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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Refused co-codamol at Sainsbury's

112 replies

pianodoodle · 13/09/2013 08:35

Because I'm pregnant :(

Genuinely unsure if this is something I should be peeved about or not which is why I didn't make a fuss at the time but have been thinking about it since!

Am 25wks with DC2. Last pregnancy I took an absolute killer migraine one night and DH called the doctor who gave me a couple of paltry ibuprofen because I was pregnant. It was a nightmare I was debilitated with it for days.

When I next saw the GP she was pretty unimpressed and said if it happened again to get something stronger regardless as a once off. Normally For a migraine I have either taken tramadol or co-codamol 30/500.

I don't want to take either of those during pregnancy but when I was out yesterday thought I'll buy some weak co-codamol (8/500) to keep just in case.

The lady asked if they were for me and I said yes then she looked at my bump and said "oh I don't think I can sell you these you aren't really supposed to take them"

She had taken them back off the counter and put them back on the shelf and wasn't making any attempt to clarify with the pharmacist or anything. It was hot and DD was getting impatient so rather than make a fuss I just left and bought them in Boots.

I did feel like pointing out that I hadn't actually told her I was pregnant (how rude etc... I might just be very very bloated!) but DH laughed at me though he agreed it was silly considering I could freely buy a bottle of whiskey and a pack of cigars but not some painkillers! I know medicine is probably regulated differently and they may have the right to refuse but still.

I went away feeling a bit patronised nonetheless. Possibly hormones! Has anyone else been refused a chemist sale like this before?

OP posts:

kali110 · 13/09/2013 11:03

Wouldnt blame the till staff. Shops cant sell two or more paracetmol products. Some decongestants have paracetamol in. Lovely mistake i made once.
I dont blame the staff but it does wind me up. years ago i had migraine pills on repeat but ran out. Would have taken a week to get them so went to buy their overlypriced packet of two mere pills to be refused. Told cant have it as youre on the pill. Showed them its still active on my repeat, but no. Someonelse had to go in and get them for me.

kali110 · 13/09/2013 11:05

Straight jacket those are ones i was refused. Youre screwed if your on other medication. Plus theres less than 6 tablets. Thankfully doc gives me 12 on prescription, wouldnt be able to afford to buy them over the counter!

TediousFool · 13/09/2013 11:06

I was told by a waitress that my fried egg shouldn't be runny and asked if I wanted it thoroughly cooked. I just thanked her for her concern and said I'd take my chances. How would I be able to dip me chips in a solid yolk!

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 13/09/2013 11:08

I had a man serve me in Starbucks at the very end of my pregnancy and patronisingly ask if I was sure I didn't want decaff as caffeine is bad for my ickle baby. If I hadn't been the size of a small car by that point I would have climbed over the counter and drowned him in his over priced hot milk.

Although saying that I have refused to serve a pregnant woman more alcohol as she had been drinking doubles and was visibly drunk, but I classed that under my right to refuse anyone who was fall down drunk as I can be held responsible if something happens to them because I served them.

StraightJacket · 13/09/2013 11:12

Is there less in the packet over the counter? Bloody hell! She didn't tell me how many, I just assumed you got the same amount in a box.

Yes, thankfully, my doc has started giving me 12 (so 2 boxes) on the repeat prescription so it saves me having to go backwards and forwards so much. They are such a god send, aren't they? Better than the migraleve the one doc used to throw at me which did feck all.

ilovechips · 13/09/2013 11:18

The people selling it are just doing their jobs I know, but do they have to speak to you like you're a small child? I got a prescription the other day, they only had enough (cocodamol as it happens) to give me half, so she handed me a slip of paper to get the rest another day, stared at me over her glasses and said "now don't you lose this" in her most patronising tone...yeah I'm a 40 year old adult actually not your child!

Saltire · 13/09/2013 11:19

I used to work on the pharmacy counter (not a pharmacist, just an assistant) and it was awful refusing people things.. but some (not all) people, even when told about the risks, or dangers are the ones who would then try and sue.
It like with Medised - I used with both my Dses when they were under 10, but now I believe it is unable to be sold for use in children under 12? (might be younger) becasue of some parents using it to sedate their child - and yes I have friends who did it.

I do think the 2 packs of paracetamol rule is a bit silly though as if you are so desperate to take more you could jsut go to different shops.
Asda are strange on medical products though, I once tried to buy
1 x calpol
1x packet of paracetamol
1 x pack of Ibuprofen

The till wouldn't let me as "It is more than 2 paracetamol products"

erm no its not, it is 2, and 1 ibuprofen.

oldgrandmama · 13/09/2013 11:19

I sympathise. I've been interrogated several times by some jobsworths in Boots, when I buy painkillers, especially those containing not just ibuprofen or paracetomol but a trace of codeine too. I tell them that my GP actually recommended these particular painkillers for my arthritis and anyway, for heaven's sake, I'm in my seventies and I know all about the addictive properties of codeine and seeing that I might pop a couple of pills during the night if I can't sleep through the pain, that hardly makes me a sort of crack whore!

Yes, I appreciate that there is apparently a problem with people getting addicted to over the counter pain killers but I am still very offended to be lectured by some youngster when I want to buy a few Nurofen!

openerofjars · 13/09/2013 11:29

This is a bit the opposite.

A few years ago, when I was much more timid and had far less internal rage, I was buying paracetamol and lemsip in the Spar and the checkout woman recommended that I wash the tablets down with the lemsip to see off my obviously streaming cold. I told her that she shouldn't be recommending this as it could harm people if they took her advice and she got off her stool and shouted at me because I had disagreed with her. I ran, but back then I was a rank coward. Nowadays I would probably cause a bit more of a fuss. Probably. But she was really quite scary.

I hate it when I can't buy Calpol for the DC and paracetamol for me in the same shop. Yah, I'm planning on offing myself by squeezing out all the little Calpol sachets into a cup then using it to knock back these caplets. Busted.

Original poster

pianodoodle · 13/09/2013 11:34

It's tricky because people can get addicted as it is codeine but from my perspective 8/500 for a migraine may as well be a tic tac - it just seemed better than nothing

OP posts:

jellybelly18 · 13/09/2013 12:40

It is quite simple. If it says on the box that you cannot use it in pregnancy or breastfeeding or you have to speak to your g.p. then that is that. It shouldn't be sold. This is not thanks to some 'jobsworth' assistant but the conditions the manufacturer has laid out for its sale. It can still be prescribed because then the gp is taking the responsibility.

thebody · 13/09/2013 13:30

bamboobutton. you should have said that to her!

PosyNarker · 13/09/2013 13:48

Boots can be a nightmare. I was once refused Cocodamol because I stupidly admitted it was for back pain and was advised I'd be much better with Nurofen. I can't take Nurofen due to IBD, which I explained. Jobsworth said I should get a prescription then and refused to hand over the bloody cocodamol. Irritating thing is the doc and I had this exact conversation where we agreed that Nurofen (or possibly even stronger NSAIDs) would be better, but since I can't take it it's a moot point.

I was also once refused Buscopan while picking up my DPs prescription because it would interact. I patiently explained that I clearly wasn't DP and that the Buscopan was for me. Still wouldn't sell it because it could be dangerous

gamerchick · 13/09/2013 14:04

It says don't take during pregnancy most of the time because it can't be tested on pregnant woman so can't be sure of any risks.

The medised thing really boiled my piss. Medised bloody awesome for the flu. I would have kissed it's feet if it had had any when I was praying for death the one time I had the dammed thing.

bigbluebus · 13/09/2013 15:24

I was on holiday in Norfolk a few years ago and got Sciatica. I tried taking Paracetemol and Ibuprofen but they didn't touch the pain. I went to a Co-Op pharmacy and asked if there was anything stronger I could take for the pain as I had a 4 hour journey home in the car and was really struggling to sit comfortably - they looked at me like I was some kind of druggy and said "no" just take what you're taking. I hadn't even heard of co-codamol at this point as I am usually in good health and rarely go to the GP.
When I got home (after a very uncomfortable journey) I went to the GP who prescribed co-codamol - only the low strength one you can buy over the counter (as I have subsequently discovered). I was so cross that the Co-op Pharmacist didn't sell these to me - I thought pharmacists were supposed to give advice to stop you rushing to the GP every 5 minutes.
They have since bailed me and DH out on a number of occasions whilst waiting for dental treatment but I do feel like I am being lectured like I'm a naughty school child on the very rare occasions that I go to Tesco Pharmacy to buy them sent DH last time and warned him to watch out for the grilling

kali110 · 13/09/2013 15:37

Straight when i last looked there was only two in the over the counter box.i detest migraines. Cocodamol even strong ones and tramadol do fuck all for mine.wouldnt wish them on anyone.

olidusUrsus · 13/09/2013 15:41

You'll understand why they did it one day - they have to, it's not them being a jobsworth at all, it's the system.

Sainsbury's pharmacy got me irate once - they refused to fill my OH's prescription for painkillers when he was going through the shit the night after chemo because it was "too strong". Managed to coerce the pharmacist to ring his oncologist and have him back me up over the phone.

She was doing her job, I get that, but I was trying to be discrete because there were hordes of small children and ended up having to shout "HE. HAS. A. TUMOR." when she kept wittering on about not understanding why the dosage was so high, that it wasn't a regular dose.

She did apologise. I considered decapitating her but instead bought a fuck tonne of cake and cried in the car almond slice, OP?

Original poster

pianodoodle · 13/09/2013 15:43

They have since bailed me and DH out on a number of occasions whilst waiting for dental treatment but I do feel like I am being lectured like I'm a naughty school child on the very rare occasions that I go to Tesco Pharmacy to buy them sent DH last time and warned him to watch out for the grilling

Yes I remember years ago getting them for mum and you could buy a big box of 100 - I can see why you can't now though! They used to warn you about the high salt content in the soluble ones but never mentioned only to take for 3 days.

OP posts:

tywysogesgymraeg · 13/09/2013 15:44

It really pisses me off when unqualified people at supermarkets refuse to sell you things. I know they are only doing their job, but really...

The rule about only being able to buy one packet of paracetamol/aspirin at a time is stupid too.

I also hate being asked by a teenager at the checkout if the alcohol I'm buying is for me or DD when she goes shopping with me - none of their flipping business!(it's not even illegal to give children alcohol).
(I know that has nothing to do with the post in question, but like to get it off my chest from time to time!)

Original poster

pianodoodle · 13/09/2013 15:50

She did apologise. I considered decapitating her but instead bought a fuck tonne of cake and cried in the car almond slice, OP?

Cheers

I was polite to her - despite the fact I was sweaty and tired and DD stood on my in-growing toenail while we waited in the queue :)

OP posts:

MiaowTheCat · 13/09/2013 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CoolStoryBro · 13/09/2013 16:05

I was refused cold sore cream 17 years ago! It was clearly a line she had to ask everyone as a) I was a size 8 not showing at all, even at 6 months and b) was pretty young. The woman looked come completely taken aback when I said yes and she had to cancel the purchase.

I'd forgotten that!

fromparistoberlin · 13/09/2013 16:11

yanbu

I had morphine when I was pregnant, good times..NOT

Original poster

pianodoodle · 13/09/2013 16:13

Ridiculous that doctors are having to say that and what do you so if you have no husband?

Look for an underage teenager and say you'll go in and get their cider for them if they'll get your co-codamol?

OP posts:

AmberLeaf · 13/09/2013 16:18

I was prescribed cocodamol for migraine when I was about 30 weeks pregnant. My GP said that she could give it to me up to 32 weeks but not after that point. Something to do with it causing possible breathing problems for the baby?

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