Sending DH to the pharmacy as I am refused medicines?

[Gruffling]

Any one else do this?

I've a few instances of overzealous pharmacy staff querying my requests for medicines, so I now send DH for anything I think will be contentious.

Examples:

Sennakot - they really didn't want to give me this, apparently it can be used by people with eating disorders to purge so they don't like to give it to people. However, DH does not get this lecture when he requests it!

My prescription when I was pregnant! Even through the medication was prescribed by the GP for a life threatening condition, I got a long lecture about how I really shouldn't be taking the medication when pregnant as it wasn't licensed for use in pregnancy. Sent DH the next time....when he mentioned I was pregnant, they told him he shouldn't be letting me take it! Needless to say he lied the next time in response to the question about pregnancy/ breastfeeding.

I'd make a complaint tbh

Health services infantilise women, it seems to be in their DNA.
If they wanted to lecture someone about your meds when you were pregnant it should have been your GP. GPs are allowed to prescribe off-licence. The pharmacy shouldn’t be berating the patient about it.

I see the opposite. DH and I generally have over the counter sleeping tablets in for occasional use. He gets the third degree every time he tries to buy them and has even been refused.
I just ask for them and they hand them over no problem.

I think the pharmacist was being responsible regarding the unlicensed medicines and pregnancy. The pharmacist is responsible for anything he/she dispenses, so he/she is making you aware of the risks. Had they not done that, and something had happened, they could be liable.

In the case of the drug that's contraindicated during pregnancy, the pharmacist is obliged to mention it. Even if a doctor had prescribed the drug, the pharmacist is ultimaty responsible for handing over a drug that can do harm, so he had to be sure that the recipient is aware of any risks.

Doctors make mistakes, and the pharmacist is the final stage in ensuring the safety of the patient.

Can you not go elsewhere? Supermarkets, Boots, other pharmacies, online pharmacist.

Considering you can go into a supermarket/ order online laxatives- I really don't understand why the pharmacist is being a busy body.

I would not use them / give them my business.

I was refused a common over the counter painkiller for my migraines, by a pharmacist assistant when pregnant. She was so rude & lectured me, saying they didn't like giving ANY painkillers to pregnant women. Obviously never had a migraine. I'd already had it cleared by my GP, btw.

I drove around the corner to another pharmacy. Told the (male) pharmacist what happened. He was lovely, checked it & said no problem, it says it's safe in pregnancy.

I later discovered the woman who refused me was also a friend of MIL's. Figures. Made sure MIL knew what happened so it'd get dramatically passed along. I wanted that woman to know I got it elsewhere!!

I think this is where you need stock answers:

’It’s been approved by the pre-conception team’ is one of mine that tends to shut things down.

I once got a prescription for XXX strength of drug. The pharmacist (young, male, knew best ) tried to tell me that I could just take half a tablet instead i.e. take half the medicine prescribed. I spoke to the surgery about the pharmacist trying to alter the GP's prescription and she said that they had had complaints previously about his interference. The pharmacy got rid of him.

Same. I have sinusitis caused by allergies that’s mostly controlled by decent prescription spray and oral antihistamines but if I have a cold it’s a nightmare and Sudafed is the only way to avoid getting a migraine.

I get the 3rd degree and the pharmacy assistant whispering to the pharmacist to check my suitability, DH gets asked if he wants 2 packets.

The same when our kids were small, if I took them in for chest infection/tonsils etc it would be “watch and wait” but if DH took them it would be “here’s a script”.

I now send DH. Time and health are precious.

I had an argument with a pharmacist when I wanted to buy omeprazole over the counter. She told me I shouldn't be taking it when pregnant, I showed her the NHS webpage which said it was commonly used and regarded as safe and she still said I shouldn't take it! I asked her if there was a medical reason I shouldn't take it and she said no, she just personally didn't think a pregnant woman should take any drugs. Actually wish I'd complained looking back.

I then told the hospital pharmacist who came to speak to me after I gave birth and she laughed and said it was prescribed all the time in pregnancy and was totally safe.

I sent DH next time

Not true. It is the prescriber, not the dispensing pharmacist, who is responsible for the prescription.

Secondly, a huge number of drugs have to be used off-licence for pregnancy and for children because Pharma companies don't want the risks of including pregnant women/children in drug trials.

Most pharmacists are great. They often pick up mistakes made by doctors and it is important for patient safety that they can query a prescription, if they have a concern. However, the person to query it with is the prescriber, not the patient - that is unprofessional and potentially dangerous, as it may frighten a patient off taking a drug that she really needs. If the pharmacist was concerned, he should have explained to the OP that he wanted to double-check with the GP, and then contacted the GP.

I once had to argue with an Asda pharmacist when I had crippling cystitis because he was concerned about the side effects of medication and was REALLY quizzing me about ‘are you sure it’s cystitis’ 😡I’ve had cystitis 20+ times in my life I know what it feels like you condescending prick! I was in agony too. Ended up complaining about him it was so upsetting

In fairness the pharmacist is absolutely required to make clear that a medicine is not approved or contraindicated in pregnancy (and record that they have done so) even when it has been prescribed.

But that is very different from telling the patient she shouldn’t be taking the drug, which the OP said happened to her.

OTC sleeping tablets!! What are you buying??

nytol?

Yes, Nytol or the pharmacy's own brand.

@FireflyJar weird response

But if the medicine is unlicensed for pregnancy, then it shouldn’t be taken in pregnancy. so the pharmacist is doing his/her duty in informing the patient of the risk in taking it.

Agree! I get they need to ask certain questions for some things, that's their job but it's the over questioning of prescriptions that I find annoying. I had HG when pregnant and was quizzed by the pharmacist about why i needed them and told I shouldn't really be taking the anti sickness meds as it was bad for baby and I should limit myself to one a day if I really needed it. If I didn't take them I'd have ended up in hospital (which I'd already experienced in a previous pregnancy). Fair enough if they need to mention certain things but the advice was not sound medical advice at all.

I have a lot of respect for pharmacists, it's a hard degree, there is CPD and the role does carry responsibility. They get a lot of stick which is often uncalled for but overstepping to this degree is just not helpful to anyone and can be dangerous.

Yes i had this when pregnant. Prescribed baby asprin as high risk for preeclampsia. Pharmacy wouldn't sell it to me even though it was exactly the same off the shelf as per the prescription (only 10x cheaper). In the end DH went in and bought it for me. Now every time i see those stats about asprin being prescribed on the NHS, i think to myself its probably mostly pregnant women who are not being allowed to buy it over the counter 🙄

100% agree with all of this. Very well articulated.