Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my cousin is stealing from my aunt?

53 replies

QuestionableMouse · 15/01/2018 18:02

My aunt has various medication that she needs to take. It come directly to the pharmacy in a sorted box so all she has to do is find the right day and take the morning/lunch/night tablet.

One of the tablets she takes has been missing from her box. She did not tell me until today so I figured it was a mistake and popped into the pharmacy. The pharmacist said it was being put in and showed me the records to prove it.

Her son is constantly asking her for money... He's basically not interested in her unless she has cash and is a bit of a bully towards her. He's been staying with her and has had access to the tablets. There are other reasons why I suspect him too but it would take too long to get into them here.

What the hell do I do now though?

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 15/01/2018 18:03

Are you saying he is stealing one of her pills? Why would he do that?

TheQueenOfWands · 15/01/2018 18:05

What pill is it?

Painkiller addiction is very common.

GeekyBlinders · 15/01/2018 18:05

Which pill is he taking? Is it a painkiller or something to help with confusion etc? Just wondering why he'd be stealing her medication. Is it something with a high street value?

etap · 15/01/2018 18:06

Why would someone want ONE random pill?

Lifeisabeach09 · 15/01/2018 18:08

You could call social services and raise an adult safeguarding. Sounds like your aunt is not only having her medication stolen but is being financially abused.
Alternatively, call the police on 101 for advice.
Naturally, it's going to raise a shitstorm in the family.
Are the tablets opiates?

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 15/01/2018 18:10

I'm worried that he is, yes. He's had problems with both drugs and drink.

It's amitriptyline.

If he's not taking them, I don't know where they'd be going.

OP posts:
DriggleDraggle · 15/01/2018 18:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Weezol · 15/01/2018 18:14

Amytriptelene can be abused, so you are right to be concerned.

Crumbs1 · 15/01/2018 18:15

Your intuition might well be correct. Does your aunt have mental capacity? How old is she’s? Would she remember if she’d taken an extra tablet?
I’d keep a very careful eye and in meantime talk to the adult safeguarding helpline.

mustbemad17 · 15/01/2018 18:15

If they're in blister packs should you not be able to tell they've been tampered with???

TheQueenOfWands · 15/01/2018 18:15

Yes, amitryptiline can give you a pretty good buzz.

Definitely one which is abused.

Bendyandtheinkmachine · 15/01/2018 18:16

amitriptyline is a muscle relaxant which is usually prescribed for moderate to severe pain. I was prescribed it for a back injury and when I took it at bed time it literally knocked me out all night. It was a very effective sleeping tablet for me. I certainly think it has the potential to be abused.

Nicknacky · 15/01/2018 18:23

Are all the tablets missing? I know the pharmacy said they were included but mistakes can happen? Proving he has stolen them will be difficult.

Can your aunt give you any information?

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 15/01/2018 18:25

The tablets come in a pack called a Nomad.

It could be that she's just mixing them up but she's always been okay with her tablets.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 15/01/2018 18:32

Also if he is taking them, I want to get him help before he overdoses or something.

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 15/01/2018 18:34

Ask him about it then. You haven't answered about your aunts capacity?

LegallyBrunet · 15/01/2018 18:37

I've worked with people who've used a Nomad. If it is your cousin taking the tablets, then the blister pack should be 'popped'

dawnc27 · 15/01/2018 18:39

my mums come ready done in nomads and she has to pop he blisters to get them. are any of the blisters popped?

mustbemad17 · 15/01/2018 19:15

Definitely will be signs of tampering, as above they get popped so are obvious. Has the entire week/month's supply gone? Give the future dated slots a prod

Steeley113 · 15/01/2018 19:33

It’s definitely a drug which is abused. They’re also worth quite a bit to sell. Are the blisters already popped? If so, I think you need to get in touch with your aunts social worker.

Steeley113 · 15/01/2018 19:34

It’s definitely a drug which is abused. They’re also worth quite a bit to sell. Are the blisters already popped? If so, I think you need to get in touch with your aunts social worker.

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 15/01/2018 19:40

I've said twice that she normally manages her tablets well.

I'll pop in tomorrow and have a look.

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 15/01/2018 19:41

You aren't answering much op, you have made a massive jump that your cousin is stealing them with very little to say that is actually the case.

mustbemad17 · 15/01/2018 19:45

Managing her tablets well isn't the issue. Although she should be able to tell if the blisters have been tampered with...unless he is going in at med time & popping the meds for her

OverByYer · 15/01/2018 19:46

Doesn’t sound good,
As another poster has said, I would contact your local adult safeguarding team to record your concerns. ( social services).
Also let the pharmacist know, they may be able to issue the meds’ in another way to your aunt to avoid this.
Is your cousin someone you can confront about it to discuss?