Pharmacists getting too personal

[Ian]

Australians have been using over-the-counter proprietory medicines for years and have suffered no adverse effects.

Do you know that for a fact or do you just assume because you haven't, no one has?
A pretty broad statement, I'm sure out of 20mill people, someone some where has had a reaction to an over the counter medicine.

[Psyber]

I've been worried about a couple of things the Pharmacies [and supermarkets] are happy to sell and seem unaware of:

1. TV advertisements pushing the wonders of Nurofen for infants, while the data on increased internal bowel haemorrhage published from the Childrens' Hospital in Melbourne is overlooked.

2. Pharmacies and supermarkets selling "natural" remedies containing tryptophan, or 5HT from natural sources, with the warning on the label saying something like "may interact with some prescribed medications".
What it should say is, "If you mix this with an SSRI antidepressant it has a good chance of it killing you or causing brain damage."

[fisho mcspaz]

I've been worried about a couple of things the Pharmacies [and supermarkets] are happy to sell and seem unaware of:

1. TV advertisements pushing the wonders of Nurofen for infants, while the data on increased internal bowel haemorrhage published from the Childrens' Hospital in Melbourne is overlooked.

2. Pharmacies and supermarkets selling "natural" remedies containing tryptophan, or 5HT from natural sources, with the warning on the label saying something like "may interact with some prescribed medications".
What it should say is, "If you mix this with an SSRI antidepressant it has a good chance of it killing you or causing brain damage."

Yeah, I bought some tea from Woolie's containing St John's Wort - that stuff really does need to come with a warning label.

[Psyber]

Yes, St Johns Wort contains a high level of tryptophan.

[Barto]

Yes, St Johns Wort contains a high level of tryptophan.

Which is an essential amino acid used in protein synthesis in the human body.

Ah forget it.. OH NOES, CHEMICALS!!

[Barto]

I applaud the pharmacist for showing due care and upholding the law.
You're lucky to have such a good one.

Exactly, it's the law and they'd be shitcanned for not following it.

Despite the fact that it's a stupid law anyway, if you're cooking up speed it'd be too slow to go from pharmacy to pharmacy (smash and grab is the go), it's still the law.

[Mickyj]

I applaud the pharmacist for showing due care and upholding the law.
You're lucky to have such a good one.

Exactly, it's the law and they'd be shitcanned for not following it.

Despite the fact that it's a stupid law anyway, if you're cooking up speed it'd be too slow to go from pharmacy to pharmacy (smash and grab is the go), it's still the law.

Which is why sensible Chemist shops have removed the offending products from view of the public.
Of course they still smash and grab for things like Perfume etc etc.

[Barto]

I applaud the pharmacist for showing due care and upholding the law.
You're lucky to have such a good one.

Exactly, it's the law and they'd be shitcanned for not following it.

Despite the fact that it's a stupid law anyway, if you're cooking up speed it'd be too slow to go from pharmacy to pharmacy (smash and grab is the go), it's still the law.

Which is why sensible Chemist shops have removed the offending products from view of the public.
Of course they still smash and grab for things like Perfume etc etc.

Go the Glucojel, at least there's still a sugar high to be had.

[Punk Rooster]

I applaud the pharmacist for showing due care and upholding the law.
You're lucky to have such a good one.

Exactly, it's the law and they'd be shitcanned for not following it.

Despite the fact that it's a stupid law anyway, if you're cooking up speed it'd be too slow to go from pharmacy to pharmacy (smash and grab is the go), it's still the law.

Which is why sensible Chemist shops have removed the offending products from view of the public.
Of course they still smash and grab for things like Perfume etc etc.

don't think you can make speed out of perfume Micky...

[westozfalcon]

Australians have been using over-the-counter proprietory medicines for years and have suffered no adverse effects.

Do you know that for a fact or do you just assume because you haven't, no one has?
A pretty broad statement, I'm sure out of 20mill people, someone some where has had a reaction to an over the counter medicine.

I should have said "..and have largely suffered no adverse effects". That would have been a fair statement.

Pharmacists are not doctors and therefore they should not be asking personal health questions of customers - especially within earshot of other people.
They should dispense the medicines that doctors prescribe and provide assistance if it is requested.

[Psyber]

Yes, St Johns Wort contains a high level of tryptophan.

Which is an essential amino acid used in protein synthesis in the human body.
Ah forget it.. OH NOES, CHEMICALS!!

It is a precursor of Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, and ingesting large amounts can dangerously increase Serotonin levels in the brain.
It can produce the same toxic effects, due to elevating serotonin levels, as SSRI antidepressants like Prozac, which act to block Serotonin breakdown.
The combination of tryptophan and SSRIs is extremely dangerous due to their combined effect, so even normal doses can induce Serotonergic Syndrome, which is potentially brain damaging, or fatal!
[It is how "Ecstasy" can kill you, or leave you brain damaged.]

My concern is that people who need an SSRI, and are on one, may unwittingly take one of these products and die, or be brain damaged, due to inadequate warnings on over the counter products.

Natural substances are not automatically safe.
Brain damage has been documented as being caused by excessive ingestion of Vitamin B6.
[There were articles in th MJA and International journals some years ago.]
And Cyanide occurs naturally in some foods - like in the kernels of Apricots and unripe almonds.

[Psyber]

Australians have been using over-the-counter proprietory medicines for years and have suffered no adverse effects.

Do you know that for a fact or do you just assume because you haven't, no one has?
A pretty broad statement, I'm sure out of 20mill people, someone some where has had a reaction to an over the counter medicine.

I should have said "..and have largely suffered no adverse effects". That would have been a fair statement.

Pharmacists are not doctors and therefore they should not be asking personal health questions of customers - especially within earshot of other people.
They should dispense the medicines that doctors prescribe and provide assistance if it is requested.

Pharmacists are now campaigning for prescribing rights and the government may be tempted to give them to them.
After all cost cutting is more important than safety...

[Hondo]

Pharmacists are not doctors and therefore they should not be asking personal health questions of customers - especially within earshot of other people.
They should dispense the medicines that doctors prescribe and provide assistance if it is requested.

I thought you were talking about over the counter drugs, not prescriptions. I have never been questioned on the dispence of a prescription.

However, for over the counter drugs I think you dismiss too quickly that pharmacists, even though they aren't doctors. are in therory very knowledgeable about the drugs they sell and can assist us in picking the right drug to use. They also know which drugs shouldn't be taken together, etc. So they ask what I think are valid and useful questions. To say they have no right to ask about your ailment and have nothing useful to say to help you is arrogant IMO.

You talk like you have all the knowledge and the pharmacist is nothing more than a vending machine. To some extent that's true, but you don't know more about the drugs than they do.

Just buy the stuff online if it's causing you such grief.

[Mickyj]

I just thought I'd drag this topic up again .Long story coming.
With arthritis in a few areas of my body.I have a tendency to buy over the counter pain killers .That is if the doctor doesn't prescribe me anything.
So after leaving work Thursday morning in pain and finding a new Bulk billing doctor (that's another story).And this new doctor's clinic practice of not prescribing panadol forte (wasn't really after that anyway). I left the Doctors office after asking if one of the home-brand pain reliefs that contains codine would be ok to take .YES was the answer.
So after phoning work and informing them I'd be off until next week.I headed to one particular chemist chain .
Now I will admit the pharmacy assistants always ask me if I have taken these before and weekends its the same girl !!So I ask for the 24 pack the price was $4.95 .She walks to get them and I spy the 48 pack for $8.50 right in front of my eyes.So I said no I'll have the 48.

Well you'd think WW3 was about to break out or I was about to rob the joint.UP to the Pharmacist do u have any outstanding conditions yes I went through my Spiel heart troubles high blood pressure cholesterol arthritis .
Well you should be taking Panadol Oesteo taken that it doesn't work .Oh OK your one of the few .Sorry love taking normal Panadol is like taking lollie water for me.and then I went on allergic to anti imflamitries and glucosamine and that fish oil repeated on me .This totally through the Pharmacy assistant. they were hesitant to let me have the pills.
I finally said my new Doctor wanted to prescribe Panadol Forte but it was against his clinics practice.And what would the Pharmacist recommend?
They gave up and sold me the pain killers ?
Now at times its cheaper to buy 2 x 24 packs do they do the same thing answer NO.My wife has bought them for me and never been questioned !!
Do I look like a drug lord or something ?
What makes them so bad to be questioned ?

And before anyone has a shot the new quack thought after almost 16 yrs at this job I should have a desk job .Told him been down that path wont happen .Of course when I go in next week I may face a firing squad for leaving work !!

[Barto]

I noticed recently that the 72 packs of Panafen Plus have a notice next to them about being 'S3' which I assume means a licence check. It's only a matter of time before they clamp down on that which is stupid because it's not like you can synthesise much, anyway codeine can be pretty nice on it's own.

Want to avoid the hassles?

http://www.chemistdirect.com.au/

[Psyber]

I noticed recently that the 72 packs of Panafen Plus have a notice next to them about being 'S3' which I assume means a licence check. It's only a matter of time before they clamp down on that which is stupid because it's not like you can synthesise much, anyway codeine can be pretty nice on it's own.

Want to avoid the hassles?

http://www.chemistdirect.com.au/

Yes, codeine converts to morphine in the body - closely related to diamorphine [aka Heroin].

[Interceptor]

I noticed recently that the 72 packs of Panafen Plus have a notice next to them about being 'S3' which I assume means a licence check. It's only a matter of time before they clamp down on that which is stupid because it's not like you can synthesise much, anyway codeine can be pretty nice on it's own.

As long as you're not an idiot with the stuff:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/pill-popping-trend-burns-holes-in-stomachs-20100204-ng47.html

[Psyber]

As long as you're not an idiot with the stuff:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/pill-popping-trend-burns-holes-in-stomachs-20100204-ng47.html

40 tabs at 12.5mg each is 500mg. That converts to about 475mg of Morphine or roughly 900mg of oral Heroin equivalent a day.
And yes, the gastric erosion from the anti-inflammatory component is a big risk - I'd resist taking them at all on that risk alone.
It is a worry....

[Mickyj]

As long as you're not an idiot with the stuff:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/pill-popping-trend-burns-holes-in-stomachs-20100204-ng47.html

40 tabs at 12.5mg each is 500mg. That converts to about 475mg of Morphine or roughly 900mg of oral Heroin equivalent a day.
And yes, the gastric erosion from the anti-inflammatory component is a big risk - I'd resist taking them at all on that risk alone.
It is a worry....

Let me rack your brain Psyber .
And I don't like to hype on the fact that I have arthritis in three places left knee (yes I do go on about that ) lower back base of spine and right foot.
So I get the knee feeling good the back goes off get the back feeling good and the right foot starts acting up .Fix the right foot pain and the knee starts again you get the picture.

What do I do to stop the pain .Panadol/paracetamol = lolly water.
Panandol Forte not much better when the pain is that bad that is.last time I took it it didnt knock me out !!
Anti flam tablets give me the runs as does glucosamine!
Fish oil out of the last 500 or 1000 tablets i took most repeated on me.
Now I wont sit here and type that the pain is bad 24 / 7 .
I get it rather bad after 8 to 10 hrs work a day .
I can get it from doing nothing .Sounds like a VB advert

What do I do so I can get up and work or go fishing or go to the footy!!
I have promised myself I will never get that bad I need a cane a walker or a wheelchair .Or like a friends mother never get out of bed !!
And I also promised myself aint getting a new knee .
Will power will get me so far then what at 2 am when the pain takes control like an infected tooth ache !!

[Farmy]

I can't have codeine .

Though I've been lucky in regards to pain causing injuries. Not that I haven't tried.