Do you work in a pharmacy? Do you judge people on their medications?

[BloodyPlantagenets]

I always wonder about this when I pick up my prescriptions. I'm on a cocktail of antipsychotic and antidepressant meds and I always think they head tilt at me a bit. I'm interested to know whether this is my paranoia talking or whether the pharmacist sees the prescription and makes a judgement.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from people who do that job and I promise it's not upsetting me, it's just a thought I've had for a while.

The only time I felt judged was when I was trying to buy a laxative and was asking for advice.

It was clear the pharmacist thought I was trying to lose weight and totally changed attitude when I said I was on long term codeine.

I'm confused - I'm on metformin for diabetes. Am I now supposed to be ashamed of that for some reason?

Definitely not. It seems that some people with PCOS are "judging" you though (ironically).

Fastingmum - they really shouldn't have sold your husband something for cystitis, they aren't suitable (or licensed) for men.

To the person who asked about controlled drugs - no codeine and diazepam aren't included. It also has to be the ID of the person collecting the item and this is recorded on the script and in the CD register (if it is register-able drug). There are some circumstances where we don't need to see the ID. And finally it doesn't have to be photo ID - a bank card is acceptable.

Sash - Laxative abuse (like otc codeine abuse) is a massive problem for community pharmacy.

I have some not routinely stocked items on my repeats: Risedronate, evorel Conti alongside adcal and levothyroxine. Rarely does the chemist have all the items. I can go to three/four chemists and they won't have all of them but could get them all on the same day if I could get bits from different chemists. This means I have to order prescriptions a month in advance and have had flak from the doctor. I work fulltime.

So one week allowed for doctor losing the request or just not doing it, one Saturday to take to chemist, another Saturday to collect. Electronic systems seem to result in the doctor blaming the pharmacy and vice versa. I now send repeats recorded delivery with an sae because I retain some control. Usually if I post on Monday I get the prescription on Saturday but not always and we might be away for a weekend.

Why can't I pharmacies dispense what they have in stock, cross off what they have dispensed and give me back the prescription to take to another chemist?

I work in the middle of nowhere so don't have that option.

I'm dreading when it all goes electronic. My GP once told me off for wasting her time by making an appointment to get my levothyroxine at the height of the 28 day business. When I ventured mine was as important and I was surprised she had time to faff with something she and I previously had to do once a year she did a delicate cat's bum face and changed 28 to 112. Now that was a make work system if ever there was one for stable, long term conditions.

Finally, for the first time in 22 years I was asked on Wednesday for my exemption card.

I don't remember getting prescriptions being so bureaucratic twenty years ago and the present system must cost as much in wasted time as it used to in wasted drugs and I think the people in charge forget how productively time could otherwise be used for the benefit of society and patients.

Beaufort - if we gave you the prescription back we wouldn't get paid - it really is that simple.

You have a couple of options:

• phone the pharmacy in advance so they can order the items in advance for you (we have lots of patients who do this) and have them in stock when you go in the pharmacy

Or

• use A pharmacy collection service - they will pick up the script for you from the go and have it ready when you go in the pharmacy

The trouble with the latter option I have found Will is that when I have gone to pick it up the pharmacy has said it wasn't amongst the items for collection and the GP has said it was. The GP has then said it might have gone to one of the other chemists and I have had to trail round to meet a blank and go back to the GP and reorder. I just don't have time for that sort of nonsense and it's so frustrating when the GP practice staff always assume the patient is in the wrong - they aren't the most helpful people to have to deal with.

Beufortbelle - If you go to the same pharmacy each month and are on the same things for a long time then they would more than likely start keeping it in stock for you.
Its what we do. We even order in specific brands and label them on the shelf as Mrs X's Drug Y, so we can ensure that we have it in for her.
If you are loyal to your local pharmacy then they can really help you.

That's what I've started doing Britnay but with two teenagers, one at uni, a full time job, a full time home, it would be more convenient not to be restricted and to be able to pick up the prescription en-route to where I need to go on a particular day rather than being bound to going to one place. We live between two villages and two small towns and I might not necessarily want to go to one in particular two weekends running. The ringing ahead is the best option I think.

I am dreading when the electronic system is fully up and running because that will take all my control away and I will not be able to identify whether the GP has done something or not before the prescription hits the pharmacy. Perhaps my GP is particularly inefficient.

Beaufort - with the best will in the world you are making excuses. What exactly do you want? If you have unusual meds the best thing is to stick to one pharmacy they will work with you - you are just making your life more difficult - you know that it is unlikely that your meds will be in stock, but you won't do anything to make your life easier.

Why can't you just phone the pharmacy the day before and ask them to order what you need? It doesn't even have to be the same pharmacy each month.

I dont know if they judge as such but the first prescription for anti Ds i picked up for PND when my DS was a baby the pharmacist came round the side of the counter and gave me the bag, put her hand on my shoulder and whispered "dont worry darling girl things will be better soon just keep taking them and come back if you want to ask me anything".

I looked a wreck and the GP had been a condescending arsehole when I had seen him so I did appreciate her being so kind.

I've just said that's exactly what I'll do!

Beaufort One of my meds isn't that common so I use the same pharmacy, and their collection service ,every time.

Every 2 months when I pick up my meds from the pharmacy, they ask me if I want to reorder . Then they request a prescription from the GP at the right time and they can order the drugs in if they are not in stock . I don't even have to phone for it . And I just go back two months later .

Even if they don't have a full supply for some reason , they will give me what they have. Or get them from another local branch and I go back for the remainer. Ive never been left without any .

So it's one or two trips to the pharmacy every two months. Or monthly, if the doctor has changed the dosage .

Simple . I love my local pharmacy, the staff and the service are great .

On the question of judging people for their meds, I think that most pharmacists and other HCP get over that as students. Like most of us, once they have a bit of maturity and life experience, they realise that life is complicated and things aren't always black and white .

I am just fed up with the addition of allergen triggers in meds and not being able to get the meds that are free of them because some great big numpty has decided that they are not the most cost effective route. Seriously. WHY add allergen triggers to meds?

Sorry that is not a pharmacy rant that is a pharmaceutical company rant.

Our village pharmacy is lovely and it's nice to know they're looking out for you. It is slightly embarrassing when I'm ordering something more personal than usual but the pharmacist absolutely doesn't make me feel embarrassed at all. It's just me really.

Re: taking something for one reason rather than the more common reason. A pharmacist back in the day made an assumption my amitriptalyine was for depression when it wasn't but that's an easy assumption to make.

I've never been asked for id when collecting oramorph, is my pharmacy slipping up?

I used to feel a bit embarrassed when my ex's best friend's mum dispensed my contraceptive pill and antidepressants. I haven't gone to that pharmacy for years (moved away) but now on a far higher whack of antidepressants/antipsychotics and tbh haven't really got the headspace to be anxious about that as well as everything else...

I would imagine the are brusque when you talk to them about athletes foot cream as its usually a minor ailment the counter staff can deal with without pulling the pharmacist away from dispensing.

I spent two years working in a pharmacy and the ladies in there were horrible. They were all late twenties or early thirties and used to royally take this piss out folk on what medication they were on. PLUS talk about it afterwards.

I left because it was a hateful atmosphere but I don't think most places are like this

YesEinsteinsMumDid
If you are having issues with a specific brand, but have found another brand that is suitable, then you may be able to ask your doctor to prescribe that specific brand or ask the pharmacy to order that brand in for you.

No OP they dont.

Most of them are either ON meds themselves or have Family and friends on Meds.

They have no interest in what you have for meds. Their only concern is the medical aspect IE Dosage or interactions etc.

(((((Hugs))))

I think we get judged but not because of what type of meds we need, but the sheer volume of meds we get.

Just before Christmas I had 12 full to the brim carrier bags to collect (Christmas closures and a holiday break we were taking) and everyone just looked as I filled the shopping trolley.

You wouldn't be judged by volume. We get plenty of customers who get 6 months meds at a time. Plenty of customers who get extra for holidays. Plenty of customers who get bulky meds as well.
Seen it all before, wouldn't bat an eyelid really.

sorry britnay, it was not the staff that was doing the judging, it was the customers.