Tesco pharmacy- refused to sell me painkillers!

[squizita]

... because I breastfeed.
I asked the pharmacist for painkillers for a bad back, and said my GP and HV said paracetamol or ibuprofen were ok while I was breastfeeding.

She was just selling them to me when her college came up, snatched tem from her hand and said in an angry, accusing tone "it's not what you SAY your allowed. .. its what we are allowed to sell you!!" as if I was a child poisoner of something.

The irony is of course I just went round to the medicine aisle and put it in my trolley anyway - so clearly they could sell it to anyone.

I don't know whether to mention it or complain? Even if it was forbidden she could suggest another thing.

Gin thread title ... it was tesco. I just wanted a shape of tablet that was out of stock on the shelves, for ease of swallowing.

This particular pharmacist (it's one lady - I wonder if she's had a bad experience ) has "form" for this. They gave me hassle about medications prescribed to prevent miscarriage/early labour. They're really common and any pharmacy must dispense them a lot to pregnant women. That was with a prescription from St Marys Hospital!

Sorry I think I've been unclear about how often I take them - I get flare ups of 3 or 4 days, every month or two. I'm not on it for months.

And I prefer branded tablets not huge own brand horse pills!

Squizitza, sounds like this pharmacist may have had a bad experience, perhaps a situation where her being sued was a very real possibility ( but obviously this is pure speculation, and she could always be like that?) .
Unfortunately the threat of litigation does hang over us in this profession , so we do have to be very careful.
It's often a stressful environment to work in despite the public perception of "it's going to take how long? But it's only one box of tablets off the shelf!!" Sorry! Going off on a tangent there.

A lot of pharmacies these days do provide a collection service where they will collect your script for you and have your meds ready for you? If you can find one that provides this service for your surgery and is also quite local to you it could be helpful to you.
Personally I'm not a huge fan of supermarket pharmacies , they always seem to take so long to do everything!!

Sorry I meant Squizita!!

I had no idea that ibuprofen didn't have a completely green light when breast feeding; I've been popping both quite liberally while in tooth pain recently.
I understand the reasons but I get frustrated with the "May not be safe during pregnancy/breastfeeding" disclaimers. It's even on infant bonjela.

Norah - it does really. The NHS says it's fine on their website. GPs and MWs say it's fine. Other countries say it's fine in the branding of ibuprofen (e.g. Nurfofen in Auz).

It is more 'computer says no'. I presume that, whatever hurdles they have to go through to not put the disclaimer in the UK, the companies either can't (because of ethical issues with testing) or won't (because of cost).

Yes, it is frustrating the way they bung a disclaimer on everything. At least, unlike my friend with 'may contain nuts' disclaimers, I dont' have to deal with it forever

Oh and everything I've said on this thread is what I've actually said to customers over the years. Explaining the reason for a decision to supply or not goes a long way to helping people's understanding.

The midwives at the hospital gave me ibuprofen after DS2 was born to help relieve the afterpains, while I was getting breastfeeding established.

I'm a bit surprised that midwives are happy to hand it out to women breastfeeding newborns but pharmacies refuse to sell it over the counter to breastfeeding women. It's very inconsistent.

Im a bf peer supporter. The issue of safety of medicines for bf mothers comes up frequently, usually in the context of someone being advised by other hcp to give up bf in order to be able to take prescription drugs. Often there is no need because the medicine is actually safe or there is a safe alternative.

We advise women to refer the hcp to the BReastfeeding network helpline or to print out the relevant fact sheet from their website to show them.

The page you want is www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/dibm/analgesics.pdf

Squizita, thread title "tesco pharmacy, you were trying to buy from a pharmacy, rather than just over the shelf.

Zanashar yes I like to use our local one when I can. They get to know you too, so can make informed recommendations and suggestions. Unfortunately my one is at the top of a hill!

I had an EMCS. The hospital advised neurofen and paracetamol alternated to keep painkiller level up for my breastfed baby

When I had my c section in 2013 I was given paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly for a week.

Prescribed by the maternity unit.

Was on ibuprofen and paracetamol round the clock for 3 w post partum for PGP- prescribed by midwife and backed up by HV. No one mentioned it might be controversial!

Yep, I was given ibuprofen after birth and discharged with it by the midwives. I'd complain.

Report this to the Tesco superintendent pharmacist.