Over-the-counter vs. behind-the-counter meds

From reading some other posts on here, it seems that some medicines are available with out a prescription, but are kept behind the counter at the chemist. So my question is, how are you supposed to know what's back there?

For instance, I could use some diflucan. Boots online says available by prescription. But I saw a post on here of someone who said she got it over the counter. I guess the only way to find out is by going up to the pharmacist and explaining my symptoms? Being from the US, this is a really weird concept that seems a little potentially embarrassing in some cases.

Coupled with the fact that I just registered at a surgery yesterday, and they won't allow me an appointment for another two weeks-plus, I suppose I will just suck it up and investigate what the chemist has to say, if that's how it works...

I currently work behind the counter at Boots as a Healthcare Advisor, so if you have any questions about what's available on the shelf vs. behind the counter vs. on prescription, just ask (or PM) .

But to answer your question: yes, you go up to the pharmacy counter and just ask for what you want - you don't have to talk to the pharmacist unless you want to as all the advisors are trained (they will have taken or will be working towards healthcare exams and are qualified to assist you) and know to be discreet if you have an embarrassing problem. The advisor will ask you questions like: what are your symptoms?, how long have you had them?, have you used the medication before?, are you taking any other medicines? etc. to determine if the product is suitable for you to use (some people cannot take certain products due to existing conditions or interferences with other medications, but the customer may not always know this).

Diflucan is available behind the counter - you don't need a prescription for it - and you can buy it as long as you have been diagnosed by the doctor in the past and have used it (or other similar treatments such as the cream) before. However, you can only treat yourself up to twice within a 6-month period and we advise that if you need it more often that you visit the doctor in case there is an underlying cause that needs to be sorted out.

In Boots, we don't actually stock the Diflucan brand tablet anymore (we used to), but we sell a Canesten one and a Boots-own brand one instead. It costs £10.50 for the Boots one, £11.50 for the Canesten one and £12.99 for the Canesten tablet plus cream combination pack - so in fact, it is cheaper on prescription!

Hope this helps .

That helps a great deal. Thank you!

Also if you're truly in need of a GP they are supposed to make their best attempt to offer you an appointment (with any doctor, not necessarily the doctor of your choice) within 48 hours. The caveat is that if they, for example, offer you an appointment at 10am tomorrow and you can't make it so you turn it down, they're off the hook because they did offer you one. So in other words if you're really in need to the point that you'll make yourself available you should be able to get in far sooner than 2 weeks.

If they're saying that it'll take 2 weeks before you're "properly" registered and can make an appointment, they're not following the rules and you should ring your local Primary Care Trust or look for another practice to register with....

My experience with GP's is always to tell them its urgent. Always.

My GP is fab and will always see you same day or next day if there isn't an open surgery and they will ALWAYS see children within 4-5 hours of your calling.

But my experience with the NHS is to tell them you have an urgent problem.

I called on Friday to enquire about registering and got an appointment for the following Monday.

I did get a run around about HOW to register.  First lady insisted that I need to get there ASAP (on Friday) with my passport and proof of residence or my appointment would be canceled. 

I made two trips (first one I got there just as they closed for lunch) - only to be told that I could have just brought the info on the day of my appointment.  I got a bit flustered, so she volunteered to make photocopies to put into my file (so I wouldn't feel that I had exerted so much effort in vain). 

At my appointment on Monday, a third lady told me "we don't have a file for you, we don't collect paperwork for unregistered patients" when I asked about the photocopies.  Thankfully, I anticipated the worst and brought my paper work along.

I remain thoroughly surprised that three people at the same office can have three different ideas of how things are supposed to be done.  Each one was convinced that they were right.  It's like there is no one training routine - or no one person in charge.

There are a couple of surgeries in the area, but this is the only one (out of three) that answered the phone when I called.  It's close and the GP was nice enough, so I'll just anticipate aggravation and conflicting information.

FYI- Tesco have an 'own-brand' diflucan.  cheapest i've found.

I've had no qualms about talking to my chemist about things.  He's great.  I go to a local shop and now know him and his wife pretty well.  They've been very discreet and professional.

The adjustment for me was when I moved to Spain in '98.  Out there EVERYTHING is behind the counter.  You can't even pick up paracetamol (tylenol) over the counter and have to go to the pharmacist and tell them your symptoms and they give you the appropriate meds.  People don't tend to go to doctors unless it's fairly serious b/c their pharmacist is the one who will typically diagnose and treat.  You'd be surprised what they can give you without a doctor visit.

The system worked fine, but eventually provided one of my most embarrassing moments.  I got my first ever yeast infection while I was there.  Now I speak fluent Spanish, but had never learned the words for those parts of my body, and "yeast infection" does not translate literally at all.  By the time I figured out what was going on, I felt desperate and needed something immediately.  I went to the pharmacy, but my Spanish just didn't cut it to explain the problem.  You can imagine the result.  I finally got my message across through hand gestures, a sort of medical charades--humiliating, to be sure I walked out of the building not entirely sure they hadn't given me something for an STD.  I can laugh at the memory now, but oh, it was NOT fun then!   You should have seen the sympathetic looks on their faces as we tried to communicate with each other.

I currently work behind the counter at Boots as a Healthcare Advisor, so if you have any questions about what's available on the shelf vs. behind the counter vs. on prescription, just ask (or PM) .

Goodness, this is handy to know. Thanks.