To think it a a bit shit that pregnant women can't buy Castor Oil?

[BlueButTrue]

Yes, I’m aware some people use it to induce labour. But some people also seriously abuse alcohol or whatever have you and are still sold it You wouldn’t even know they’re an alcoholic half the time!

Castor Oil is brilliant for the hair and eyebrows.

Boots won’t sell me anyway.

Holland and Barrett won’t sell me any.

Local chemist say they don’t think it suitable so won’t sell it.

Superdrug won’t sell me anyway.

Apparently they cannot sell to those who’re pregnant. And I’m very clearly about to drop.

AIBU to say this is a bit shitty towards pregnant customers?

I know it gets misused but so does a lot of things sold in chemists etc... And yet those are on shelves!

I managed to buy castor oil in a last ditch attempt at inducing labour. It was quite a night it didn't work but I didn't need a poo for about a week which owing to th state of my fanjo was quite a relief

I had to send my sister in to buy my mini aspirin that I was recommended to take during this pregnancy.
The midwife said if there is a big problem with them selling it to me I could get a prescription, but what a waste of a consultant's time had my sister not been able to get it for me!

Nothing to do with being pregnant but a pharmacist refused to sell me ear drops once unless I’d seen a doctor as I’d stupidly mentioned my ear itched. I now just lie.

I also lost faith in pharmacists when I was told I had a stomach bug and to take probiotics. I had pancreatitis and gallstones.

I had a pharmacist refuse to give me my prescription for the anti sickness tablets the Dr prescribed me for my morning sickness. I had to sit and wait for 25 mins with a sickbowl while she phones the Dr and checked in a book. I'm currently pg with number 2 and sent dh in to get them this time.

Pharmacists are highly trained and usually give excellent advice. When it comes to drugs interactions and dosage instructions their caution can and has saved lives. That doesn't mean that that caution isn't sometimes a bit annoying of course. I wanted to buy citric acid for making elderflower cordial, not knowing that it's also used by drug addicts. The assistant called over the pharmacist and they quizzed me a bit, however they also gave me the excellent advice to go to a wine making store instead where I bought a big bag for far less than their small bags so I went away happy.

retailers don't know your reasons for wanting castor oil. Even if u tell them, they're just covering their backs by refusing to sell it to u. It's their right. If u need it for medical reasons, get a prescription from your gp. Nothing to do with infantalising pregnant women. Lloyds pharmacy sold me castor oil a few years ago when I was heavily pregnant. They advised me against using it until after I've had my baby, so I lied, saying it was for my DH. Truth is though, I wanted it to induce my labour. Long story short, I still went overdue, my baby swallowed meconium during labour which affected his breathing...even to this day, years later he still suffers with breathing problems. IT'S NOT WORTH IT! i beat myself up all the time for my stupid mistake. I love my son so much. I wish, I bloody wish I never took that stuff! And if my msg stops another mum-to-be from using castor oil to induce labour..I'll be beyond happy. Just please don't risk your baby's health

Surely refusing a sale of something due to pregnancy is discrimination under the Equality Act as the OP was treated less favourably on grounds of her condition. I’d be fuming!

I can't say it isn't because I really don't know. But I'd be more inclined to think so if it was just a one off incident or a one particular retailer. Not 4! I agree it must be annoying, but I wouldn't be fuming. There should be more explanation as to why castor oil is not suitable for pregnant women. More than "horror" stories of mums who used it to induce labour.

The pharmacies will have guidelines on what can be sold and to whom. How this is policed will be very difficult though can imagine a pharmacy asking anyone who wants to but castor oil why they want it just like they do with loads of other stuff eg turpentine, (Not the stuff in DIY stores) peroxide etc. If you are desperate get someone else to buy it declaring it for hair. Pharmacies are only trying to prevent misuse of substances.

Oh yes - there is too much of shops 'minding' us all.

My grandmother was given gallons of castor to try and induce labour when my mum was overdue. (There was nothing else available back then)

Can't recommend it. She was born 4 weeks late in the end!

What do you so deseperately need it for?

Meanwhile it's alarmingly easy to buy acid and throw it at people.

I mix castor oil with olive oil for a hot cloth treatment - v good.

the paracetamol limit thing is mental. My husband couldn’t buy calpol, kids nurofen and a pack of normal paracetamol in the same shop. Clearly in case he intended a calpol binge. But it would be no problem at all to buy two bottles of vodka, a bottle of gin and a box of beer. It’s not just pregnant women - it just makes b*llocks all sense!

I was refused one of the OTC sinus / cold things a few years back because it wasn't suitable for someone with an overactive thyroid.

I was collecting my levothyroxine prescription - for an UNDERactive thyroid - at the same time.

I hope the person who refused the sale wasn't an actual pharmacist.

Working behind the pharmacy counter does seem to attract a few power-crazed jobsworths (apologies to all the nice pharmacy workers out there!)

I was refused buying paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time in Asda in case I overdosed. The woman at the counter was so keen on pointing out I might try to kill myself with the ibuprofen (but didn’t mention the paracetamol)

I induced violent and urgent labour with castor oil. Oh dear. Still, DD2 was ok. But not recommended, obvs.

What do you so deseperately need it for? 

Does that really matter?

—Even though I did say in my OP that I use it for hair—

Most pharmacy staff aren't pharmacists and in my experience younger pharmacists like many fresh graduates high on their new status and ability can be problematic. I was prescribed aspirin and heparin throughout my pregnancy: I'd run out abd needed my jab that day or baby/me in real risk. Junior pharmacist decided to refuse (this was with a precipitation from a well known local ob/gyn dept) and then got patronising and shirty when I asked for his name and for the prescription back!! Luckily a more experienced colleague rushed over and told him in no uncertain terms NEVER to refuse those things when prescribed in pregnancy: they actually said "if your refusal resulted in a miscarriage..." which was frightening to me too, hammered home what was at stake. I appreciate he must need to remember a lot, and needs to follow the "book" - but a lot in the book (explained to me by an experienced pharmacist) says "clarify with Dr" or contract indicates because testing drugs on pregnant women is nigh on impossible. So drugs often used have a standard disclaimer.
Services like the drugs in breast milk helpline (run by pharmacists) and Miscarriage Association/APS Action were very helpful.

And let's not get started on the people on social media or forums like MN who insist they ARE HCP then give bizarre, often sanctimonious or scary click-bait-style, advice. Thay worries me as I wonder what the seemingly professional and sensible person see face to face is actually thinking...

I was once also refused an air freshener in case I sniffed it. I was wearing a work suit, mum bun, clear skin round nose and mouth, literally couldn't look less like a solvent abuser. Had recently visited the store to discuss solvent abuse in my job at thetime (did not see her, so possibly only related due to hearsay of what to do turning into ridiculousness).

Post episiotomy and massive tear I went to purchase paracetamol and ibuprofen to help me shuffle around on mw advice. I was refused the ibuprofen after they asked if I was breastfeeding. I had to shuffle to the next pharmacy and lie only to be told about the benefits of bf after I claimed to be ff so I could get my bloody pain relief.

Surely this is discrimination?

I was sold castor oil from Boots without question when 13 days overdue with DS2, and yes it worked a treat. Was subsequently sold it and took it again when overdue with DD and it worked again, but the midwife, on hearing that I’d taken it, wouldn’t let me use the hospital’s birthing pool, much to my dismay!

Crazyunicornlady that's not true at all. Pharmacists can refuse a sale for many reasons, including suspected misuse of a product/drug or if they think the intended use is inappropriate. They are absolutely well within their rights to do this. Having worked in a pharmacy (long time ago) I can say thank goodness this is the case. Not everyone is as sensible as we all are on here... They do a great job. Inconveniences like this are well worth it, IMO, looking at the bigger picture of the due diligence they're exercising.