Over the counter or possibly not

Dreamydiver



Joined: 30/08/2010
Posts: 306

Message Posted:
18/09/2011 21:07

can you purchase UK prescription drugs over the counter?

I only ask as I take Levothyroxin daily and am paranoid about coming over and my luggage is delayed / hand luggage lost / handbag stolen / pockets dipped.................OK, I'm paranoid, but can anyone put my mind to rest?

Kibris


Joined: 07/11/2007
Posts: 372

Message Posted:
18/09/2011 21:16

Yes Dreamy - Levothyroxine is available over the counter here . 28 tabs are 7.8TL

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
18/09/2011 22:42

You'll also find you can buy drugs over the counter that you would need a Dr.s prescription in the UK. Not sure whether that's a good thing or not?

BizziLizzi


Joined: 02/08/2011
Posts: 855

Message Posted:
18/09/2011 23:39

Swings and roundabouts. It saves both Doctor's and patients time with repeat prescriptions for tried and trusted repeat prescriptions and panics if one runs out of or loses a essential medication away from home.

One should be careful however if buying a fairly innocuous item (cold cure, antihysteme etc) to check there are no contraindications if the instructions are in Turkish!



I find chemists here are usually knowledgeable, responsible and helpful and ask questions if it is something potentially harmful and on a couple of occasions when a "prescription" was written out by a doctor (actaullly once a vet) they have phoned to check the dosage.





Which raises the question are where the poisons used on animals so distressfully come from.

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
18/09/2011 23:39

Tango1

Perhaps thats the reason they punnish illegal drug users here so heavy in order so they keep chemists in bussiness.

joseph


Joined: 17/04/2008
Posts: 709

Message Posted:
18/09/2011 23:40

Hi Dreamy...



I think you will find you can buy many drugs over the counter here that you cannot in the UK.



However I think you will also find... at least I did... that the pharmacist will ask questions to verify your use/need... I am pretty sure they are responsibly dispensed and not just handed over... at least that has been my experience the one time I needed a "prescribed" medicine for my mum.



Regards Joseph

MsGarnet


Joined: 04/01/2009
Posts: 989

Message Posted:
19/09/2011 01:37

total segue - we used to live at the very top of West Hill, Sanderstead; when my grandparents became ill, my father bought the house opposite because it was larger, and we literally moved over the road...

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
19/09/2011 08:32

Message 7

Have you lost the plot?

bondi


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
19/09/2011 08:47

I take thyroxine as well plus a pile of other ones now - feel as though I rattle. Anyway, back to the point - my thyroxone and other blister pack drugs come in boxes in UK when I ran out I took the empty box (which has the name, date and dosage on an adhesive label) to the pharmacy and told them I had run out - they couldnt have been more helpful. The medication that does need prescription is heavy pain killers that contain opiate based drugs like codeine etc they are not allowed to sell them I believe.

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
19/09/2011 11:01

I take an powerful painkilling drug made by Pfizer (it is addictive and I have to be very careful) Drug addictics would love it and its cheaper than buying from a dealer. The is no way on this earth that it would be sold over the counter in the UK (or for that matter in the USA or Europe). However, because I've been going to the same Pharmacy for the last 3 years or more, they know me and they had the first prescription from the hospital they sell it with a "be careful" before I leave the shop. I've spoken at great length regarding pharmacist training and it's not as high as the UK but where I go they have the qualifications necessary BUT there are some pharmacist (!!) shops with little training.

Dreamydiver



Joined: 30/08/2010
Posts: 306

Message Posted:
19/09/2011 18:50

thanks everyone ...I am happily assured!

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
19/09/2011 19:48

Dave (message8), message 7 was referring to the location shown in the original posters profile - I think!

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
19/09/2011 20:49

Bill

Silly me, of course I should have been checking everyone's profiles so that I understood what was being posted.

Take care

AJ