Talking the talk at the chemists.....

[smegballs]

So I'm heading to Portugal for a few months in a couple of weeks, and went down to the chemists to get some drugs before I go.

I researched various stuff to put in my med-kit, and heard about Phenergan (Promethazine) a multi-use anti-histamine that can be used for treating allergic reactions, nausea, insomnia and as a mild sedative. Sounds like a pretty useful thing to have with me.

So the conversation in the pharmacy went like this:

[GhostRider]

Probably because of its heavy sedation effects - probably too many people falling asleep at the wheel or losing arms in heavy machinery for them to be keen on shifting it.

Wiki says its a first-generation antihistamine as well so again, they're more keen on shifting stuff that's more targeted, less side effects and, above all, more expensive.

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[Jayy]

Mate, this is something that REALLY pisses me off. I don't usually buy medication but on the odd occasion, I need some strong pain killers for my knee.

After my brother in law gave me a load of Tramadol's, I burned through them in a couple of weeks. Was told to get Paramol from a chemist as it's quite strong as well.

I go to buy it and the chemist is quizzing me on why I'm specifically asking for Paramol, I tell her and she proceeds to say it's for 3 days only and not to be taken for prolonged periods.

About a week later, I go back and this time she refuses to sell me them. As I said, I don't buy medication often so I was un-aware of this "rule". They're basically treating me like some kind of smack head saying I was, "Only here the other day".

I was like, "Are you being serious? You're refusing to sell me a non prescription pain killer over the counter because I came a week ago? Do I look like a dug addict?".

I get it, people do go in chemists and abuse prescription medication, if I was turning up daily, dithering and shaking, eyes dialled in, I see why they might refuse someone like that.

Anyway, went to another chemist, got them... went back a week or so later and same shit.

Fuck that, I just want some fucking pain killers...I know what they do, I know the score, don't need to treat everyone like smack heads begging them for pain killers

[Ste]

It's normal for them to ask you questions when you're buying over the counter stuff and if they don't like your answers then they won't sell to you.

Alternatively you can buy stuff online... https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/phenergan-10mg-tablets-p10195.html

[stinkwheel]

[P.]

Yeah, I'd be considering getting things looked in to rather than living using them. I spent 8 months going between oxycodone and tramadol, it took about 18 months to come off them and I was possibly as close to a crack addict as you can get in that period. It was not fun and I'd not want to go through it again.

[Rogerborg]

[smegballs]

[MarJay]

[Robby]

Some drugs come on a P label, which is the middle ground between prescription and uncontrolled. It means you can only get them from a pharmacy, and the pharmacist can refuse to sell them.

So you can buy paracetamol in a petrol station, but not co-codamol.

[GhostRider]

They also have restrictions on how much sudafed you can buy at one time, owing to its pseduoepinephrine content - apparently meth labs are enough of a problem in the UK to warrant enforcing this.

GhostRider
____________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[M.C]

As ste says buy stuff online. What really pi$$es me off is when you get a prescription, £8 please, when the stuff costs a fiver online. So my taxes go towards ripping me off... brilliant.

[Poseidon]

I always take nytol over to Ireland with me for a friend who struggles to get hold of it over there. Similar to the OP, you need a reasonable story for wanting some. I always use the "I'll be on a ferry for nearly 24 hours and I get very anxious when I travel, so need something to help me sleep".

I clearly sell the story to them because as well as giving me the pills, they offer all sorts of advice to overcome anxiety when on boats.
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[swampy]

[stinkwheel]

[JP7]

I bought a small box of Migraleve from a Boots pharmacy the other week and it was like the Spanish inquisition. The first person wasn't qualified to sell me them so I had to return to the queue and wait for the other person.

"Why do you want those?"
"For migraine."
"How often do you have migraine?"
"Once or twice a month."
"Have you seen your doctor?"
"No, not recently."
"Why Migraleve?"
"Because it's the only thing that works."
"Have you had it before?"
"Yes..."
"Do you want the pink ones, or the pink ones and the yellow ones?"
"Just the pink ones."
"Why not the yellow ones?"
"Because the pink ones do the job."
"You know you're only supposed to take these for three days because of the codeine?"
"Yes, I only usually need one dose."

Eventually I passed the exam and was allowed to leave with the damn tablets.

TL;DR - Pharmacists will always ask questions when you want particular things.

[dydey90]

I can't work them out, there's no correlation at all for drug restriction. Once bought a bottle of night nurse and the woman behind the counter got out the thumb screws and was highly suspicious of me, a potential addict, giving the completely implausible excuse of "the missus needs it because she's having trouble sleeping"

But then, my missus wrote off her car, got lots of neck/back ache and got a years supply of co-codamol prescribed. Two years if she's careful to not take it for more than three days.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[MCN]

'Aspro Clear' you cannot get it in UK now as it was taken off the shelves.
I was told, by a pharmacist, that it may have been due to the salt content (Sodium Something)
You can get other soluble aspirin but it tastes like.... Aspirin.

I now bulk buy Aspro Clear when I go through Amsterdam Airport. I am now a muthafukin a drug smuggler.

I find it super effective for aches an' pains, especially headache/migraine.

One must watch the dose and frequency though as it not so good for the gut. But I have been 'self-prescribing' for years and I don't have an ulcer yet.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[defblade]

[c_dug]

Codeines addictiveness is underestimated by many people. I've personally witnessed it change someone's life permanently and know at least one other person who was hooked but managed to break the cycle.

Arguably it's more of a "gateway drug" than Cannabis.

I can see why the pharmacy is careful.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Jayy]

[stinkwheel]

[Poseidon]

[defblade]

[defblade]