to go back and correct the pharmacist?

[bolshieoldcow]

Oh, I probably am BU - but anyway. Yesterday DD1 had mild conjunctivitis in one eye. The NHS website says it usually heals itself and that antibiotics aren't useful. I phoned my sister, a doctor, who also said just keep it clean and it'll be fine. Then I went to the pharmacy and the pharmacist INSISTED on giving us antibiotics. He was so fucking patronising too - when I told him what the NHS advice was online he said "Well, that's why you come here and you can have a consultation with a Pharmacist".

I took the antibiotics but when I came home started reading up on the latest research - turns out there are loads of studies showing that antibiotics are really not useful at all and have associated problems like reduced immunity and some other stuff.

So... would I be totally out of order to print out the Cochrane Report on a/b use and hand it in to the Pharmacy? I'm just concerned that he's confidently giving out wrong information and prescribing unnecessary, potentially harmful medication and also want to wipe the smug grin off his smarmy face

Can pharmacists actually prescribe antibiotics?

INSISTED ?

Why did you go there after your sister's advice - and just how did he manage to insist?

You were given the advice, but still went to the pharmacy? Why?

Pharmacists can recommend the use of antibiotic eye-drops and sell the to you OTC.

What were you doing at the pharmacy then?

www.webmd.boots.com/eye-health/conjunctivitis-antibiotic-eye-drops-and-ointments

I would be inclined to go with what the pharmacist said actually.

Don't allow yourself be hijacked by misguided health care people.

No, I'm in the UK - this particular a/b is available over the counter.

cozie I went to get some eye wash to keep the eye clean and take away the stickiness. He just kept at me, saying "This is what you need. What else do you want?" I probably should have stood my ground but I didn't feel like I had all the information. He also said that of course I could go and see a doctor but they'd just tell me the same thing. And showed me the page in the drugs book that lists the a/b as treatment. So I sort of crumbled and just gave in

The NHS website also advises the eye drops too.

Use cooled boiled water and cotton wool wipe from the inside out of the eye and don't use the same bit of cotton wool twice......or use the drops both work!

What is eye wash?

You can get chloramphenicol eyes drops over the counter for eye infections here too. I got them on advice from my pharmacist in Boots. Don't see the problem tbh.

You can go down the natural route. Wash and chop up a whole apple - skin included. Bring to the boil and simmer for a few mins. Allow to cool, then strain and use the liquid to bathe the eye several times a day.

Breast milk works too. I always cleaned my babies eyes with it to prevent and cure infection.

Yes, breastmilk is great

I suspect you have less knowledge than the pharmacist and you will look a bit nuts. Eye drops much easier and quicker then cotton wool ime.

squeaky The NHS page :www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Conjunctivitis-infective/Pages/Treatment.aspx says "Antibiotics are not usually prescribed for infective conjunctivitis because they make little difference to your recovery and there is a very low risk of complications for untreated conjunctivitis."

And the Cochrane Report: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3162176/pdf/bjgp61-e542.pdf sums up by says its results "...support the recent statement that it was a mistake to make chloramphenicol available over the counter because of the low efficacy of the drug in treating conjunctivitis"

It does have its uses but not as a knee-jerk response to every instance.

What makes you think these people are infallible Nerfmother? Some of the stupidest people I've encountered are so called health care professionals.

I just use Brolene for my eye infections (prone to them).

I'd do it, but I can't stand being told I'm wrong by health professionals when I know I've done much more research into whatever ails me than was covered by their training. I realise that sounds really, really arrogant and I'm not talking about major diseases.

I don't think they are infallible, I said I thought the op had less knowledge and training. Google doesn't count and you can't be a gp by osmosis. I also think pitching up and waving a report will look nuts.

You can easily access up to date recommendations for a huge range of health problems via google. I have personally solved many of my health care problems by researching via the 'net whereas my GP just did the odd blood test and shrugged his shoulders

My physio was also impressed that I cured my own PF by accessing the 'net and following recommendations that I found there.

"You cant be a GP by osmosis"

If it was a thick sticky discharge it sounds more likely it was bacterial but its very difficult to tell without a swab.

Nerf - he's a pharmacist, not a GP. But really, I just don't think he knows much about conjunctivitis. He didn't even suggest keeping it clean with saline solution, he didn't ask if there were any allergens that might have brought it on. It was just "is your eye sticky? then it's conjunctivitis and you need these a/bs"

But I am concerned that I will come across as a nutter and it's my favourite pharmacy, so I don't want to piss them off.

I just hate being told stuff that's wrong! And being patronised in the process.

I have also encountered a consultant psychologist who believed that neglectful parenting was the cause of asd and a GP who prescribed an inhaler instead of diuretics for someone who was in cardiac failure and was breathless.

You think these people are intelligent? Think again