Chemist

[Littlemunch]

Picking up Naproxen today and overheard pharmacy staff commenting that I take to much. Felt like saying yes I know I do but how else am I supposed to manage pain. So annoyed right now. Perhaps she would like to tell my consultant how to do her job 🤔

[Philip]

Well if it was me I would ask them to explain or to shut up. I hate these people who talk about others behind their backs. Mr ANGRY, DONT TAKE THIS ABSOLUTE POO, TELL THEM, I DO.

PHILIP

[smithfield]

I think you should complain. Hardly, a professional comment, they are there to dispense the medication, not to pass judgement on it. And if you heard the comment then so could others, a breach of confidentiality.

[lornaisobel in reply to smithfield]

I'm with Smithfield and Philip - do it - do it now- not sure who you would complain to good luck xx

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to smithfield]

That's awful...I think you should complain as well, your doctor wouldn't prescribe them if you didn't need them...it's none of their business!! I've had something similar and complained to their Head Office and vowed never to use that pharmacy ever again!!

[Moomin8 in reply to smithfield]

Ditto Smithfield- if I did that in my profession I'd be out on my ear!

[smithfield in reply to Moomin8]

Ditto.

[popsmith1874]

People like them make my blood boil, have a nice day

[lawoman52]

It is non of the chemists business how much Naproxen you take that is not being professional is it.

Unfortunately you have no choice but to take medication and unless they are a rheumatologist they have no specific knowledge regarding what dose is affective for each person/patient

[JacquiThomas999]

I feel that I use at least 50% of the NHS drugs budget but it isn't for the chemist staff to comment.

[Littlemunch]

Thanks for the support guys. Also for giving me a place to rant where people will understand. Think I will complain to head office.

[nomoreheels]

I'm not defending what was said, that was uncalled for & actually unless the Pharmacist was in agreement they're in no position to comment. If it was pharmacy assistants you heard you should report it to the resident Pharmacist at the chemists.

Looking at it from a different angle, NSAIDs are known to cause serious side effects so under normal circumstances they're only prescribed as & when needed. In Rheumatology NSAIDs often form part of a treatment plan & prescribed longer term on repeat. Your Surgery's prescribing clerk will note how regularly you request a repeat of your naproxen & if it's thought you're taking more than directed your script shouldn't be accepted until just prior to the due date. Just as an aside, you are prescribed a ppi (stomach protector) aren't you?

If you are taking more than directed do mention it to your Rheumy, I've been prescribed 6 or 7 different NSAIDs in 8 years as some do become less effective over time, there are others & I found naproxen one of the less helpful.

[Littlemunch in reply to nomoreheels]

Yes I am taking Omeprazole and only take the dose of Napraxon percribed by Consultant, anything over I got Co-codamol

[nomoreheels in reply to Littlemunch]

That just proves the point then, you do not take too much, you take it as directed by the prescriber & as they're not aware it's to be taken long term they're not qualified to comment & should be reported. To Head Office If it was a high street multiple, if it was an independent then the resident Pharmacist.

[sylvi]

You want to go into your chemist and speak to the manager and in front of all the staff and customers alike make your complaint known and also tell said customers that if they talk about you within earshot what must they be saying about them,then say your takng your custom elsewhere.xx

[Moomin8]

How rude!!

[Hidden]

You should inform the pharmacy manager about their parmacy staff who don't practice " Patient confidentiality". If you overheard them, then so did the other people shopping in the store.

You are not being rude by informing their boss Trust and confidentiality is very important.

[Littlemunch in reply to Hidden]

Shocking thing is, that it was the pharmacyst speaking to the assistant. Currently off with depression so did not feel up to confration

[Hidden in reply to Littlemunch]

Totally understand not wanting a confration when you aren't well. It's just not right. Hope you start to feel better

[earthwitch]

Do they not know that prescription doses are generally about twice as much as over the counter doses - and yes, you do often need to take that much to get proper antiinflammatory action.

[mossgiel]

A lot of patients take strong painkillers and than proceed to carrying out normal day to day things, with no idea of the damage that they are doing to the rest of the body.

[Martinilady]

I think I would tackle them and say " I overheard your comment, I was just wondering if you think I should contact my doctor and tell him your thoughts. Perhaps your staff and the Dr and myself should sit down and discuss what the appropriate dosage should be for someone with my illness"

They will SH*T themselves if they think they are going to be reported to the Dr and his diagnoses is being undermined.

Good luck x

[ElsieH]

I would agree that they were unprofessional in as much as discussing you when they could be overheard but it's entirely appropriate, in my view, for the pharmacist to consider what they are handing over to you.

I consider my pharmacist a vital part of my health care team - she's the one I see every month, she knows how my various medications interact and it was her who stepped in after seeing that I'd been on Naproxen for over 3 years without any PPI being prescribed and queried it. She considers that she is responsible for the drugs that she hands over and makes it clear that if she disagrees with my GP or rheumy, she has no problems raising her concerns with me and empowering me to be more proactive with them.

[Mandalou]

Hi Littlemunch

Gosh so sorry you had to overhear the pharmacists comment. Funny too as something similar happened to me.

In the beginning and immediately following my diagnosis in that period when everything is a never ending round of blood tests and appointments and constant visits to the chemist for epic amounts of different drugs some of them very strong indeed ( Methotrextae, Sulfa, Leflunomide etc)

For me I too had the whammy of steroid induced Diabetes so was on several drugs for that too.

I overheard the assistant pharmacist say to the other pharmacist ' why do they give such a dangerous drug ( Methotrexate) for something as innocuous as Rheumatoid Artritis!

Well I was raging and I've not forgotten it over a year later!

I didn't mind the pharmacist asking for advice it was the ignorance about this disease that struck me.

If you have someone involved in the medical profession albeit on the drugs dispensation side not the prescribing. One would like to think they had a small inkling regards serious conditions like ours.......

I've also had it since , when they questioned the dosage of the antihistamines I have to take because of my allergy to Hydroxy.

Having said the above , I would take it up with them in the chemist in the first instance and only then if you don't get the response you feel you need take it further.

[Littlemunch in reply to Mandalou]

I know what you mean, sometimes I feel that am in the there every week.... I'm on Hydroxy and did try Sulfa with good results but the side effects were too much and got took off them. I can go on Methotrextae but worrried about side effects being as acute again hence the need for regular Naproxen

[Mandalou]

Sorry pressed reply too quickly.

All the best to you

Mx