To be annoyed with the Co-op’s painkiller policy

[LunaLoveLemon]

Just popped into the co-op for a takeaway coffee on my way home from the nursery run (awful habit, I know). Thought I’d get stock up on painkillers whilst I was there as it’s cold/flu season. Picked up one packed of ibuprofen, one of paracetamol, and some cold and flu sachets. So two products containing paracetamol, and one of ibuprofen. Not against any sales restrictions AFAIK and certainly not an excessive amount.

The woman at the counter then tells me that I can’t buy three packets of any painkillers. I can’t recall ever having this problem before in any shops? Usually it’s been two of each drug. I’ve just checked the guidelines and two packets of ANY painkiller does appear to be the Best Practice guideline on the .gov website (although not law)! So I suppose I can’t really take issue with it.

But AIBU to think that this is excessively restrictive? I’m a healthcare professional fwiw so do understand the risks wrt overdose. But equally, being able to buy enough painkillers to get you through a few days of illness doesn’t seem unreasonable!

Yes we had the same problem in Tesco ,very annoying but we split up and got them anyway

I've found it a faff when buying medicine for parents and children, as things like Calpol are included in this, so if DS and DH are both ill, I can get calpol and paracetamol, but not lemsip. You can do multiple single transactions on the self check out though, if you're buying from a supermarket.

If it saves one life if it’s a good policy but obviously a pain (sorry) for those who want to have a stash in stock for winter . I’ve not heard of being only allowed paracetamol OR ibruprofen though. That sounds OTT. Usually your allowed 2 of each I think? I’m sure I’ve bought two packs of paracetamol and 2 of ibuprofen in Aldi before.

I had the same issue last week in Boots, I wanted cold & flu for the adults, calprofen and calpol for the kids - wouldn't let me buy them. So I purchased two and went to Superdrug for the rest

@JustFrustrated

Umm because if you are in pain enough to actually need them chances are you won't be well enough to go to a shop?

We have a 2 year old and are probably ill about once every 1 to 2 months.
Some of these colds are horrible, last November we had gastroenteritis and needed drugs to keep our fevers down below 40c.

That came on quite suddenly, we had to give our ds to our parents because we were so ill we couldn't get up off the sofa...nevermind go to a shop.
So yes it is a good idea to stock up on painkillers, especially when you have young kids!

@Mrsjayy @Poopoolittlerabbit it is crazy but we don't use anything with codeine in it. We also stock up with TUMS!

I used to always carefully maintain stocks because I was a non-driving single parent and couldn’t easily send someone out for me if everyone fell ill.

Reeked of organisation and preparedness.

That is reduction in specific suicides-overdose by paracetamol, not overall suicides.

There is evidence that it has reduced the numbers, though, no matter what you think they'll be put off by.

It's routine. TBH and I'm not saying this to be a pain in the arse as a HCP you should know this. I was behind someone in Savers at the weekend who was unable to buy a stock of paracetamol.

YABU because it's standard.

However if it saves lives fair enough. I just go round again and buy what I need at a different till. Quite normal in our house for e.g. DH to need ibuprofen, me to need paracetamol and the kids to need Calpol. Granted it's not all at the same time necessarily, but when I be remembered I need to buy painkillers, I want to buy the damn things so we have them in the house when we do need them.

won't they let you buy a slightly smaller pack of paracetamol - I thought the limit was 32 or something? I'm sure I've done something similar before

Oh I was in savers last week a woman was arguing with the poor girl behind the counter about painkillers apparently the £ shop let's you buy 3 packets and she wanted her 3 packets blah blah ! What a total hoha it was.

I was under the pain clinic for years, so actually I do get "a lot of pain" ...or did. I guess. It's been largely resolved.

It was more the way she said "it's cold and flu season coming up" so no reason other than they might get a cold, and they might need painkillers.

That surprises me even more then - although glad you've been able to manage it successfully

Why is that so weird, though, that you'd want to have painkillers in stock ready for the time when you usually need them? Why is that any odder than people stocking up on firewood or heating oil in the run up to the time of year when they're likely to need them? It's just wise planning.

I'd agree if people were wanting them as a little 'treat' to munch on for a bit of variety along with their Smarties and Tic Tacs, but I don't think the vast majority of folk stocking up are planning on using them until/unless they need them.

Agree it’s a pain op. Means you have to get them from various sources - and remember to do that. I order two from Sainsbos, two from Boots, two from Amazon, on rotation.

It's the policy everywhere and has been for a few years, it was introduced to help prevent attempted suicides from paracetamol etc.

This is a Uk wide policy and has been for many years.

Been like this in Ireland for years - it was so stressful last Christmas - we were home staying with my parents - there were 4 adults and a baby in the house all with really bad colds! we had to take a turn each day going to the pharmacy to buy a 12 pack! which wasn't even lasting the day! one day I went up and they wouldn't allow me to have the paracetamol and Calpol.

That's the rules and the till won't allow you to sell more in one transaction. The only time I think it's stupid is when people are trying to buy infant, 6 plus and adult together as it's obvious that the family are all ill and need different strengths! But still can't sell it.

It's the same policy everywhere, and when I worked in a supermarket it physically wouldn't let you override the restrictions.

The lack of knowledge of how to prevent suicide is really striking on here. All 'barriers' to completing the event work to give the person more time to stop their trajectory and think about what they are doing. Of course a very determined person can overcome them, but most are not in that category. So, not having 1000's of pills in one bottle, but having them in blister packs, only available in smaller quantities absolutely works. So does having lack of access to them in your home- unfortunately I have reason to know this, but one of my children's OD was thwarted by simply not finding enough to OD on, they took everything available but ran out quickly, because my meds are kept in a locked password box thank god. A few hours later, and the moment had passed.

If you are keeping access to 100's of tablets in your home, with teens who can be impulsive, or take drugs or drink a bit too much or are depressed, or you just don't know what's going on in their heads, then think about whether you could protect your pills/tablets by using a locked box and minimising what you have in the house. you may not see such an attempt coming and it's often then too late if too many paracetemol in particular are ingested. There's also the danger of accidental overdose with paracetemol, again, something a HP should know about.

Don't assume this is not relevant to you if you have teens/older children in the house.

People will complain about anything won't they. A supermarket being restricted to the amount of painkillers is entirely sensible.

It also applies to buying say calpol and cold/flu. I still get wound up about the time no chemist were open we all had cold so ended up going to three supermarkets spreading germs around.

We are both HCP's not dependant on anything but keep a well stocked medicine cabinet. Why wouldn't you take a decongestant for a cold, brufen for the rugby injury or some paracetamol for a fever.

Two paracetamol if feverish with a bad cold and hit honey, lemon and a splash of whiskey for the cough.

Anyone who has real influenza probably couldn't manage a Lemsip which are pretty useless in any event except for the paracetamol in them.

I find it quite interesting that my GP will prescribe 100 30/500 cocodamol and 100 Naproxen in one go though but you can't buy more than 32 paracetamol.

I wish I was organised enough to remember to re-stock painkillers when we run out! I never think about it until I need them and then I have to drag myself out or order a Whoosh mid-headache. Immodium and Gaviscon I have spilling out of every bag and coat pocket (thanks, IBS) but I never think about painkillers in the same way. I really should.

When my sister and her family were all stuck in isolation with Covid I did a grocery run for them and I went around about eight different chemists and supermarkets to get various combinations of paracetamol, ibuprofen, lemsip etc. Yes it’s a little tedious but if it has the potential to save even one life then I’m all for it.

And before anyone else is tempted to post ‘but surely you’d just…’ please look at the various links from very reputable sources that have shown this policy DOES reduce suicides, and explaining the reasons why.