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...

I know we're supposed to be responsible adults, but my Dad tried to commit suicide with several packets of Nytol all bought in one go from the local Boots. It didn't work, but it sent him into a horrible state - hallucinating, shaking, fitting etc. He spent four weeks in hospital recovering, but never got back to his previous self.
I can see why they put some restrictions on it

A doctor tried to tell me how to use an inhaler correctly at 54. I was diagnosed with asthma at aged 4.

A pharmacist told me I was using too much lotion on my scalp for eczema and said I should I use mousse (which would just get stuck in my hair).

Ask to speak to the pharmacist. I recently found out you don't need any qualifications to train to be a Pharmacy Assistant - not even GCSEs. So a Trainee one may have learnt stuff by rote.

You may have taken some a few weeks ago but used up the last of at old bottle.

Also, there isn't anything in Nytol that's addictive. It's just not recommended for chronic insomnia with advice being to see your GP if you need it regularly.

It really is the biggest load of shit regarding paracetamol. What’s to stop someone with intent going to lots of different pharmacies. Ludicrous.

Sorry to hear about your dad. If anyone wanted something bad enough though, they could go to different pharmacies. Restrictions make no sense.

And yet I can buy 98 double strength ibuprofen from the local pharmacy with no questions asked.

But the pharmacists are (a) more expert than almost all their customers and (b) trying to keep people safe from very damaging addictions.

And I’m glad they do this. I’ve had relatives of mine grumbling that they couldn’t get as much of medicine x or y as they wanted, and I’m grateful for the professionalism of the pharmacists stopping people I love from inadvertently harming themselves.

Well I get you there and agree to a great extent.

In the meantime, watching a loved one, be it a partner, parent or child- die of an infection that has become resistant- or lots of the above - is not something I would like to encourage by my overuse of antibiotics, somehow.

Pharmacists lover that tiny bit of power!

And seem to love applying it incorrectly.

Just go to another store.

Some of their knowledge is very out of date in my experience. They still harp on about the food pyramid and why we should fill up on carbs and keep to a low fat diet. You should SEE the evils and cat's bum mouths I get when I go to pick up my Mounjaro injections.

I'm 41 and still get cross-examined when buying fucking Night Nurse! By someone I'm very confident is stupider than I am.

As I say, pharmacy assistants (Boots ones in particular) suffer from the same disease as do GP receptionists and "legal secretaries" (aka "secretaries"). They get way above their station.

BTW you can buy melatonin on various UK online pharmacies. You just have to say you need it for jet lag.

That Sleepeaze shite gives terrible "hangovers" in my (extensive) experience.

But shops can sell unlimited alcohol....... the mind boggles

You would be surprised how many adults cannot use an inhaler correctly. Of course, the advice should be offered without patronising.

I used to work in a pharmacy and it's not to take constant for any longer than 3 days and not sure how long in-between packets.

I know! What a spiteful thread. The pharmacists, and even the pharmacists assistants (who some of you seem to think must have the IQ of a cabbage) are just people doing their job within the confines of the legal regulations.

At the end of the day, pharmacy assistants are just shop assistants. Not generally a job requiring intelligence or qualifications. No shame there, just stating a fact The trouble is that said pharmacy assistants don't realise their own limitations and that ironically many of their customers DO know a lot more than they.

Is phernagen good? Do you take it every night? Another friend recommended this to me she’s using for peri menapuse

@Jins I use this also 😴

Has anyone ever had problems trying to get cystitis relief from over the counter? Once in Boots and once in Asda several years apart I had crippling cystitis and needed the medication. I had to REALLY fight for them both times to sell it to me. Apparently you shouldn’t take it unless you know it’s definitely cystitis and clearly as a silly woman I don’t know my own body

It works very well for me. I don't use it every night, but I do get some weeks I use it more than others. I started using it when I hit peri menopause.

But do you know why they aren't available anymore in the UK?

Tyrozets was an antibiotic and you can't sell them over the counter anymore because of the resistance issues plus a huge percentage of sore throats are viral so totally pointless anyway. And Fraser was discontinued because so many similar drugs that were safer, injecting large amounts caused liver issues and it caused skin irritation if you were exposed and both of these easily avoided with other similar drugs and so why risk it. Still licensed for dogs I believe

Pharmacy assistants do have a qualification. They’re all trained and have to pass a course on Buttercups which is equivalent to a NVQ.

We have to question and make a judgement call. Some people do know better. I’ve sold medication to an A&E doctor without all the questioning and cautioning because I know that they know. A huge amount of people have little to no knowledge though. People who don’t know what their prescription medication is called or what it’s for. Lots of people don’t know that cocodamol is a standard dose of paracetamol so have been taking both in conjunction plus a lemsip drink with paracetamol therefore putting themselves in harms way.

Most counter assistants are also dispensers in my pharmacy. A job requiring intelligence and an extra qualification on top of the counter assistant one.

Taking an overdose is more likely to be an impulsive act rather that a long-term plan. So by restricting the pack size it stops people being able to take enough to kill themselves or suffer serious liver issues from a packet they happen to have at home or by visiting a single store. Others have posted about how rates have dropped since the restriction came in so it's saved lives.

Pharmacists over in the USA have shelves full of night aids, creams with antibiotics. You don’t need a prescription. I get why they ask all the questions over here

I buy Kirkland sleepaid which I think is diphenhydramine, the same as nytol but without the inquisition as I buy it online.

I use one a week when I am at work, very rarely do I use more. It’s just so I can get a good nights sleep Sunday night.

Insomnia is the absolute pits and the menopause has made mine so much worse. Most nights I am awake in the night for an hour or more, even when I am on holiday and it really does take its toll.

i do feel slightly subversive buying medication on the internet but i do know it is only an antihistamine.