot · 01/12/2023 14:21

My period may last 10 days or 2. But once it is over I feel I could rule the world and run a marathon, and I excel at work. Never lasts though.

Quite honestly, I think you should be looking at HRT. 10 days?! That's insane. And to be this miserable with it?

Your pharmacist is right - you should see your doctor and seek alternative, better solutions.

kwetu · 01/12/2023 15:09

Without it* that should've said

skyeisthelimit · 01/12/2023 15:10

That's ridiculous. If you can buy 16 of them, and you can take 8 a day for 2 days, then that is a box gone. a box per month.

I would ask the doctor to prescribe you something. I have had Naproxen and Codydramol on repeat for years for period pain. I only take them when I need them and only get more when I have run out. A box can last me for months.

HappySammy · 01/12/2023 15:19

About 10 years ago I did a course as a pharmacist assistant and I still remember it said codeine wasn't good for period pain and could even make it worse because of constipation. You should hassle your GP for something prescribed if you can.

I think endo is hard to diagnose without an operation. My friend was fobbed off with period pain for years until the tissue started growing into her bowels and she needed an operation to fix it. It hadn't been picked up during three ultrasounds.

Pinkywoo · 01/12/2023 15:21

If your pain has increased due to being in peri, would it not make more sense to try HRT? It has other benefits too, like preventing osteoporosis.

Original poster

OatALot · 01/12/2023 15:23

I need to research HRT first. It sent my mother batty. Isn't 46 a little young?

OP posts:

Gettingbysomehow · 01/12/2023 15:24

Go round different pharmacies. That's what I do.

Vuurhoutjies · 01/12/2023 15:26

OatALot · 01/12/2023 15:23

I need to research HRT first. It sent my mother batty. Isn't 46 a little young?

No. From 45 is pretty standard. Your mother is not you and there's definitely a lot more nuance and options for HRT today.

The point is that this level of pain and discomfort and chaos in your life, for up to 10 days at a time, is NOT normal. So whether the solution is HRT or something else, I don't know. But just masking the problem with a highly addictive painkiller (that, incidentally, also impairs performance so really you shouldn't be driving or whatever) is not necessarily the answer.

WitcheryDivine · 01/12/2023 15:38

@HappySammy That might be what they said on the course (and constipation is obviously horrible) but ONLY ibuprofen and codeine works on my awful periods. I have tried each on their own and other combinations of drugs and that's it unfortunately.

There isn't really a hard and fast rule about which painkiller works for which thing/person is there, we're not machines.

WhatInFreshHell · 01/12/2023 15:55

I got myself addicted to codeine this way, and I had to take Subutex in the end. That's what they give Heroin addicts! Please be very very careful with this stuff. It should be withdrawn from sale imo. The Pharmacist is correct to question you, however I agree that the way they went about it was wrong. I wish a Pharmacist had questioned me, I would have blurted everything out and got help earlier, but not one ever did. Not even the ones I saw every week. I'm glad to hear that someone is at least taking it as seriously as it should be taken. I'm now fully clean, and have been for 6 months. It's been a long road, and I'll never touch the evil pink pills again.

J316 · 01/12/2023 16:05

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?

Edited

He should of taken you aside and spoken to you privately and his separately if he had genuine concerns.

J316 · 01/12/2023 16:09

OatALot · 01/12/2023 15:23

I need to research HRT first. It sent my mother batty. Isn't 46 a little young?

I was batty before HRT 😁 I started at 45 but had an early menopause. Talk to your G.P about it and other options. There’s no harm in trying it out ☺️

ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor · 01/12/2023 16:09

I wonder how many people commenting advising you to complain or go to a different pharmacy because he was obviously just a ‘jobsworth’ have ever spent time with someone with a codeine addiction or realise the damage this stuff can actually do to your body?

You need to speak to your GP OP and see if you can come up with a plan together for regular safe pain relief that will help you.

WillowTit · 01/12/2023 16:16

my dh tried to put a prescription in, not codeine related,
pharmacy said they couldnt get it
rung boots pharmacy who said they could,
and lo the original pharmacy managed to rustle some up! <<jealous>>

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