Pharmaceutical Pheces-Phace

[Geek King]

I had a dentist tell me much the same thing with Alieve. I could pay out the wazoo for the prescription dose he wanted to give me, or use X number of the over-the-counter strength for the same effect at significantly less cost. Some drugs it works for, some not. Consult a professional before trying at home. Mine gave me a very clear indication of how long I should take that level of dosage for, and to check back to make different arrangements if that didn't cut it.

[Nephy]

and now have to go to four different pharmacies to get enough to last between trips to town.

I don't know how it works where you are, but here (Colorado), our registers alert us if the person has bought more then the allowed limit that month, and won't let us complete the transaction. Hopping around from pharmacy to pharmacy won't do any good here.

My biggest pet peeve about it is when the pharmacy closes early (weekends and holidays), and I have to deal with all of the idiots who act like I closed my pharmacy early just to mess with them.

[Crosshair]

I don't know how it works where you are, but here (Colorado), our registers alert us if the person has bought more then the allowed limit that month, and won't let us complete the transaction. Hopping around from pharmacy to pharmacy won't do any good here.

That's why they have to go to different stores/pharmacy chains. Plenty of families in North Dakota only go to town (One of the larger cities like Fargo, Bismark, Minot, Grand Forks, Jamestown, etc.) once every week or two weeks for shopping. If your family is sick, that pittance they let you buy won't last.

Lots of people are just double dosing on the stuff that can still be bought on the shelf. Hardly the safest thing to do, but for some it's their only option.

[Nyoibo]

Only time I've ever bought a larger than normal ammount of medication was when I was going to the US for a few months, I got a letter from my GP and it was all ok, I'm guessing you can't do that in the US?

[Pagan]

Wouldn't 4 smaller pills break down differently - different amount of time, different dosages, etc- than one larger pill? That sounds like a kind of irresponsible thing for a pharmacist to say, to me...

Actually, you're better off trusting a pharmacist than a doctor. Many doctors don't have near the pharmacological education that pharmacists do. Pharmacists spend about 6 years learning this stuff, a lot of doctors, sometimes just one semester.

It is still possible to overload the liver, but the doctor won't prescribe the toxic dose.

Wanna bet? I've seen them do it with acetaminophen and Vicodin (which has acetaminophen in it), why not ibuprofen? The maximum 24-hr dose is 3.2g.

I don't know how it works where you are, but here (Colorado), our registers alert us if the person has bought more then the allowed limit that month, and won't let us complete the transaction. Hopping around from pharmacy to pharmacy won't do any good here.

Are you talking one company or all pharmacies, regardless of company? In NM, you can buy your limit at Wally World, but go out to the Walgreens in the parking lot and buy more there. There's no cross-company communication.

[PepperElf]

Actually, you're better off trusting a pharmacist than a doctor.

OMG! yeah...

last time mom was in the hospital the resident doctor prescribed a medication that is known to cause nausea and diarrhea. (and then they wanted to hold her longer for observation because each time they gave her a shot of it she either threw up or...yeah, but that's a story in itself). she couldn't get to the regular doc cos it was a weekend, so until then she'd have to make due with what the hospital gave her.

when she finally got out she picked up the pill form of the stuff from her usual pharmacist and he was like, "Why did they give you THIS one? They should have given you *this* instead!"

Mom agreed and said she had an appointment to see her regular doctor to get the prescription checked. And... the next day, no surprise, the regular doctor issued her a new scrip for the other medication, the same one the pharmacist had said.


and in my own experience ... back in the late 80s, early 90s, i was sick and had allergies at the same time. so along with my usual script for my allergy medication the doc had written me a script for some antibiotic.

bless his pharmaceutical heart! when the head pharmacist saw both scripts come in at the same time he made a point of telling me, "Do NOT take these together!" The allergy medication was known for having *bad* interactions with that antibiotic... in fact it's now off the market (lost FDA approval) for that same reason.

but if he hadn't said anything, i wouldn't ahve known...and might have ended up in the emergency room with a heart attack.

[Nephy]

Are you talking one company or all pharmacies, regardless of company? In NM, you can buy your limit at Wally World, but go out to the Walgreens in the parking lot and buy more there. There's no cross-company communication.

As far as I know, it's all companies. I've had a few instances where someone was refused sale, saying they hadn't bought any from us. When we asked if they bought some from another store *insert examples of other stores*, the answer is usually a quiet yes, followed by them taking their drivers liscence back and leaving. I figure they assumed that you could hop from store to store to get more.

[Pagan]

bless his pharmaceutical heart! when the head pharmacist saw both scripts come in at the same time he made a point of telling me, "Do NOT take these together!" The allergy medication was known for having *bad* interactions with that antibiotic... in fact it's now off the market (lost FDA approval) for that same reason.

And that's exactly what they're there for. I've only known one doctor that would routinely check to see if what he was prescribing would do what he wanted and wouldn't interact with other drugs. Unfortunately, he's retired now.

I know I've caught several problems. They've come in to get a refill and the insurance says "refill too soon" and turns out they're taking too much of the medication. Kind of scary out there!

As far as I know, it's all companies. I've had a few instances where someone was refused sale, saying they hadn't bought any from us.

Dang! I wish we had that. But, NM being NM....

[trinnyg]

Personal Information Invasion of Privacy.

Kay multiple customers consider being asked for their Provincial health care number to be an invasion and many people have asked what do I do when the customer refuses to give it. My answer is If you want to choose to take Monitored drugs then abide by the rules as they have been provided there to help discourage the illegal use of drugs that have been considered dangerous to your health.

Regarding Meth production. A lot of the chemicals are house hold incredients and it only raises flags if they are purchased in large amounts.

Laws only work if they are backed up by smart people.

[Lace Neil Singer]

This seems to me like the paracetamol rule; ie, only two packs to be sold at a time. I've experienced countless people bitching about this, but it's something the store does to cover themselves in case someone buys a toxic dose of paracetamol and kills themselves with it. At least they can say, hand on heart, that they only sold the person two packs.

Paracetamol is lethal; I once took so much, it accumalated in my system and made me extremely ill. O.o I only take it now for colds.

[MannersMakethMan]

Paracetamol is lethal; I once took so much, it accumalated in my system and made me extremely ill. O.o I only take it now for colds.

I can still remember aged 9 having a story told to me by my primary school teacher. She was in Germany one year, and developed a splitting headache, and because it was so bad, she took 4 paracetamol instead of 2. An hour later, she was in hospital having her stomach pumped and nearly died of it.

Never been tempted to do anything apart from follow the instructions after that.

[Naaman]

bless his pharmaceutical heart! when the head pharmacist saw both scripts come in at the same time he made a point of telling me, "Do NOT take these together!" The allergy medication was known for having *bad* interactions with that antibiotic... in fact it's now off the market (lost FDA approval) for that same reason.

In the UK at least the pharmacist has the power to check with the doctor directly or refuse to process the script. If they do dispense it though and 'bad things' happen the blame falls squarely on the pharmacists shoulders, even in cases of incorrect dosage.