As a pharmacist and a hypnotherapist I feel I am in a unique situation to help people who have become dependant on over-the-counter medicines. I would love to hear from anyone who has first hand experience of this problem to let me know where you would be most likely to go for help. To me the logical place for me to leave information is in a pharmacy . Is that where you would go if you wanted some help? If not can you suggest where ?
Sally
Hi Tashanie,
I have no experience of being dependent on over-the-counter drugs. However, I would say that leaving information only in a pharmacy, would severely limit your scope for reaching your intended clients.
How about setting up a dedicated website specifically targeted towards Solpadeine (etc) dependents. You're saying that you're in a unique position to help - if this is true, if you act quickly, your dedicated site would easily rank at the top of searches.
To further extend the reach to Solpadiene dependents, a page of that website could be dedicated towards referring clients to other hypnotherapists outside of your geographical location. Your information leaflet could be used as a shared resource, to be printed and distributed by them in pharmacies across the country - even internationally.
Hi Tashanie,
I have no experience of being dependent on over-the-counter drugs. However, I would say that leaving information only in a pharmacy, would severely limit your scope for reaching your intended clients.
How about setting up a dedicated website specifically targeted towards Solpadeine (etc) dependents. You're saying that you're in a unique position to help - if this is true, if you act quickly, your dedicated site would easily rank at the top of searches.
To further extend the reach to Solpadiene dependents, a page of that website could be dedicated towards referring clients to other hypnotherapists outside of your geographical location. Your information leaflet could be used as a shared resource, to be printed and distributed by them in pharmacies across the country - even internationally.
Thats a good idea - but I can't guarantee other hypnotherapist will be interested so I am really only thinking of people local to me. I don't think I am ready to go national never mind international!!
There may not be a way for me to do what I want - but I am going to give it a try..........
Thats a good idea - but I can't guarantee other hypnotherapist will be interested so I am really only thinking of people local to me. I don't think I am ready to go national never mind international!!
There may not be a way for me to do what I want - but I am going to give it a try..........
How come you're having doubts? It would just be a case of making the availability of your services know to the right people, wouldn't it? Over on the Solpadiene addiction thread, someone mentioned that they briefly sat in on some Narcotics Anonymous meetings, you could always leave a poster and leaflets at your local meeting place. The classifieds of your local paper, of course - specifically mentioning addiction to over-the-counter drugs. How about asking your local library if you could leave some leaflets with them? Your local community center....etc
How come you're having doubts? It would just be a case of making the availability of your services know to the right people, wouldn't it? Over on the Solpadiene addiction thread, someone mentioned that they briefly sat in on some Narcotics Anonymous meetings, you could always leave a poster and leaflets at your local meeting place. The classifieds of your local paper, of course - specifically mentioning addiction to over-the-counter drugs. How about asking your local library if you could leave some leaflets with them? Your local community center....etc
Because what I want to do is get OTHER pharmacists involved. but sadly few of my colleagues seem to be interested. As a therapist Ic an do all the things you suggest (and probably will once I have worked out how to pitch it.) but if I could get pharmacists involved it would be so much better.
Did you know there is a proposal that medicines that currently have to be on a counter so you are served by an assistant should be available for self selection? It has my profession up in arms because we feel it reduces our chance to intervene i. How would someone like Seanie manage. At least at the moment he has to go to the counter and ASK for his co-codamol. If we can't do anything to stop it it will soon be on a shelf where all he has to do is pick it up and go to the counter - where hopefully there will be some time for questioning - but once someone has picked something up - its a lot harder to get them to put it down..................
Because what I want to do is get OTHER pharmacists involved. but sadly few of my colleagues seem to be interested. As a therapist Ic an do all the things you suggest (and probably will once I have worked out how to pitch it.) but if I could get pharmacists involved it would be so much better.
Wow! That would be brilliant!
Are the few of your colleagues who are interested willing to put in some time and effort to get others on board? Are the disinterested ones simply happy to keep their heads down, toe the line and get paid? I don't know a huge amount about the profession, but if you let me know your colleagues thinking on the matter, I might be able to come up with a persuasive angle on the argument, that they have maybe overlooked which could pique their interest (?). Perhaps other HP members could contribute with that as well.
Did you know there is a proposal that medicines that currently have to be on a counter so you are served by an assistant should be available for self selection?
It has my profession up in arms because we feel it reduces our chance to intervene i. How would someone like Seanie manage. At least at the moment he has to go to the counter and ASK for his co-codamol. If we can't do anything to stop it it will soon be on a shelf where all he has to do is pick it up and go to the counter - where hopefully there will be some time for questioning - but once someone has picked something up - its a lot harder to get them to put it down..................
NO, I did not know that. I'm dumbfounded.
Yes, I read over on the Solpadiene addiction thread about the paranoia and shame factor (my interpretation of what was said), regarding the possibility of being viewed with suspicion by local pharmacists. Whilst, paranoia, shame and (what must be) humiliation of being questioned by the pharmacists aren't exactly ideal inhibiting factors (:rolleyes:), as you're saying, at least their is a narrow window of opportunity for intervention.
Is there a website with more details about this proposal?
Is there a website with more details about this proposal?
Believe it or not it originates from the General Pharmaceutical Council - the body that regulates pharmacies and pharmacists. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society which is our professional body is against it
Hi Tashanie,
Ive only found this site today, and have just posted on the Solpadein thread. Ive just read yours and thought Id throw a few of my thoughts out there.
When you first said, youd like to do more 'in-pharmacy' I immediately went "Uh oh".. Yes I very much want to break this addiction, and today is day one for me. But firstly, the pharmacy has been my 'dealer' for the last 15 years. When I walk in your door, I am prepared to deceive, lie, avoid, and rush out as soon as I've got my drug. I hate the "dont take these for more than 3 days" lecture and look of dissapproval. Pharmacy assistants have been looking at me in disapproval for 15 years.
So for me, my first point to you would be, staff attitude. Firstly, give me my legally bought drug with a smile. Youre the one selling it! Interact with me. Get to know me. Take a moment to ask how other things are, maybe not even mentioning my current phantom headache. Believe me, if being "dissapproving" has been a staffing policy to dissuade customers from buying in the future, its clearly failed! If I think you like me, and empathise with me, Ill be more open to asking for help.
Secondly, what has been an absolute eye opener for me, has been the postings on the solpadein thread. We need to know what the symptoms of withdrawal are. We need to know that these symptoms are perfectly 'normal' AND will pass. How about a large information poster on OTC med withdrawal symptoms or even a leaflet, popped in the bag with every sale, without even telling the customer, for us to read when we get home? If Id had a leaflet over the years with a rough guide telling me, 'Day 1 withdrawal.... Day 5 withdrawal etc, and some positive pointers as to alternatives to treat those symptom, encouragement to see your GP knowing he would be sympathetic, I would have come off these many years ago.
Thirdly, today Im craving a massage. Im not sure if hypnotherapy is something Id go for. I tried it years ago for smoking and felt very disappointed by it. Id hoped to 'wake up' and not want a cigarette ever again. I did finally give up cigarettes by using nicotine replacement. Again, taking control of my intake, and knowing what to expect was absolutely key.
So I do hope this has been a little helpfull, it is of course just my opinion, but after 15 years on the things, I have got to know a few pharmacists! And finally, its easy to forget sometimes that pharmacists are indeed in retail. Its a fabulous profession, but at the end of the day its all about sales. Could the industry do more regards their best sellers? I do wonder. Would Glaxo smith Klein or Reckitt Benckiser get behind a 'beat the addiction' campaign? Its a multi billion pound industry, far bigger than the tobacco industry, a world of recovered addicts doesnt quite fit the forward growth plan of a drug dealing industry, and I fear you may not get the support amongst your own, but thank you for having a go. G. x
Thanks Gasper. I found your comments very interesting. In fct I have posted them (anonymously) on a pharmacy forum to try to get some feedback from some of my community colleagues. I actually DON'T work in a high street pharmacy - but I can understand the points you are making.
Who WOULD you trust to talk to about your addiction? What would make you feel you COULD trust a pharmacist to talk to them about it? Where could someone like me leave information that would help you?
Hi Tashanie, I wasnt making my points at you personally, it was indeed 'the profession'. How great you've passed on my thoughts, though it does say on my patient advice leaflet (that little piece of tiny print paper in the box) that I MAY feel restless and irritable when ceasing long term use ! I have to say, who are they kidding?!!!!!!! But today is certainly a grumpy day for me.
Its another point that really should be addressed. GSK state "Taking Codein regularly for a long time can lead to addiction, which might cause you to feel restless and irritable when you stop the tablets".
They are the experts on this drug. They make this drug. They sell millions of this drug and they're telling us, the worst it can ever get is you'll be a tad irritable and restless when you stop! If that were the case, we'd all be using it correctly (three days or less) and not batting an eyelid about not having it!
Who has approved this medicine knowing what we all know about Codein addiction? How are they getting away with it? Withdrawal symptoms from long term use may include, nausea, possible vomiting, gastro upset of one form or another, headaches (possibly extremely severe) insomnia, restless legs syndrome, muscle ache and so on and so on. However, as we now see here on this forum, these symptoms of withdrawal ARE temporary. You can stop if you know they're temporary. You may not have started taking it in the first place if you were 'informed' of the hook, and its consequences.
Theres nothing on the little slip that tells you that. The slip tells me I may just get irritable and restless when I finally stop.
So if the manufacturers wont fess up to this, how on earth is a pharmacist going to overide the expert opinion of the manufacturer, and start to advise patients otherwise? Who will be suing who first?
The pharmaco's have a far tighter grip on Government than the tobacco industry ever had. Its legalised drug dealing. NHS costs of drugs probably exceed £10 billion a year. Repeat prescriptions (I know Ive gone off topic slightly, but Im having a bad day!) are such easy money for GPs AND pharmacists. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely agree that the benefits of our modern day drugs are indeed fantastic. We have some amazing stuff out there that is saving lives every second of every day. Im talking about the addiction area of the market, and the seeming inability for the big boys to tackle the big names.
In my opinion, it isnt asking the small user at the end of the chain to fix the problem. You have to fix it at the top. Can you imagine the police running a policy of picking up and prosecuting cannabis smokers only, and agreeing with the dealers not to prosecute them in return for a cut of takings? (ahem...it may have happened 🙂 But that in effect is what we have here.
Who would I talk to about stopping? Quite probably my pharmacist if he/she were empathetic. They have a moment when they can catch us. As we stand there being told 'theres none in stock' we have that moment of "oh my god, where do I go now, what do I do now?". If a pharmacist offered to have a quick chat (with a smile on his/her face) in his new shiny patient consulting room, thats when you would catch me. If he/she, could offer real alternatives, none addictive alternatives, Id snap his hand off. Something to help sleep, something for the achy muscles, something for the rebound headache, something for the tummy upset...... Youd have me off codein that day, and spending more in one fell swoop. Surely thats a win win for everyone! Give me an alternative, and a light at the end of the tunnel that this will only be temporary, and Im all yours.
But I havent met an empathetic one yet. Ive never seen a consulting room used, and Ive certainly very rarely met a pleasant and smiley pharmacy assistant!
Im a 4 a day user. Yes, over a very long period of time, but still, only 4 a day. Ive been staggered by the impact of 4 little tablets over a large period of time. Im determined to stop. Its been so helpful reading the Solpadein thread, and saying, thats me, thats me, thats me.... So for me, reading others experiences of coming off, has been enough.
Im not some unique person who has a very rare reaction to taking/stopping codein. So to know that, has made all the difference in the world. G x.