To be pissed off that Boots wouldn't sell me Nytol?

[Appalonia]

I went to Boots today to buy some Nytol. The shop assistant asked me when I had last taken some. I said, a few weeks ago. She refused to sell it to me and said that they could only sell it to someone every 6 months! I've never heard that before when I've bought it previously. When I asked why, she said it's because it's addictive. I am definitely not addicted to it, my sleep has got pretty bad since menopause, and Nytol is one thing that helps me fall asleep. I only use it occasionally.

Was she right to say this? I'm really confused...

https://www.statista.com/statistics/471227/death-by-paracetamol-drug-poisoning-in-england-and-wales/

I’ve taken it for the first time recently and it’s really helped. I’m having an health flare up and my mum is dying, a couple of weeks ago I didn’t have any sleep one night. The pharmacist recommended it to my husband so he got some for me. I used it for a week, then had 4 days off. Was going to see how I go tonight but if I wake up at 1am again I’ll probably take half a tablet.

I really don’t want it to become a long term thing but I hope it’s not restricted so I can get through this difficult period.

Thing is, she asked when you last took it and not when you last bought it.

I could have bought some 6 months ago and taken one every few weeks and pack lasted me until last week.

Boots own sleepeaze is same ingredient if you want slightly cheaper. I buy higher dose and half them.

@maximist - as far as I can see Amazon sell the green Nytol which is herbal - that is self select. anyway The blue Nytol is the P med with the antihistimine in.

@Kingoftheroad to be fair you sound as if you take a large amount of medication. You might not be overdosing, but are you reliant on it? And aren't tylenol and paracetamol the same thing?

@Youdontevengohere the pharmacists aren't out to prevent you getting what you need, they often just want to make sure you are taking what is right for you for the right reason. Often they signpost people to their GP for something more appropriate.

Edited as replying to wrong person!

When I sell someone Nytol I am bound by the rules of my job to ask certain questions but there’s a way in which to do it and I try and make it conversational and not interrogating.

We don’t have the 6 month rule at my work but I do have to tell people it’s for infrequent use only and not to start depending on it. Most folks are very happy to offer up why they need it such as shift change or temporary stress like moving or a snoring relative has come to stay.

It’s a tricky balance between keeping customers happy and doing what’s best. Sometimes what they want isn’t what they need.

Thanks for the replies. It was just so unexpected. I said to the shop assistant I'm struggling to sleep since the menopause and she said you should be on HRT. Yeah, like that's easy to get! I had a phone appointment with my Dr recently to try and get HRT, but when I said I had an underactive thyroid ( which I'm on Levothyroxine for ),she said that my symptoms were probably due to that. Feel like I'm going round in circles!

Can you try a different pharmacy tonight.

I just went through buying it on the boots website and that same question wasn't asked.

I think you can buy it from supermarkets, can't you?

In the end I walked 20 mins to another Boots and asked for some Sleepeaze, which they did sell me!

I read that as - I buy a higher dose at half term!

Goodness knows what the chemist thought of me then, they only a herbal Nytol (?) I said is it as strong as this one shows box No? Oh okay don't worry then, I'll go elsewhere!

I quite often get 10 tablets of Zopiclone from GP as I have a medical condition that prevents me sleeping. Oh it's lush when you need it. Still only lasts about 4 hours though.

If a Dr tries to inform me about sleep hygiene again when I haven't slept for days on end, I may well throttle them!

I've been buying it for about 4 years and I've never heard of this 6 months rule. The shop assistant even went off to check with a pharmacist, who confirmed what she said. I find it really bizarre!

Will the BMJ do?

"43% reduction in deaths from paracetamol due to smaller pack sizes"

https://www.bmj.com/press-releases/2013/02/06/43-reduction-deaths-paracetamol-due-smaller-pack-sizes#:~:text=Paracetamol%20overdoses%20are%20a%20common,16%20for%20non%2Dpharmacy%20sales.

The rule on paracetamol (tylenol is a brand name of paracetamol) have saved 100s of lives in the UK.

Have you tried Nytol liquid?
I buy mine from Amazon and find that works a treat for me, also menopausal plus work nights so my sleep is all over the place these days.

😂 I was told my symptoms were due to my OVERACTIVE thyroid nothing to do with the menopause 😂

DH uses Nytol occasionally (I have suggested he discuss this with the GP, you can lead a horse to water and all that ...)

One or t'other of us buys it from random pharmacies when we have the opportunity. For example I was in the railway station last week, there's a Boots, "Oh I think I'll just pick up some Nytol".

I work in a pharmacy and have also been told to be careful when selling Nytol - any sleep remedies in fact. For the record I really dislike asking the questions because at the end of the day people will do what they want (and we obviously know if we don’t sell it they will find elsewhere that might), but it’s literally part of my job. I am following orders on minimum wage, it’s no different than the sales people who ask you if you want to buy extra chocolate at Superdrug. Yes the questions are tedious but they’re doing what they are taught to do. In our case, we have medical reasons and it’s our job to protect the public. So yes it’s tedious for you but it’s also not fun to be the one asking.

Banophen is sold on eBay and is the same thing.

A pharmacist put the fear of God into me ( an Irish expression meaning pure terror ) when I asked for Nytol One a Night.
She said studies have shown that an ingredient in it is linked to a higher chance of getting dementia.
Eeeek ☹️

You can buy it in Morrisons x

Nope

I use Magnesium Glyconate and it works really well to help my sleep. I can’t take Nytol as it gives me horrible nightmares that I struggle to wake up from.

I remember a pharmacist refusing to sell hydrocortisone cream to DH, his consultant dermatologist has told him it’s fine to use in your face as the effect of skin thinning takes several years of use. Unfortunately he was honest when she asked where he would be using it. He came back to the car and told me so i walked in and got it, said it was for use on my legs.

My friend also got refused aspirin when she was pregnant. Her doctor had told her to take a low dose as she was at a risk of blood clots…and had to get her partner to buy it.

What 🤷