Where's all the paracetamol gone?

[damekindness]

Not sure if I'm imagining this but there seems to be less and less paracetamol and other Over The Counter painkillers on the shelves in shops ? None in the local Aldi for weeks.

Those who use paracetamol and ibuprofen for chronic pain; I understand why the NHS wont pay for it as it’s so cheap for us to buy, but it’s a shame the GP can’t write us some sort of letter whereby we can bypass the two box purchase limits.

@TheElementsSong - I think we have a sneaky Bingo here. Buying a couple of bits months in advance = panic buying and causes shortages months later.

I was given the standard two packets on release from hospital a few months ago. Not noticed any supply issues round here.

Tesco and Waitrose often seem to run out of the cheap generic paracetomol caplets, perhaps because they're more popular than the more expensive brands.
No problem buying online, you can get packs of 32 for 79p at Chemist4U, and no limit on how many you buy. Even with cost of postage still a bargain.

Thousands at sainsburys. Your using the wrong shop clearly.

@gingersausage that’s a good point. It’s the 2-box limit that’s really annoying. Even if they gave you a 6-box limit, it would help a lot I think.

@bellinisurge I noticed that too.

This makes me think I should buy a couple boxes for OH since he finally started hinting about doing some piecemeal prepping last week. A few things just to take the edge off for the first couple weeks of November. He normally doesn’t think about meds, so I'll get a few boxes of pain relievers and a first aid kid for him. I’ll be in the US when Brexit happens so I'll help him get started before I leave.

Those who use paracetamol and ibuprofen for chronic pain; I understand why the NHS wont pay for it as it’s so cheap for us to buy, but it’s a shame the GP can’t write us some sort of letter whereby we can bypass the two box purchase limits.

I thought a pharmacist could sell up to 100 tablets?

I've got a stash, though mainly ibuprofen. What I have noticed is the price hike of hay fever tablets, especially the generic ones.

My house is groaning under the weight of toilet rolls!

I can get 100 ibuprofen from my local pharmacist and it's cheaper too.

I thought a pharmacist could sell up to 100 tablets?
Yes, you're right I just googled. In my PP I said there was no limit if you buy from online pharmacy but the same rules must apply.

@Nameusernameuser - It’s very true!
I shall rename my HRT as ‘my little stickers of bliss’

For the time being anyway... Until I run out.

There is a discussion going on in the Menopause topic about how difficult it is to get hold of HRT . People are pretty desperate.

Cheap Ibuprofen has vanished from Home and Bargain here. But enough Paracetamol to kill 50 Elephants.

@placemats they're 79p a pack in Home and Bargain. For both types.

Still available on prescription here in the north west. I get 100 a month along with other pain medication, antihistamines (prescription only), PPI, inhalers, steroid nose spray. No shortages here but Asda frequently doesn't have plain paracetamol and hasn't for years. My neighbour grabs a couple of packets of both paracetamol and ibuprofen every time he does a big shop and has quite a supply. He's done that for years. Nothing to do with brexit. I'm very worried in case of shortages of dihydrocodeine and I can't really stockpile it as it's monitored by my gp. I have otc cocodamol just in case but it won't cut through my pain effectively.

People are stocking up pre-Brexit. Going to more than one place, or getting a couple of packets every weekly shop even when they don't need them.

@bellinisurge I'd noticed the bingo opportunity too. I do like a game of Brexit bingo with my morning cup of tea. Note to self: buy more tea as none in stockpile.

It's happening with prescription drugs too.

Yes! I went to both Lidl and Aldi and neither had any in! Thought it was weird. 🤔

I wondered the same as Aldi has had none in for weeks & tesco were out of the cheap ones when I went.
Thanks PP for tip to check out online pharmacy as it would be great to buy more than 2 boxes worth at a time as the dogs on it daily.

Mine is quinine :(

Went to get my medication (ADs were there, all good) and told there is a shortage but to go back today to the chemists . Gutted. I really suffer foot cramp too .

I always find there's loads of ibuprofen and paracetamol but hardly any aspirin.

I've had no problems getting any from Aldi.

Byebyemissamericanpie - You can't blame Boris for that one, there's a shortage of HRT because there are supply issues in China.

Where have all the painkillers gone?

The parrots ate 'em all.

Plenty in my local Asda just now.

They had 420 tea bag packs on offer too so I'm now sorted for tea and picked up more loo rolls 😊