chemist refused to sell cough syrup!

Lotus-eater

What seems to have been overlooked mostly on this thread apart from a couple of posts, is that it doesn't work anyway.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/parents-should-not-give-children-over-the-counter-cough-medicines-1.904017
Honey and lemon. And you don't have to beg for it from a shop assistant.

whatmichaelsays

Zazen999 wrote: »

If they can't sell cough mix for children; what's it doing on the shelf then?

This will answer that:

Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd

Lotus-eater

I loved the recent findings of some qango or other, looking into complimentary medicines, they asked boots why they sold them if they didn't work.
Because there is a demand for them, says boots.

Brilliant.

feelinggood_2

csh wrote: »

I was very nearly given a written exam trying to buy a packet of Sudafed at the chemist. Tesco and Asda all the way for me now. I refuse to give my life story to some kid for a packet of decongestant.

I only worked as a counter assisstant in a pharmacy for a short time, and the questions were all there for a reason. The amount of people who asked for medications that were unsuitable for their use was amazing. If people read the infomation leaflets that came with medications, and followed the instructions, the questions wouldn't need to be asked.

Lotus-eater

feelinggood wrote: »

I only worked as a counter assisstant in a pharmacy for a short time, and the questions were all there for a reason. The amount of people who asked for medications that were unsuitable for their use was amazing. If people read the infomation leaflets that came with medications, and followed the instructions, the questions wouldn't need to be asked.

There is a school of thought, the Darwin one, that just says let them have what they want

Not that I would wholly agree with that of course

ali-t

feelinggood wrote: »

I only worked as a counter assisstant in a pharmacy for a short time, and the questions were all there for a reason. The amount of people who asked for medications that were unsuitable for their use was amazing. If people read the infomation leaflets that came with medications, and followed the instructions, the questions wouldn't need to be asked.

that is so true although the info isn't always in the leaflets. I was informed recently by a girl in the chemist (not the pharmacist) that I shouldn't take any decongestents, cold remedies etc with pseudoephedrine in them and shouldn't take things like lemsip as it is not compatible with the thyroxine I take. Great service and now no more palpitations when I take tablets.

bylromarha

I got grumpy about this a couple of months ago. Sudafed is the only thing that works on my 5 year old's colds. He rarely gets them, but he gets them big style when they get hold. Sudafed allows him to breathe, so he gets a dose just before bedtime to allow him a half decent nights sleep when these colds are in full force.

Tried to get a bottle in Boots in January and it can now only be issued over the counter for over 6s. Like I said to the assistant, he's had it when he's needed it since age 2, and reality is I could return the following day and lie about his age to get it - why bother putting both of us through that? And what sort of person does that make me?

Got it instead in Tesco pharmacy, who actually checked the side of the bottle and saw that it was suitable from age 1...

kingfisherblue

ali-t wrote: »

that is so true although the info isn't always in the leaflets. I was informed recently by a girl in the chemist (not the pharmacist) that I shouldn't take any decongestents, cold remedies etc with pseudoephedrine in them and shouldn't take things like lemsip as it is not compatible with the thyroxine I take. Great service and now no more palpitations when I take tablets.

As I stated in my earlier post, I always use the same pharmacist because my son takes a number of different medications for various conditions - he has eight different medicines a day at the moment and it's about to increase to nine. I received a letter yesterday telling me that he now has aquired hypothyroidism and needs to take thyroxine, so this information is very useful - thank you. I realise that you say the thyroxine I take so it might be different for my son, but I will definitely check.

Incidentally, I once had an A&E nurse at a major children's hospital tell me that I should have given my son ibuprofen instead of bringing him into the hospital - I pointed out that as he has unstable asthma, plus a condition that mimics asthma, ibuprofen is not recommended. Also, as I have a severe allergy to ibuprofen (and I carry two Epipens for it), my GP has advised me not to give it to any of my three children without medical advice.

Curious_George_2

diable wrote: »

My surgery states that they won't write out a prescription for medicines available over the counter. Are you sure you spoke to the pharmacist and not a counter nazi?

I spoke to the lady at the counter who went and had a word with the pharmacist who said no...

dianetheartist wrote: »

something that works really well for coughs--and it sounds a bit odd--rub plenty of vick (or any other brand) vapour rub onto the soles of feet and put socks on.Use at bedtime--it really does work-adults and children alike.Dont know how it works but it does.Loads of my friends and family have tryed it and it does work wonders!

thanks for this- when he has a cold i usually have a blob of vicks in hot water just under the cot so the vapours float upwards so always have a stock of it in! will try it

Zazen999 wrote: »

If they can't sell cough mix for children; what's it doing on the shelf then?

exactly what i said.... funnily enough that was the only thing the counter monkey didnt have an answer for...

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I thought prescriptions for under 16s were free,

oh yeah....forgot about that :o:o
sorry - was mid rant and gor carried away! lol


to answer all other questions - my son is just 2 years old, i did have him with me but even if i had been alone they know hes only little as this is a tiny chemist in a tiny town,
and hes fine.. its just a little cough, hes been quite happy with regular drinks and a bit of honey and lemon during the day i just like him to have a dose of something better in the evening so the cough doesnt bother him as much during the night

why is cough mix a "behind the counter" item in a chemist, but you can happily grab one off the shelf in any supermarket?

the EMA / pink book thing sunds fantastic... sadly nothing that helpful round here

GlasweJen - thanks for your reply, i guess seeing it like that makes sense but if they are the new rules then all cough mix should be off the shelf everywhere or its pointless!

thanks to everyone for your replies

kingfisherblue

Just a thought, but have you triedd propping your son up in bed a little when he has a cold? If you put a pillow under his mattress (for safety - don't put extra pillows on his bed at this age), it can help to stop the gunk gathering in his throat and irritating him.