Buying (needed) quantities of paracetamol

[WaltWitmanItIs]

So first of all I understand the risks of paracetamol overdose (including unintentional). I know the limit on paracetamol sales has hugely reduced overdoses. I know this. I understand this. I support this.

But surely for people who genuinely need it regularly there has to be a better way?

I have a relative who needs the full 2 tablets four times a day, and this will be ongoing.

The GP will happily prescribe but that is £9.90 a time for the prescription charge, for a cheap as chips medication.

So I have been merrily adding 2 packets to every shop. Then I was told that you can get 3x32 from a pharmacist. Great! Except today the pharmacist refused a sale because I’d been in a few weeks running and she recognised me and said she couldn’t do it repeatedly. She told me to mix up the pharmacies I am using.

I just don’t understand why there is not a mechanism in place to allow this. The pharmacist can dispense more (I’m not sure how much more?) with a prescription. Why can’t there be a system like a letter from a Dr to authorise it? Or a disclaimer form? Or an agreement that you understand the dangers of overdose?

I was honestly made to feel like a drug dealer today.

Can you not ask the GP to issue on a private script instead of nhs? Double check with supermarket pharmacies and other pharmacies how much paracetamol would cost via a private script before committing though

@Glidinglikeaswan
Been there! The whole yard were shopping in at least 3 supermarkets each twice a week at least!

This! Walking up and down the local high streets scoring paracetamol in every shop that sells it/pharmacy for a sick pony that's having 18 tablets twice a day... buying a weeks worth of the stuff was exhausting!

We go to America every year and always stock up on bottles of paracetamol and ibuprofen, for us and for family. I don’t understand the restrictions on buying them here. It won’t prevent a determined person from getting more and in any case, a lot fewer than 32 paracetamol can be fatal.

Yes numbers are restricted but at least it’s cheap, my dd lives overseas and takes back as much paracetamol and ibroprofen as she dares each time, is several times the price there, also mundane things like plasters, so expensive due to pharmacy monopolies

My daughter uses paracetamol regularly and has the same problem. I’ve taken to buying some online and calling in various pharmacies to help out, her G.P doesn’t prescribe them as she says they’re easily bought, my daughter gets free prescriptions 🤦‍♀️

I lost an uncle to a paracetamol overdose many years ago, way before the internet and all the information we have today. It’s bloody frustrating for those like my daughter who don’t intend to do anything silly 🤷‍♀️

Paracetamol is a surprisingly dangerous drug and the risks are really underplayed and misunderstood. For example, the dose on the packet is 2 tablets up to four times per day, but for people under 50kg, older people, people with certain conditions, and people on certain other drugs, 2 tablets of paracetamol can actually be a toxic dose.

The trouble is, that paracetamol is an over the counter drug, so nobody is taking these factors into account. People have grown up with paracetamol as their 'go to' for pain, so there is a complacency about it. It's barely seen as a drug, often.

Arthritis isn't well managed with paracetamol. If someone needs 8 tablets per day, every day, they need better pain relief.

My point is that in cases where this has been assessed and recommended (checked his weight, history etc) there should be a mechanism for getting it without being told by the pharmacist to circumvent the system by mixing up my use of pharmacies.

Yes, better pain relief would be great, I’ll let his rheumatologist know you said so. In the meantime, his letter to the GP says to use paracetamol 1g four times a day.

Not sure why this is difficult. You get a prescription, then take that prescription in, show the pharmacist, and say you want to purchase off script to avoid the extra cost. Never known anyone to be refused this way 🤷‍♀️.

I think a GP prescription is really the only way.
had this with my mother during lockdown. Couldn’t keep trotting to the supermarket every week or so and she ended up getting prescribed something like 200 in a bottle .

I am going to follow this up as someone suggested it earlier. Others have pointed out that their GP won’t prescribe as it can be bought over the counter.

And I don’t understand why the pharmacist did not say to do this, rather than advising me to rotate pharmacies!

"Yes, better pain relief would be great, I’ll let his rheumatologist know you said so. In the meantime, his letter to the GP says to use paracetamol 1g four times a day."

Ah, yes, I completely missed your post where you said that the person had been advised to take 1g QDS by a rheumatologist and had written to the GP to say so.

Oh, wait...you didn't.

If the pharmacist sells it to you, it's on her registration. If the GP prescribes it, it's on their registration. The pharmacist isn't willing to risk their registration.

28 day prescribing would extrapolate to 228 tablets. £9.90 prescription; c£5.50 OTC. Isn't saving the hassle worth £4?

I'm assuming you live somewhere quite rural. I must pass five pharmacies and as many supermarkets and corner shops daily so it wouldn't be a problem.

My first post did say that the GP will happily prescribe, so it was clear that there was no medical reason that paracetamol was not appropriate.

I didn’t ask if he should be on a different medication, but you decided to raise that. So I’m responding to a point you raised.

My initial question was about a better system. A better system would include ensuring the pharmacist was not risking their registration.

At no point did I say the pharmacist should have given it to me today. What I said is why isn’t there a better way to manage this, rather than advising me to dodge round different pharmacies to avoid detection.

Pharmacist can sell you loads, they are choosing not to. I was on naproxen for a good ehile and told to take paracetamol alongside to improve the efficacy. Not on the prescription but the pharmacist added on through minor ailments (Scotland) snd I got same amount so 64/96 at a time.

Yes, I am fairly rural.

My understanding (which could be wrong) is that a prescription will be 100 tablets which is a fortnight’s supply.

I have said I need to check my maths properly, this is all still quite new and today was the first time I have been refused, so I need to work out what to do.

GPs can prescribe loads at a time, my mum had a huge box on prescription.

Prescription from the GP and 3/12 monthly prescription subscription. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/save-money-with-a-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc/

Or ask around friends who visit the US and ask them to bring you some back, 500 for about $8.