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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be annoyed at this pharmacist

92 replies

Sandsnake · 28/09/2015 20:32

I'm pretty new here so sorry if this has been done before!

I went into Boots today to buy some aspirin. I am taking an aspirin a day on the advice of my consultant due to a placental problem and am 33 weeks pregnant. The cashier asked me if they were for myself and when I confirmed they were said that he would just have to check with the pharmacist. I said this was fine and added that he should tell her that I was taking them under advice from my consultant.

He came back and said the pharmacist wouldn't sell them to me as aspirin is not recommended during pregnancy. I argued that they were actually vital for my pregnancy as ordered by the consultant - he said the pharmacist said I would need to bring in a note from the doctor to prove this. Apparently this was 'policy', which I pointed out wasn't true as I had bought aspirin from other Boots branches without issue.

I argued quite a lot and in the end left as I had to get my train to work. I was so angry. I was annoyed at the inference that I could not be trusted with my own health - and that I somehow needed to 'prove' what my doctor had told me. I'm still pretty cross about it now tbh as I think the refusal to sell it to me is indicative of the way that some people feel they have the right to infantilise pregnant women. I can't imagine any other group of competent adults being treated this way.

Do you think AIBU?

OP posts:

Sirzy · 28/09/2015 20:35

Yabu, it isn't generally advised and if a pharmacist isn't happy they are right to refuse. Your consultant should have prescribed it.

Shakirasma · 28/09/2015 20:37

Of course YABU. Should pharmacists just take the word of everybody Who requests medicines which are not normally suitable for them?

Fairenuff · 28/09/2015 20:39

YABU the pharmicist is just following safety precautions. Get a note from your consultant, or buy if off the shelf in tesco.

LemonPied · 28/09/2015 20:40

It's not that the pharmacist is judging you to be incompetent due to pregnancy. It's due to the licensing of the drugs and the fact that there are legal parameters which the pharmacist must practice within in order to maintain their professional registration.
It would have been helpful if they had explained this to you though!

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 28/09/2015 20:42

If the pharmacist had provided the drug and then you had suffered a complication he would have been liable and would lose his licence. You're unreasonable to expect he risk his livelihood for you. Get a prescription from your consultant or lie next time.

Marynary · 28/09/2015 20:43

It isn't recommended in pregnancy and whilst the consultant may have decided that for you the risks are worth the benefits I don't really think it is fair to expect the pharmacist to take your word for it. They don't know your medical history. You didn't need to get into a discussion about it. Just say that it isn't for you and everyone will be happy.

Original poster

Sandsnake · 28/09/2015 20:44

Fair enough! Perhaps I am BU . I was just surprised as have never had the problem before with Boots. The thing I thought was silly
in particular was that they're not over the counter medicine (I just happened to be at that till) and I picked them up without query at the supermarket this evening!

OP posts:

hopelesslydevotedtoGu · 28/09/2015 20:44

Yanbu

Firstly it is fairly common for pregnant women to be recommended aspirin for various medical conditions/ risks, so I'm surprised the Pharmacist wasn't familiar with this

Secondly you are an adult and should be treated as such, of course the Pharmacist is reasonable to query aspirin, but once you gave a sensible reason he should have accepted this

Thirdly if your Consultant had written to your GP to prescribe aspirin the nhs would then have to pay the Pharmacy a prescription fee (i think around 7pounds), and you would need to request repeats from your GP, causing extra work and costs for the NHS. Why not enable a sensible adult to manage this themself?

Tangfastics · 28/09/2015 20:45

The person being unreasonable here was your GP

They should have prescribed it for you.

Queenbean · 28/09/2015 20:46

Ah this does fuck me off - I have asthma and once bought ibuprofen and a throat spray. They cashier who I asked the throat spray in boots asked me if I had any medical issues so I said yes, asthma and she then said "well I can sell you the throat spray but not the ibuprofen".

I get that pharmacists have to be careful, but you can bloody buy it on the shelves of supermarkets and never get asked if you have asthma before buying it. And yes, totally agree that I know my body well enough to know if I would have a reaction to it. Although I also appreciate that all it takes is one bloody idiot to have a bad reaction and ruin it for everyone.

Sirzy · 28/09/2015 20:47

Being over the counter medicine makes no difference.

DS was prescribed "6 plus" strength paracetamol in hopsital when he was 3 but I wouldn't expect a pharmacist to sell it to me knowing it was for a 3 year old.

If you choose to buy it over the counter then that's your choice to take the risk. It a pharmacist provides it then it is their career they are risking.

Original poster

Sandsnake · 28/09/2015 20:47

Hopelessly - I still think I'm not BU but am clearly in the minority! Good to hear others' opinions though. Consultant did prescribe it and I didn't use the prescription for exactly the reason you say - not wanting the NHS to have to pay the high charge for something so cheap.

OP posts:

greatbigwho · 28/09/2015 20:48

If you have asthma, pharmacists are not licensed to sell you ibuprofen - I know it's ridiculous because you can buy it off the shelf, but thems the rules I'm afraid. Same with pregnancy and aspirin - the pharmacies that did sell it you were technically in the wrong.

TeaAndNoSympathy · 28/09/2015 20:48

A pharmacist is directly responsible for the drugs they dispense. They were not being unreasonable to sell it to you. This is not about infantilising pregnant women, this is about the pharmacist following guidelines. Once when I was buying ibuprofen, the pharmacist asked me if I was asthmatic. I am but I explained that it had never affected me adversely (it can do in some circumstances). She politely refused to sell it to me. Fair enough. It would have been her licence in the line if I'd died from complications. Get your consultant to write a prescription next time or just bung some in the trolley when you go to the supermarket.

littledrummergirl · 28/09/2015 20:49

at GP prescribing. 35p off the shelf or £££ cost to the nhs.
Abu buy it off the shelf in this case.

Marynary · 28/09/2015 20:49

I agree that they should have given you the ibuprofen if you have had it many times before with no problem. The cashier refused to sell it not the pharmacist though didn't they so you can't really blame the pharmacist.

Welshmaenad · 28/09/2015 20:51

Could you carry the prescription with you yo evidence that it's been prescribed but say that you'd rather purchase it?

I can see your annoyance but also understand the pharmacist needing to protect himself

MrsMulward · 28/09/2015 20:54

I think YANBU. Your explanation should have been enough. Agree that you were being infantilised. It used to drive me crazy when I was cross examined when pregnant.

Cel982 · 28/09/2015 20:55

I don't think you were BU. There's a tendency for doctors and pharmacists to be overly defensive in their practise out of fear of litigation. As long as he had advised you of the risks and documented that, he should have let you have the pills. At some stage we have to trust people to make their own healthcare decisions.

RueDeWakening · 28/09/2015 20:55

Did you ask for baby aspirin, or just aspirin? They're different things, and afaik you should only take baby aspirin during pregnancy. I had to take it all 3 times, never had a problem buying it but do avoid Boots like the plague due to twattish prescribing behaviour in the past

Marynary · 28/09/2015 20:58

I'm not sure what you mean about pharmacist "not being licensed" to sell ibuprofen if you have asthma. It is up to the pharmacist to judge whether it would be appropriate.

Queenbean · 28/09/2015 21:01

MaryNary sorry - I lost interest in what I was writing half way through - the cashier did check with the pharmacist about the throat spray and she was the one who also noticed the ibuprofen in her hand and said that it couldn't be sold to me

I guess thems is the rules though

endoflevelbaddy · 28/09/2015 21:04

This drove me mad when I was pregnant and recommended otc painkillers by GP for SPD. I drove to the next pharmacy, said they weren't for me and was sold them no problem. Still left me furious about having that decision made for me though.

Fluffyears · 28/09/2015 21:06

I was getting surgery on my wisdom teeth and was advised to stock up with painkillers to make sure I had enough for the initial healing period. I had none in the house so in saibsburys I picked up three packs of paracetamol. The lady at check out said she could only sell me two packs . So do took the other packet and went through the self scan check out, same result with extra effort. If i was wanting to overdose a ban on more than 2 packets wouldn't stop me I'd just visit as many shops as possible. It is ridiculous that as an adult I am not allowed to make the choice of how many painkillers I buy.

Marynary · 28/09/2015 21:07

I guess thems is the rules though

There are no rules. It is up to the pharmacist to decide whether it would be appropriate.

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