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!

And again:

www.ox.ac.uk/news/2013-02-08-smaller-packs-paracetamol-have-reduced-overdose-deaths-43

Just popped into the co-op for a takeaway coffee on my way home from the nursery run

You sound like someone who has no problem getting out and about so not being able to 'stock up' shouldn't cause you too much inconvenience.

Oh I didn't know this. This will explain why Asda won't sell me 2 x Paracetamol and 2 x Ibuprofen.

I tend to buy a pack of each with every shop as when I get a headache I have to take them immediately or risk a migraine.

Sure it's a mild irritation to not buy masses but for those that aren't on prescription doses it doesn't matter that much?

It's been the case for quite a while

I can only speak for myself obviously, but I always had a 'plan' it gave me a strange comfort at the time to have one -but- I rarely had the impulse for long enough to follow the plan through because it was made a little more difficult which gave time for the impulse to ease, I have started down the road, but as the impulse has passed and I've started to think more clearly I would throw away what I had bought because I knew that next time the impulse hit, I would be a step closer if I had some 'in stock' as it were.

It came in 'waves' with me safeguarding myself in times of clarity against the times I knew I wouldn't be thinking clearly, if that makes sense?

It is normal to stick up in the winter. I do, but actually, I am not a big pill popper at all. I sometimes have to throw out expired packets even. That is much better than being stuck feeling hideous, needing them and being unable to get them though. I have a wee stash every winter since I got a proper flu a few years ago. There is no way I could have gone to the shops.

I am starting to think that a national suicide prevention campaign is needed. Perhaps it's because it's such a taboo, people don't really know much about it or hold a lot of myths. Sometimes they also think talking about it openly will make it more likely when the opposite is shown to be true. There are some great suicide prevention resources out there which have helped me navigate this stuff. People say 'I had no idea, I never saw it coming'- probably because we don't encourage anyone to be honest and talk about it through our own fears. Teen boys and men are particularly susceptible to this secrecy, but teen girls are too.

Why do you think it has to be one or the other? And if it works - which it does - does it matter?

Organisations as legal entities are amoral, but organisations are also composed of people with morals. The optimum outcome is that fewer people die by suicide. Companies as legal entities can favour this because it protects them from expensive liability claims, and the people who form companies can favour this because they're people and don't want other people to die if it's easily preventable.

Always been this way. I am a HCP to and completely understand. I know it's frustrating.

They aren't new guidelines, the legislation was introduced in 1998. Chronic pain sufferers (I am one of them) need oversight by a GP, and if after that, long term use of paracetamol is necessary, it can be bought in much larger numbers from pharmacies.

Well they're covering their backs and you can't really blame them for wanting peace of mind as a company that they can never be sued for someone's death. It's what I'd do as well.

It is inline with best practice, as you looked up
So it seems fair enough

That’s great if it has. Surely anyone intend on suicide would just go to a few different shops though?

Nanny state again. I´m in Spain and there is a restriction on Ibuprofen 600g, they only sell 400g over the counter 600gr needs a prescription. Oh, and my mum is British and her doctor told her that Spanish doctors are warned about prescribing Ibuprofen to British nationals because it seems the British have a higher rate of intolerance to it than other national groups. Nothing to do with suicides. My husband´s aunt chucked herself into a river, so if they want to do it they will.

It's not the Co-op, it's a standard restriction. As PP have said.
I work on a checkout and l've had customers shouting at me because the till blocks me from scanning more than two packs of any kind of pain relief.
It also doesn't seem to register with a lot of people that Calpol contains paracetamol. Had one lady bawling "IT'S FOR A SICK CHILD!" at me last week.
I wasn't saying she couldn't have it. I was advising her that l can only sell her two items which contain pain relief. She had two bottles of Calpol, two packs of Ibuprofen, two of paracetamol/codeine, and some flu capsules.
I don't think even the pharmacy are allowed to put all that through in one sale.
I appreciate it's frustrating, if you have several people in your household who are unwell, but seriously, the poor sap on the checkout isn't responsible for the restrictions. Please don't take it out on them.

This. Nothing more needs to be said. Bit of inconvenience is absolutely worth it and the expiry date is usually about 2 years so it’s no bother to keep a pack in the house. Personally I don’t think paracetamol should be available for self selection.
I presume you’ve not been affected by this issue in your professional or personal life.

But my original comment was based on a reply to someone who said what's the point of these restrictions as you can buy from other shops and the point is if you go around multiple shops the responsibility is on you as an individual not on the company, so you wouldn't be able to sue. I still stand by this comment although I think its really cute that you think large companies care about individuals and I would love to live in your world

I’m feeling sad and a little shocked by how many on this thread want to debate and throw their own opinions, guesses and assumptions around, regarding the role of impulse in suicide, and how suicides can be prevented by understanding that point.

This isn’t a point that’s up for a bit of fun debate and conjecture. Here’s one article on the subject: www.businessinsider.com/many-suicides-are-based-on-an-impulsive-decision-2014-8?amp There are MANY more out there, as well as numerous links on this thread.

Please please take a minute to read and understand this rather than just saying ‘nah, I actually think…’ because that knowledge could save someone’s life one day. Maybe even your own. Take note of the excellent suggestions about locking away stocks of painkillers and prescription medicine if you have children and teens - that’s not something I would even have thought about but it makes so much sense.

A friend of mine took their own life years ago. A few hours before, they were texting friends making plans for a few weeks later, with no sign that they were imminently about to do what they did. I sometimes wonder what happened in the intervening hours and what could have happened if someone had caught my friend at that moment when the impulse struck them.

Op....every shop has a limit of two packages. Yabu

I understand how you feel and you are not unreasonable to feel that way but most places have such a rule, even if you buy online. You can go somewhere else to buy more. It's not a bad idea to stock up, I do that but buy from various online pharmacies including Superdrug. They are all quite efficient, you usually have to complete a health questionnaire before despatch but the goods do arrive quickly.

Years ago, I had mental health issues and really struggled. I stockpiled drugs then. I didn't want to die, but things were so hard I did not know how to keep going and was convinced it would all get too much at some point and there would be nothing else for it. So I was prepared for that eventuality.

Part of my recovery was surrendering the stash. Putting barriers in place to keep myself safe. Closing the door on suicide as a coping mechanism and developing alternatives that actually helped me cope.

Now I do have them back in the house, but for healthy reasons. I would not keep any here at all if I was not sure I am in a totally different space mentally.

@FirewomanSam I agree with everything you have said, I am worried about the lack of knowledge about suicide on this thread. Limiting access to medications, and locking them up, isn't a fool-proof method of prevention, because of course people, especially young boys and men may choose other methods, but it can help groups prone to this particular type of OD. Groups with high access to methods (e.g. doctors, vets, farmers with guns) tend to have higher rates.

The policy being applied inconsistently is part of the issue.

Take my local Asda - in store, you can buy two packs each of paracetamol and ibuprofen. Online, it's two packets in total.

(Each packet contains 16 tablets.)

So punters get confused.

Yes it's annoying. If there are several of you at home and you all go down with something 2 packets of paracetamol don't go far. I've ended up having to visit multiple places before now to get 4 days supply for my family.

I tend to stock up when visiting the US where you can buy bottles of 1000 tablets no questions asked.

I find it annoying to be asked if I have taken it before. No, I have reached the aged of 67 and have never taken paracetamol, is what I want to say! The person asking is not usually medically trained either.