AIBU to get annoyed at being asked questions at chemists?

[SooBee61]

Today at the chemists (who shall remain nameless) I wanted some Solpadeine so am asked if they are for me and not to take them for more than 3 days. I've also been asked if I'm on any medication when buying other 'drugs'.

The lady before me in the chemists wanted some golden eye ointment. When asked if it was for her she commented that it was for a pet. Assistant immediately goes into police mode. 'I can't sell it to you, we're not licensed for that.' Lady says that it's for herself in that case. Assistant is implacable. I offered to buy it myself and she could give me the money. Assistant remains implacable saying she knew the circumstances!

I can understand why they might ask about other drugs as there can be a conflict but it's this policing attitude that grates.

Around 6% of hospital admissions are related to medication use and antiinflammatory drugs (like nurofen) and opiates (like codeine) are among the most commonly indicated. These are not benign low risk products and that number would surely be higher if there was no attempt to monitor the safety of patients taking them by asking these questions.
There is evidence that after the change in the law restricting pack sizes and quantities of paracetamol that could be sold there was a reduction in the number of suicides relating to paracetamol overdoses.
These are just of the couple of reasons why the situation has to be how it is.

A number of years ago I was prescribed a medication by the GP. I took my script to the pharmacist and before I picked it up was asked the usual questions, including if I had any allergies. It turned out there was an ingredient in the medication that could have killed me, and even though I had reminded the GP before he prescribed it, he did it anyway. It is only thanks to the diligence of that pharmacist that I didn't take that medication.

Im pregnant and the hospital consultant has put me on aspirin!!!!!!!!!!!

venetia,
"it's just that the power of it goes to some people's heads and they forget that many adults don't wish to discuss private health matters in public, they just want to buy something."

If ever you don't want to discuss something at the pharmacy counter, please ask the counter assistant or pharmacist if you can speak to them in the consultation room. That way they'll be able to advise you in privacy.

By the way, pharmacists are legally responsible for the sale of medicines from the pharmacy counter, even if you're served by a counter assistant. When someone has gone to uni for four years and trained for an additional year before qualifying, they understandably don't want to face potential disqualification if a patient is sold a medication that's inappropriate for them. Not to mention that most pharmacists actually care about patient safety and, self-interest aside, want to make sure patients receive the right advice and treatment. It's pretty much the opposite of someone allowing power to go to their head.

Not everything you can buy is OTC, many medications are pharmacy only medications. This means the pharmacist has to assess the medication is appropriate for the individual.

Agree is can be frustrating but is not done to wind you up op.

I don't mind the pharmacists asking questions, they are only doing their job.
The only time I've been annoyed was when one basically accused me of wasting medication because the drug my baby son had been prescribed only lasted a week before it needed to be thrown away and a new bottle of it made up. I got a massive lecture on how there was another drug that did the same job but wouldn't need to discarded as quickly. I knew that - he'd been put on it first and was allergic to it which was why his consultant had prescribed the other one. Didn't appreciate her holding the medication to ransom while she lectured me! I did feel that was inappropriate as there was no medical reason for him not to have he drug he'd been prescribed she just seemed pissed off that she had to keep making it up.

[embarrassed] think OTC is the same as pharmacy only meds...

I would trust my pharmacist's knowledge of drugs over my doctor's, and I have brilliant doctors. Correct me if I'm wrong but they spend years studying medicine and any contraindications. I wouldn't think twice about asking their advice and am very grateful for the advice and even support, a kind word goes a long way, that they gave me when I was nursing my husband.

To all the pharmacists/chemists out there. I think you are much under appreciated and I just want to say thank you for all the help and advice you give people.

I had a total interrogation recently buying iron tablets. I know she was only doing her jib but l wanted to jump over the counter and grab them. Dh reminded me l could be a mystery shopper and she would be in trouble if didn't go through the rigmarole. Its the parallel selling that l object to. That doesn't exactly line up with ooh we only care about your health. Either be responsible and quit that or just stop saying it's all for your good.

Pharmacists are another layer of gate-keeping in terms of checking for contraindications etc.

A number of times a pharmacist has spotted an issue or pointed out to me or family member that a prescription may be problematic for the individual.

GPs are under so much pressure, it absolutely doesn't hurt to have a second pair of eyes on things before they reach the end user.

Some painkillers are contraindicated with other meds or comorbidities and potentially addictive if taken for too long, so they are obliged to ask questions and cross check things before they sell them OTC.

About 15 years ago, someone died as a result of incorrect medication. They tried to charge the doctor with manslaughter. So the law changed after that, and basically there are three points of checking, and therefore three points at which liability lies. The doctor who prescribes it, the pharmacist who hands it over, and the nurse who gives it. Obviously outside the hospital, the third part doesnt exist. So the pharmacist has to ensure the drug is for the right patient at the right time and not interacting with anything else they are taking.
So, you may not want to be asked these questions, but if you want medication in the UK, you will just have to suck it up, and answer them, or go elsewhere for your medicines.
Personally, I owuld like to see big massive signs on grapefruits and juice, DO NOT take if on warfarin

My local pharmacist is great, I mentioned this to my GP (doctor, not grandparent!) and she agreed saying that he phones her and asks 'Did you mean to prescribe this?' When he thinks there may be an error. I have no objection to the questions - they are for cutomer's protection.
Not just warfarin, re grapefruit, statins and amlopidine too I believe. Other fruit possibly contraindicated, rhubarb?

Please also bear in mind that in most cases, the staff serving you in a pharmacy will not just be "shop assistants", they will also have undergone training on the drugs that they sell. Healthcare assistant training is about 1 year, basic dispenser training is also about 1 year. On top of that there will be more training done every month as information changes, new drugs are available etc.

I don't really understand the point about the GP related pharmacist being unable to advise about the medicines.

Like all things some people have a better manner than others. One chemist where I live is lovely, the other is officious. The other is the only pharmacist in 25 years that has asked to see my exemption certificate.

Speaking as someone who had a 10year codeine addiction, I'm glad pharmacies do ask questions before selling opiate-based painkillers.

Mine were prescribed by GP many years ago aged 18, and I was unaware they had the potential to cause addiction (young, clueless and in massive pain from prolapsed discs).

Not that it makes any difference to anybody who is already addicted- they already know. But if it informs someone who has never taken it before, and prevents addiction then that can only be a good thing.

They are clamping down a lot on people fraudulently claiming to be exempt.

We have to keep a record of the details of customers' exemption certificates, so that we know when it expires. This way we do not have to ask for a certificate each time they collect their prescription. The computer will pop up with a reminder when we do another prescription after that date, so we can make sure that they have a valid certificate. Also helpful at the end of the days when there is the odd prescription that hasn't had any exemption or payment marked, then we can quickly check their records and make sure all the paperwork is correct.

Obviously, age and medical exemptions are very easy for us to check on our records (so we don't tend to ask in these cases), but things like prepayment, job seekers etc not so much.
We have to mark on the prescription if the customer has not shown a valid certificate

Another fan of pharmacists and pharmacy assistants here. And I can't help but feel that some of their critics would be the first ones running to sue if they were harmed by a pharmacist not doing their job properly.

I just lie.

I don't really understand the point about the GP related pharmacist being unable to advise about the medicines

Rural practices tend to have a dispensary on site. The suggestion is that the dispenser can't disagree with the prescriber (GP) because the GP is also their boss. But, as PPs have said, this is totally wrong. Every GP is grateful to pharmacists and dispensers for flagging up errors and risks. There are thousands of drugs and therefore millions of possible combinations on prescriptions. GPs sign 100 or more prescriptions a day. It is impossible never to make a mistake or miss a possible interaction. The more people we have watching out for oversights, the better

Another one who was prescribed Aspirin during pregnancy and got a lecture. I took it when not pregnant too and bought it OTC because it was cheaper than a prescription charge, so didn't bother getting a prescription for it. Local chemist knows me -so it wasn't ever a problem -it was the relief pharmacist . I said look at my record I get Fragmin injections from here too...which made the situation even worse...two blood thinners!

All I would say is they should use their common sense. If you say I have been prescribed it that should be that. I didn't need her telling me all the possible risks - I knew anyway and I really didn't need to have them pointed out to me - pregnancy for me is stressful enough without that grief.
My bug bear is Sudafed - I realised taking it for a blocked nose that it actually helps me concentrate (pretty sure I have ADHD -am waiting an assessment). So I take it when I am really struggling. But because the active ingredient can be used to make an illegal drug they restrict the amount you can buy. Which would be fine (and I have bought it from different chemists ...) but now they do another kind called Sudafed 'Blocked nose' which contains a different active ingredient - that IME doesn't even work to clear your sinuses ...there is no restriction on that and it looks the same as the original stuff (blue & white box) which is called 'decongestant' . So I do sound dodgy when I make sure it is the right stuff...I am already lumbered with 23 useless tablets I don't need anymore...

unlucky I just say, "Can I have 2 packs please, if I promise not to make crack with it?"

Do they sell you 2 packs then? Do you use it to help you concentrate too?
I don't want to admit why I take it (in case they don't sell it to me) so stock up when I've got a cold - go to all the chemists in the area and buy a packet...
Hoping if I get a diagnosis I can get better drugs and not be sneaky...

are you taking any other medications? yes i have graves disease cue frantic whispering in the back and a frantic google search to find yes i can take codeine i tell them its for someone else it saves the hassle

They are following a ridiculous on screen "script" that often bears no comparison to medical reality. It's particularly galling when it's delivered by 16 year old disinterested, gum chewing shop girl who sighs every time you ask her a question.

I just leave and go to a different chemist.

Who, presumably, asks you the same 'ridiculous script... as they are legally bound to!