Pharmacy only non prescription medicines

Undervalued

A little bit of a rant (sorry) but also a question for anybody in this line of business....

I use a couple of medicines, on medical advice, that can be bought only from a pharmacy but without a prescription.

Sometimes I am just handed them without question and told how much. However on other occasions I can be given the "third degree" about why I want them, what else I am taking etc etc!

That would be fine from a qualified pharmacist, who's advice I value and seek when appropriate, but it is extremely annoying and intrusive from an unqualified shop assistant!

What are the rules on this, indeed are there any? Given how much it varies from place to place and day to day, either some are being very lax or others are getting well above themselves!

Browntoa

I buy large boxes of ibroprofen on an irregular basis as advised by my gp for joint pain.

Regardless of the pharmacy I get the same 3rd degree from the assistant , it's normal.

Undervalued

Browntoa wrote: »

I buy large boxes of ibroprofen on an irregular basis as advised by my gp for joint pain.

Regardless of the pharmacy I get the same 3rd degree from the assistant , it's normal.

Thanks, in a way that would be easier to understand. In my case it varies wildly from not a single question, just like buying a loaf of bread, to a detailed interrogation! I am only buying the minimum pack size of two items.

Hermia

I think they are all supposed to interrogate you. I don't mind. Given the rise in painkiller addiction, I can understand why pharmacies are taking it more seriously.

gettingtheresometime

I think that they are just cross checking so that the medicine you're buying doesn't affect the medicine prescribed to you by the doctor.

Also it could be that what you're buying the non prescription medicine isn't masking the symptoms for some thing serious.

Undervalued

Thanks, I understand all of that.

My question is more about whether a shop assistant (and not a qualified pharmacist) is competent to do that? As far as I know there are no specific qualifications required to serve behind the counter, although I suppose they would argue they are being supervised by the pharmacist and asking on his/her behalf?

suejb2

Maybe they're not shop assistants but have the relevant pharmacy training.

[Deleted User]

Hi,
I'm a pharmacy technician, please be assured that everyone who works in a pharmacy either has or is working towards a qualification. They are most likely 'counter assistants' who are trained to ask this type of question and they will refer to the pharmacist if necessary. It is part of their job, they are not being nosey or trying to inconvenience you.
Pharmacies also get a lot of mystery shoppers so the chain bosses can check this type of thing is being done!
I hope this helps!

stargirl90

I worked in a pharmacy on the medicine counter for a few years. I had to complete a fairly comprehensive training course on over the counter medicines within 6 months of joining and then do various other training courses throughout my time there, anywhere between 6-10 subjects a year (pain relief/winter health/weight loss/smoking/sleep/allergies etc etc). It's very unlikely that someone with no training is asking you these questions. I promise you it's not nosiness, I was actually supposed to ask these questions with every single transaction (if you have had the odd transaction with no questions at all that's luck, not the norm!!) and we often had mystery shoppers in, we would lose a significant amount of points if we didn't ask the 'WWHAM' questions.

fred246

I used to have loads of problems getting a medicine from the pharmacist. It wasn't often in stock. When it was I always said "Oh great give me a couple." Oh no you can only have one. There was no reason why I couldn't buy two. Thankfully Amazon came along and now I can buy any quantity I want and it's always in stock.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

fred246 wrote: »

I used to have loads of problems getting a medicine from the pharmacist. It wasn't often in stock. When it was I always said "Oh great give me a couple." Oh no you can only have one. There was no reason why I couldn't buy two. Thankfully Amazon came along and now I can buy any quantity I want and it's always in stock.

I would assume that the reason they didn't let you buy more than one was because they wanted some available for the other people who also needed to buy it.