To be annoyed at out of date advice from pharmacist?

[Womnaleplus]

Earlier today I tried to purchase a branded ibuprofen/paracetamol mix from behind the counter earlier. I suffer from severe migraines but as I am breastfeeding I am limited to these two painkillers. I was on my own with two small DC, could feel a stinker of a headache coming on but had run out so went to buy some more.

The team flat-out refused to serve me saying that ibuprofen isn't suitable for lactating women. I said I had checked with a midwife and later a bf'ing counsellor, but they were insistent I couldn't have it. So annoying - they're wrong!

AIBU to be irritated? This is the second time I've been refused service in this way (both by pharmacists from the same large chain). I usually omit mention of the bf'ing but was caught on the hop. Certainly won't be telling the truth in future.

Get a prescription for it. I would be taking a pharmacist's advice over a midwife or BF bod myself, but if you ask your GP then you will be sure.

I have been prescribed some sumatriptan but I am not sure about it- reading the label it looks lethal!

Beast, I've double checked with BFN medicine advice service (run by a pharmacist with specialist bf training) and it's fine.

Sumatripan is good, but I assume you're not breastfeeding? It's like being hit (very nicely) by a bus, but it does stop the pain :o.

YANBU- given that you could have purchased individual packs of ibuprofen and paracetamol from just about anywhere and not been questioned.

In fact, YABU for wanting to buy the branded, pre mixed version when you can get individual generics really cheaply elsewhere!

PS for the definitive answer checkout the national breastfeeding helpline's pages. They update their page with the latest research and I have found them to be much more knowledgeable about drugs in breastfeeding than either my obstetrician or consultants. (Sample conversation: "have you thought about breastfeeding while taking these drugs?" "The national breastfeeding helpline says it's OK" "Go ahead then")

Yanbu. If there's a query like this they should have a copy of the Bnf in the chemists to double check. Or ring the hospital pharmacy who will give advice.

Wow. I've been prescribed co- codamol, tramadol, naproxen & morphine whilst breastfeeding. If someone wrongly told me I wasn't allowed ibuprofen when I was in pain I think they would be very sorry.

Lol, no I am not BF, my youngest is 17!

But the sumatriptan small print basically says, "take this if having a heart attack seems preferable to your migraine". Which actually, at times, it does .

YANBU and should complain. Even the bnf says it's safe.
but YABU to buy that overpriced crap. just get normal ibuprofen and paracetamol. loads cheaper and you get the full doses of each

I was expecting someone to raise that point!

I buy branded because I read recently that there is a not insignificant placebo effect with more expensive branded drugs than their generic equivalent, and that it still works even if you know about it (!). So I switched because I need all the help I can get.

:o at "use this only if you'd rather have a heart attack than a migraine". So true.

The BNF is useless for most drugs when breast feeding, virtually everything says manufacturer advises avoiding.

Famzilla, how long ago was that? codeine is not recommended if you are breastfeeding due to it being able to pass into breastmilk.

YANBU.
Genuine ibuprofen is sold all sorts of other places, no? Why the need to ask any questions about it?

Them refusing you service because of this is utterly horrendous. You're a grown adult not a fucking milk machine and therefore capable pf making your own decisions.

Not true Lyndie

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk-information-and-factsheets

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk-information-and-factsheets

Why is it horrendous? If god forbid anything happened who would you blame? The pharmacist of course.
They are legally liable for any sale, and as such are also allowed to refuse any sale. They are trained medical professionals not sodding shop keepers.

Lamb- that's the Bfn, same as the breastfeeding helpline I referred to earlier.

The bnf is the big drugs manual that doctors have.

I'm married to a pharmacist.

He said most of these guidances are due to not knowing they are safe

Especially in pregnancy (I know that's not what you asked)

It's not due to wanting to treat you like a child and piss you off; it's a safety issue.

Yes, because it is unethical to do randomised controlled trials with pregnant or lactating mothers. Therefore everything has to be at least category b (ie no adequate studies).

However, ibuprofen is generally considered to be safe, as evidenced by the NHS page that recommends you can take ibuprofen while breastfeeding, provided there are no mitigating circumstances (if you have a stomach ulcer, asthma, low birth weight or premature baby, that sort of thing). So the pharmacist was giving out advice which directly contradicts the NHS official position.

Why were you a) buying ibuprofen and paracetamol OTC and b) why did you tell them you were breastfeeding if you knew there was a chance you might get refused the sale? Unless you were actually breastfeeding your child in the shop there's no way of being caught out.

Pharmacists are there for people who want medical guidance on the product they are buying. If you don't want it, just go to Tesco and grab a box from the shelf like everyone else.

Why not just buy it from the supermarket or Boots off the shelf?

YABU to buy branded, sorry. It's the same stuff.

Crohnicallysick said it better than me!

I hate this! I went to buy some Canasten when preg on advice from the MW but the pharmacist saw my bump and flat out refused to hand it over unless I had a prescription. My drs is two bus journeys away so cost me almost ten pound and two days of freaking itching for something I could have bought cheaper over the counter. V.angry hormonal woman that day!

As I said earlier, I buy branded in the vague hope I might get the benefits of the placebo effect.

I was buying it OTC rather than off the shelf because the only product available with both paracetamol and ibuprofen in the same tablet is OTC only. I've bought it many times without being asked if I'm bf'ing and so was surprised to be asked and answered without thinking.

I realise that pharmacists are liable for sales and are professionals. I have no problem with this and listen to their advice except when that advice is wrong and I am in pain. As I said in my OP, I will just be more prepared to lie next time. I hate lying though.

It will interesting to see if this placebo effect still works after the whole of MN have told you that you should buy generic

I find tiger balm helps and also what we call the Granny Pad- an electric heated pad that I can lie on. Also, have you tried a tennis ball? Lie down with it under the back of your neck, just where your neck joins the skull, and let it crush the blood vessels that have got swollen. Kind of DIY sumatriptan :)

But they sell ibuprofen for babies (from 3 months) so if babies can have it direct then surely they can have it through breastmilk (assuming a tiny bit might get through). I would have just grabbed a bottle of infant nurofen off their shelf and asked them if you could have this?