State babysitting

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Yesterday I tried to buy a box of nurofen plus. I take about 24 nurofen plus in a 12 month period. I've felt less like a junkie buying Valium off a guy I used to live with.

I had to stand at a busy counter and explain myself to one of 4 girls behind a counter. She proceeded to ask why I needed them, "I have a bad pain", where the pain was, (da fuq?) had I taken them before, was I sure I needed the nurofen plus, explained they were addictive as they had codiene and not to take them for more than three days. Then had to go check with the pharmacist to see if she could sell them.

My question is, why are they over the counter medication but only after the Spanish Inquisition? If they're so dangerous surely they should be script only?
Are we such a nation of imbicles that we need to stand and discuss our migraines and monthly cycles in front of a hoard of people, in order to buy painkillers?

SEPT 23 1989

and yet you can walk into an off licence and buy enough booze to kill yourself no questions asked

Edward Hopper

They don't warrant prescription but they do warrant a discussion about whether you need them, along with suggestions about other medication. Two or three minutes of someone's day is justifiable and doing a good service imo. Countless people end up in hospital with huge ulcers from over use of nonsteroidal drugs like ibuprofen. Codeine is indeed addictive, over use can cause constipated which in turn can cause long standing bowel problems etc etc. So taking the time to ask people if they need the codeine reminds them of the person, so someone continually coming in buying codeine based products can be refused.

LDN_Irish

Codeine addiction is one of the most serious problems the state has faced since inception. It's so so so dangerous that it even affects middle class women.

Taco Chips

Because codeine is an opiate and people become addicted to them very quickly. Most transient pain is easily relieved with normal paracetamol/ibuprofen but when you add codeine people tend to abuse them and wreck their kidneys, their livers and their stomachs. If you have a pain bad enough that only codeine will relieve it probably a better idea to be reviewed by your GP.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Well then why aren't they prescription only?

LDN_Irish

Taco Chips wrote: »

Because codeine is an opiate and people become addicted to them very quickly. Most transient pain is easily relieved with normal paracetamol/ibuprofen but when you add codeine people tend to abuse them and wreck their kidneys, their livers and their stomachs. If you have a pain bad enough that only codeine will relieve it probably a better idea to be reviewed by your GP.

It's pretty funny in a twisted way. "Make sure you put enough paracetamol/ibuprofen/aspirin in that codeine to make sure if anyone exceeds the recommended dose it will do them irreparable harm." "Wouldn't it be safer to just give access to codeine on its own which is much less likely to do irreparable bodily harm?" "ARE YOU ****ING INSANE? People might catch a buzz of it ad get addicted. That's much worse than people literally dying of paracetamol toxicity!"

P. Breathnach

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Well then why aren't they prescription only?

I don't know about this particular medication, but I think it reasonable that there be a zone between "prescription only" and "subject to pharmacists's advice". Remember that for many people, obtaining a prescription costs €50-60.

VincePP

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

and yet you can walk into an off licence and buy enough booze to kill yourself no questions asked

Such comments show utter stupidity and lack of any knowledge.

You can walk under a bus and kill yourself too if you want to stoop to the level of your post

Codeine is far more addictive and the addiction is far more damaging than alcohol. It was the scientific proof of such addiction and the ease of obtaining Codeine that brought about the rules.

Similar rules apply in the uk.

manonboard

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Well then why aren't they prescription only?

I mean this with no jest. If they were script only, there would be people complaining about how its a nanny state and costing you a gp visit.

There's no winning here for anyone trying to maintain public safety (against addictive and abusive habits).

If people didnt abuse the medication, you wouldnt need to have the discussions. Even so though, It makes sense to have a quick discussion with a customer your selling drugs to. Those drugs can be used incorrectly through ignorance or addiction.

LDN_Irish

VincePP wrote: »

Codeine is far more addictive and the addiction is far more damaging than alcohol. It was the scientific proof of such addiction and the ease of obtaining Codeine that brought about the rules.

In what way could a codeine addiction ever be considered more harmful to an individual or to society as alcohol addiction?

Phoebas

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Well then why aren't they prescription only?

Because a pharmacist is perfectly capable of making the decision without forcing people to go to expensive GPs.

Tordelback

LDN_Irish wrote: »

In what way could a codeine addiction ever be considered more harmful to an individual or to society as alcohol addiction?

Surely the point is that it is demonstrably impossible to control alcohol consumption, whereas codiene is already being distributed through pharmacies so it is possible to add a slight check on its misuse. Was it really so terrible, OP, be asked about your health by a pharmacist? Even I'm left wondering what's up with you that you need a defined amount of Neurofen annually.

LDN_Irish

Tordelback wrote: »

Surely the point is that it is demonstrably impossible to control alcohol consumption, whereas codiene is already being distributed through pharmacies so it is possible to add a slight check on its misuse. Was it really so terrible, OP, be asked about your health by a pharmacist? Even I'm left wondering what's up with you that you need a defined amount of Neurofen annually.

That is a good and fair point. What my reply was taking issue with was the notion that being addicted to codeine could be worse (or even comparable) to alcohol addiction. Almost every chronic pain patient in the western world will be addicted to codeine or some other opioid at some point of their life. Codeine addiction (whilst not ideal) has very few serious side effects. Opioid addiction is literally necessary for many people to live their lives normally. Alcohol addiction is nothing but misery and very often destroys your body, mind, family and life.

But I agree with the overall point you're making. I think the amount Lexie was referring to was to show that she uses next to no codeine products yearly. One box a year is what she's basically saying.

LightsStillOn

I'm after getting a serious hankering for some codeine reading through this thread. Mix it up with a bitta Sprite and you'll be chilled in no time.

osarusan

I've bought nurofen plus and not been asked these questions. Is it some new regulation or just the individual pharmacist being..enthusiastic?

I do remember trying to buy about 4 bottles of Calpol before leaving Ireland and the stuff saying no - until I explained that I was moving to a country which didn't have a similar medicine, at which point they sold it to me happily.

Sweetemotion

Tordelback wrote: »

Surely the point is that it is demonstrably impossible to control alcohol consumption, whereas codiene is already being distributed through pharmacies so it is possible to add a slight check on its misuse. Was it really so terrible, OP, be asked about your health by a pharmacist? Even I'm left wondering what's up with you that you need a defined amount of Neurofen annually.

I'm guessing period pain.

LDN_Irish

osarusan wrote: »

I've bought nurofen plus and not been asked these questions. Is it some new regulation or just the individual pharmacist being..enthusiastic?

I do remember trying to buy about 4 bottles of Calpol before leaving Ireland and the stuff saying no - until I explained that I was moving to a country which didn't have a similar medicine, at which point they sold it to me happily.

It came in a few years ago. They're legally obliged to ask you if you've used it before and if you're aware that it contains codeine which is addictive. The Calpol problem you had is because it's illegal to buy more than 1 product containing paracetamol at a time. In guessing they rang your 4 Capols up as seperate transactions.

Its dead Jim

Many people can get addicted to them, the pharmacist would be keeping an eye out to make sure people aren't abusing medicines and will usually recommend something else unless you really need it. If you are constantly requiring it you should probably go see a doctor. They may be able to give you something better or work on the underlying cause.

Or you can just complain about the nanny state getting in the way of that sweet sweet codeine.

LDN_Irish

I saw a 30 minute talk show slot on TV3 a couple of years ago where a woman documented her harrowing experience with codeine addiction. It turned out she was self medicating for her mental health problems and she is now doing well on anti-depressants. In the last 30 seconds of the show it turned out she'd been taking 1 solpadeine a day when she woke up for the duration of 1 month. That's probably (no data will be provided for this whatsoever) a healthier "addiction" than having 1 penguin bar every morning for a month.

These are the kind of people we have to legislate for.

Cathy.C

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

and yet you can walk into an off licence and buy enough booze to kill yourself no questions asked

You can walk into any hardware store and buy substances that would do it even quicker but that's not really the point. The point is that a huge amount of people go the painkiller route and so the gangster movie is an attempt to try to circumvent that. A lot of time the questions are just to see how you would respond. Start saying that 'It's none of your God damn business, just give them to me, you don't know what I been through' and chances are you won't get them.

Aldi have a sign up saying they limit one box per person. Or maybe it's Lidl. One of those.

groovyg

Des bishop buys €650s worth of alcohol but when he wants to buy a few packets of paracetamol it's a different story
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz5EVAQjAHY

riclad

There was someone on newstalk last year ,talking about
problems with people getting addicted to a certain antidepressant drug.
eg if you take this drug for more than a week you may be come addicted to it,
and its as hard to give up as heroin.
1000,S of people in america are addicted to prescription drugs .
She was right to question you before selling you the drug.

The flying mouse

That happened me to and after listening to the lady in question for a few minutes while she went on and on, I just politely asked do i need a doctors note or prescription for these and she said no, So i said well then can you just give me them please or not. she gave them.

PLL

It also depends on the pharmacy you go to. The pharmacy near to my In-Laws asks a violent amount of Questions you feel like a junkie.
My pharmacy (and the few close by I've bought the odd box off) just ask me am I aware of the laws regarding codeine and I just say yeah, it's just for a couple of days I need them.

But yeah, if it is a pharmacy i've never been to before I get a little anxious that they will grill me and maybe say no. Which when you're actually in pain makes you want to shout at them. I take mine usually for kidney infections, dental pain or sciatica flare ups. None of these are in anyway bearable without strong painkillers for a couple of days.

PLL

LDN_Irish wrote: »

I saw a 30 minute talk show slot on TV3 a couple of years ago where a woman documented her harrowing experience with codeine addiction. It turned out she was self medicating for her mental health problems and she is now doing well on anti-depressants. In the last 30 seconds of the show it turned out she'd been taking 1 solpadeine a day when she woke up for the duration of 1 month. That's probably (no data will be provided for this whatsoever) a healthier "addiction" than having 1 penguin bar every morning for a month.

These are the kind of people we have to legislate for.

One a day, for a month! That isn't a serious addiction. After my C section and after a stint in hospital after a back injury (two separate occasions) I was given a written prescription of 6 solpadol a day for 3 weeks. Solapadol has 30mg codeine per tablet, solpadeine from the pharmacy only has 13.5mg. I was given them whilst caring for a newborn - I was high as a kite. However I was recovering from major surgery so it was warranted, but they didn't seem any way concerned about me getting addicted. Which thankfully I didn't.

wakka12

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

and yet you can walk into an off licence and buy enough booze to kill yourself no questions asked

????
We also have enough access to water to kill ourselves from water intoxication
Ridiculous post

Ronald Wilson Reagan

LightsStillOn wrote: »

I'm after getting a serious hankering for some codeine reading through this thread. Mix it up with a bitta Sprite and you'll be chilled in no time.

Purple drank is da ****.

AnonoBoy

Thought this was going to be a thread about free creches or something.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

LexieOnRale

LexieOnRale wrote: »

My question is, why are they over the counter medication but only after the Spanish Inquisition? If they're so dangerous surely they should be script only?

Pharmacists know their stuff though, they're a good first point

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Yeah it's a bit annoying alright but it's a reasonable system, used to annoy me but I'm used to it now. I remember one time when a pharmacist asked me what I needed them for and I said period pain, the man in the queue beside me nearly jumped out of his skin it's ok fellah, it's not catching

Depends on the pharmacist too, some are a bit more thorough, one guy asked me something like "you know all the stuff about these yeah? Grand"

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

bluewolf wrote: »

Pharmacists know their stuff though, they're a good first point

It was the girl behind the counter. As far as I know they're not pharmacists and any consultation I needed for other pills, a pharmacist takes you into a little room and asks you private questions. You're not expected to broadcast your experiences of shark week with ten people standing behind you

froggie76

I wish they would sell them loose out of the packet like with fags years ago!
We would buy a new packet here, take the 2 required then fire the packet up to the top of the press where no kids can get their hands on them,,only for them to be never seen again!! I reckon when we pull out the presses there will be a serious stash somewhere!

Marje

Can vary from each chemist I found.

Girl behind counter in one chemist gave me the 3rd degree thinking she knew better on how to treat me than I did.

Just walked out and got them in another chemist no problem - told me not to use them for more than 3 days.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

LexieOnRale wrote: »

It was the girl behind the counter. As far as I know they're not pharmacists and any consultation I needed for other pills, a pharmacist takes you into a little room and asks you private questions. You're not expected to broadcast your experiences of shark week with ten people standing behind you

I think it actually has to be a pharmacist who does the transaction, a few times I've had to wait for a pharmacist to be free even though there were other staff there. I'm sure they'd take you into the little room if you told them you were uncomfortable discussing it at the tills

Tordelback

Tordelback wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

I take two to four codeine/paracetamol tablets every four weeks. Some things are very predictable.

Permabear wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I recently bought 200 Walmart own brand ibuprofen for $4. The price is ridiculous in Ireland/UK.

Marje

Marje wrote: »

Girl behind counter in one chemist gave me the 3rd degree thinking she knew better on how to treat me than I did.

Bloody overzealous pharmacists. You'd think they were handing out benzos.

The younger ones are usually the worst.

If they put half as much energy into their studies, they would have gotten into medical school altogether.

It's available where I am really cheap and no questions. 30mg with 500mg paracetamol. The amount of people, including myself, who've gone through a stage of taking it too much is mad. Now I've noticed quite a few people are taking a lot of diazepam because it's the same story.

I'm not against a bit of a grilling while getting it since anecdotally, plenty of friends have gotten into it. My stint started with a toothache. Now I don't touch it.

RayM

I usually buy a packet every couple of months. My local pharmacy is grand. They just say "you know there's codeine in it?" (and I have to restrain myself from saying "hell yeah, I fuckin' love codeine"). And they advise me not to take it for more than three days, which I never do anyway because it's a nice treat and I don't want to get addicted. As long as nobody else robs them, a packet of 24 lasts me two months. I've been in other places where they've refused to sell it to me, and offered me Nurofen Express instead. As my dear old granny used to say, fuck that shit.

Two Tone

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

and yet you can walk into an off licence and buy enough booze to kill yourself no questions asked

Off licences are not bound by the duties in relation to public health and safety that pharmacies are.

It is a bit of a nuisance when you get asked all these questions when buying Nurofen or cough syrup but they are required to do it as part of their job, it's not personal.

I do think discretion should be exercised though, to be fair.

log.lady

Well...I had to go to the pharmacy to get some canesten as it works on athlete's foot. The girl behind the counter started her usual questioning, all of which I brushed off because I had been using it before. Now, as she typed the price into the till and I looked at the box of canesten I read that it was used for "vaginal thrush" and got suspicious if I might have been wrong with my assumption that there was only one type of cream, so I decided to ask her if I could use it on my foot. She was visually taken aback and couldnt see why I would be asking this but I kept insisting that I needed it for my poor smelly foot. She had to ask the pharmacist who then came over and confirmed that I could indeed use it for this purpose, leaving the poor girl at the till wondering where exactly I might have had my foot.

Anyway, since then I always hope the pharmacy assistants enter a discussion with me so I can gross them out a bit more with foot stories

osarusan

I've taken Nurofen plus for a sore back, maybe every 8 hours for2-3 days...the effects were just relief from back pain. No 'good' feeling of any kind.

I am surprised that people would develop an addiction of sorts to it.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Same to be honest. No buzz.

Keane2baMused

Tbh if I need solpadeine I just go in to chemist and say...

Awful pain, I have been taking neurofen and paracetamol but it's really not helping. Is there anything else you have which could help?

It's when you ask directly for it they get suspicious and grill you.

myshirt

Watch 'My Friend Solpadeine' and you'll be glad of the service.

ricardo1

Marje wrote: »

Can vary from each chemist I found.

Girl behind counter in one chemist gave me the 3rd degree thinking she knew better on how to treat me than I did.

Just walked out and got them in another chemist no problem - told me not to use them for more than 3 days.

Maybe she did.

ricardo1

Keane2baMused wrote: »

Tbh if I need solpadeine I just go in to chemist and say...

Awful pain, I have been taking neurofen and paracetamol but it's really not helping. Is there anything else you have which could help?

It's when you ask directly for it they get suspicious and grill you.

Pharmacist in that pharmacy is then not doing their job properly.

Marje

ricardo1 wrote: »

Maybe she did.

A young girl who hadn't a clue what she was doing, spent more time looking at her nails while asking questions. She wasn't the pharmacist.

daRobot

It's actually the ibuprofen, not the codeine that does the liver damage to people who abuse them.

I wonder if the people who do abuse them heavily, actually do a water based extraction and separate the codeine from the ibuprofen. From a harm reduction basis, they should as they'd save their liver. But they'd probably feel too junkie like...

It's a big thing in the States. You can get it in cough syrup and people mix booze with it - crazy popular in hip hop culture.

Grayson

Most of the girls I know have some nurofen plus at home. They all walk in going "It's for period pain. Nothing else works"