Since July this year you can't buy a packet of Codeine containing analgesics - e.g. Panadeine, Nurofen Plus, chemist's own Pain Tablets etc without a Pharmacist typing up a proper label to stick on a box and hand it to you with 'counselling'. You can't buy more than 5 days supply which in the case of Panadeine = a box of 40 or with Nurofen Plus a box of 30.
The reason is that a tiny minority of users were abusing the tablets to get high. I would imagine that to get high you would also be taking in enough Paracetamol to fry your liver or enough Ibuprofen to zap your stomach.
I suffer from gout, also a mild arthritis, and the other day I did my lower back whilst fumbling around in a bottom drawer in the kitchen. I normally have a box of both types lying around but decided to get a box o 30 as they were getting low. At the chemist the chief pharmacist came out and collected my name, address, phone number, other meds I am on, record of bowel motions, size of left testicle etc and I got a little speil about taking the tablets. I said:
"As a sensible mature age intelligent person I object to the humiliating attention-drawing public third degree just because a few low lives have decided to abuse this stuff"
"oh" she said "we are just concerned that every customer is give the best possible health advice etc"
Well, I said, you weren't interested in that two months ago as I could just walk in and buy some. Are you saying that 2 months ago you couldn't give a stuff about my well being?
As usual the eyes darting side to side looking for a window to get away from this annoying non-nanny-state-compliant person. I think pharmacists are frustrated school principals or bank managers and are sour about ending their lives as basically just glorified pickers and packers.
Edit: I know it's not the pharmacists, it's a Government move but pharmacists always seem to love playing "I am actually more like a doctor for your information, sir, which is why I have all these girls in floral uniform shirts working under me if you haven't already noticed............oh and also now I've got you you sonofabitch"
The stupid thing is that there is no realtime monitoring system, I could spend the morning visiting every chemist on the Northside and get up a stash of a thousand tablets if I wanted. If anything it leads to more Pharmacist-shopping and I can actually see a black market starting here. Stupid arseholes. end rant. :icon_cheers:
The reason is that a tiny minority of users were abusing the tablets to get high. I would imagine that to get high you would also be taking in enough Paracetamol to fry your liver or enough Ibuprofen to zap your stomach.
I suffer from gout, also a mild arthritis, and the other day I did my lower back whilst fumbling around in a bottom drawer in the kitchen. I normally have a box of both types lying around but decided to get a box o 30 as they were getting low. At the chemist the chief pharmacist came out and collected my name, address, phone number, other meds I am on, record of bowel motions, size of left testicle etc and I got a little speil about taking the tablets. I said:
"As a sensible mature age intelligent person I object to the humiliating attention-drawing public third degree just because a few low lives have decided to abuse this stuff"
"oh" she said "we are just concerned that every customer is give the best possible health advice etc"
Well, I said, you weren't interested in that two months ago as I could just walk in and buy some. Are you saying that 2 months ago you couldn't give a stuff about my well being?
As usual the eyes darting side to side looking for a window to get away from this annoying non-nanny-state-compliant person. I think pharmacists are frustrated school principals or bank managers and are sour about ending their lives as basically just glorified pickers and packers.
Edit: I know it's not the pharmacists, it's a Government move but pharmacists always seem to love playing "I am actually more like a doctor for your information, sir, which is why I have all these girls in floral uniform shirts working under me if you haven't already noticed............oh and also now I've got you you sonofabitch"
The stupid thing is that there is no realtime monitoring system, I could spend the morning visiting every chemist on the Northside and get up a stash of a thousand tablets if I wanted. If anything it leads to more Pharmacist-shopping and I can actually see a black market starting here. Stupid arseholes. end rant. :icon_cheers:
