Over the counter meds

From an organizational and customer service perspective, it is silly for Boots and others to insist on things that are good for them.  Annoying your customer into shopping with you is a silly and ignorant way to approach business.

On the other hand, in the UK, there are certain classes of medication that are by law required to be kept behind the counter.  Boots isn't doing this because they have some internal policy, but because law requires it.

In the States, either there are thing perscribed or over the counter.  There isn't this "middle ground" of Drugs, and there are not huge groups of people dying because someone didn't ask them questions on their screens.

In the States, either there are thing perscribed or over the counter.  There isn't this "middle ground" of Drugs...

Actually, that's not entirely true. My mother has a viral sinus infection. She was told to purchase 2 OTC meds to help alleviate the symptoms, one of which required she provide her name and address and show her driver's license. This happened just last week at a CVS I believe.

In the past few months, lots of states have started putting anything containing pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) behind the counter. The reason isn't for the safety of the customer or anything like that... it's because it's used to make crystal meth. Apparently people were buying and/or stealing large quantities of it.

Now you have to go to the pharmacist and ask for it. In some places (like here in Vermont) you have to show them ID and they write it all down in a little book -- who you are, what you bought, how much of it you bought.

In the States, either there are thing perscribed or over the counter.  There isn't this "middle ground" of Drugs, and there are not huge groups of people dying because someone didn't ask them questions on their screens.

An alarming number of people kill themselves or seriously damage their livers by accidently overdosing on paracetamol products.

In the past few months, lots of states have started putting anything containing pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) behind the counter. The reason isn't for the safety of the customer or anything like that... it's because it's used to make crystal meth. Apparently people were buying and/or stealing large quantities of it.

Now you have to go to the pharmacist and ask for it. In some places (like here in Vermont) you have to show them ID and they write it all down in a little book -- who you are, what you bought, how much of it you bought.

Totally true!  In my hometown in Iowa they have started doing this as well.  I was initially prescribed Claritan-D  several years ago before it was OTC. I was so excited when I learned it was going to be OTC med.  But now it's put behind the counter for this exact reason. I am only allowed one box per month and have to show my driver's license. How am I supposed to have a month's supply worth if the box only comes in no more than 12 pills??? I assume they want me to go to the doctor and have a prescription but because I know live over here I can't exactly just go to the doctor when I am in the states unless I want to pay out of pocket. Anyway, apparently at the end of each month the police send someone around to each pharmacy to collect this information to see if people have been "pharmacy hopping".  Clairtan here is nothing like the one in the states so when I go back I give everyone I know some money and have them get me some.  That way I can load up and bring them back.  Now, the thing is not to get stopped by customs because they might think something dodgy is going on. I can usually managed to get 2 boxes into one box and then spread the boxes out between suitcases.

Getting prescriptions here has proven, for me, to be difficult and time consuming.  For some stupid reason my GP says she can't fill my med because it's what my specialist prescribed and she's not allowed to or something like that.  Which means I have to get in to see my specialist who has a 6 month waiting list!!  And I can only get a 3 month supply at one time. On top of that they tell me I am only allowed to get it at the hospital pharmacy!  grrr..... I gave up in the end.

Even though you can get certain meds over the counter, if you need more than is allowed you can get a prescription from your doctor.  My doctor (when I lived in the states) gave me a prescription for sudafed anytime I wanted it - no questions.

In the past few months, lots of states have started putting anything containing pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) behind the counter. The reason isn't for the safety of the customer or anything like that... it's because it's used to make crystal meth. Apparently people were buying and/or stealing large quantities of it.

Correct, in some States this is the law, in others it is just business policy because pseudoephedrine is a key component to Crystal Meth.  There are a few other nasty sorts of stuff that go into it (like cleaning fluid).  Right now, most of it comes from gray market Mexican sources.

An alarming number of people kill themselves or seriously damage their livers by accidently overdosing on paracetamol products.

Very true. I have seen so many accidental overdoses in the past few years.  Killing your liver is an ugly way to go. 

Here's an article about the removal of pseudoephedrine from OTC products and its replacement by a different, less effective decongestant:

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-020507-jmn-otc_drugs.52f4d942.html

In the past few months, lots of states have started putting anything containing pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) behind the counter. The reason isn't for the safety of the customer or anything like that... it's because it's used to make crystal meth. Apparently people were buying and/or stealing large quantities of it.

Now you have to go to the pharmacist and ask for it. In some places (like here in Vermont) you have to show them ID and they write it all down in a little book -- who you are, what you bought, how much of it you bought.

My mom & sisters were telling me this is the way it is in my hometown & the town my mom lives in now as well.

Very true. I have seen so many accidental overdoses in the past few years.  Killing your liver is an ugly way to go. 

Yikes! 

One of my first cousins accidentally did this with Tylenol and it wasn't pretty.  Luckily, she didn't suffer long-term damage, but she was in hospital for a bit.

Does anyone know if you can get Allegra or Fexofenadine or the equivalent OTC for hayfever?

Does anyone know if you can get Allegra or Fexofenadine or the equivalent OTC for hayfever?

We don't have any Fexofenadine behind the counter at the Boots I work in and I haven't actually heard of it before (I've been working in the pharmacy on and off since 2001), so I'd assume that either it's not available or it's on prescription only.

The main OTC antihistamines we do sell for hayfever are loratadine, cetirizine and chlorphenamine (Clarityn, Zirtek and Piriton).

Thanks!  You're a star!

Anybody able to find Mylanta here?