How are you coping with the new guidelines.
So far I'm managing alright and taking every request for Solpadeine or Nurofen Plus on a case by case basis, but it is taking up a lot of time. It's not too bad at the moment because this is a quiet time of year for me but at the height of the cold and flu season I foresee a problem.
New Codeine guidelines are in Ireland only. Hibernia is referring to these I think. The Pharmacist is supposed to have a discussion with everyone requesting OTC Codeine based products. I did a locum yesterday and it took up a lot of time. Generally the public were understanding that this was a requirement and some even agreed to take Panadol/Neurofen. However, the answer I got mostly was " I've tried Panadol/Neurofen before and it didn't make my migraine go away!" Did you get many to change Hibernia?
At the moment it's a bit difficult alright..We all know our 'regulars' and the ones who trawl every pharmacy at least once a month. My view is the drug companies will provide the answer. We can still legally advertise non-codeine based analgesics. The posters will arrive for nurofen, panadol, disprin etc extolling their virtues. The retail price will increase to compensate for lost codeine sales, and the status quo will re-emerge. Codeine-based products will either simultaneously be rapidly withdrawn from the market, or the suppliers will simply charge an even more ridiculous price for them in an attempt to keep them viable.
Just now, my tack is 'here's three days supply..don't come back without a prescription'.
I know there's a problem with the 3-day supply thing against the available pack sizes, but I have simply put that down to the absolute stupidity and ignorance of the PSI and the HSE, yet again. 'You must only give a three-day supply, at a dose of 6 tablets daily'. pack sizes available? 12 or 24. I would be laughing if it was actually funny.
(Don't get me started on hardship)
Fleeg.
Last edited by Fleegle; 9th, August 2010 at 09:36 PM.
Sorry critcare, as Hector says these guidelines only apply to the Republic of Ireland. Codeine addicts living close to the border can nip to Northern Ireland and pick up their supplies there but those futher south should find it more to feed their habit. Of course those using the products properly are also finding it harder to get the pain relief they need.
A few people have taken paracetamol or ibuprofen to 'give it a try' but I doubt they will be back. If it does work for them they will get more in the supermarket with the rest of their shopping so more customers lost.
I'd say we will see a status quo developing where people will learn the 'right' answers to the questions they know we will ask, along the lines of "yes I packed these bags myself, no they haven't been out of my sight, no I'm not carrying anything for anybody else." How often are those answers strictly true? Yet it's what we ALL say at the airport.
At the pharmacy they will say "yes I have tried paracetamol and /or ibuprofen, yes I am suffering from severe headache/toothache/backache/period pain, no I won't take them for more than 3 days (despite getting a 4 days supply), yes I know ALL the side-effects and am willing to risk them - now just sell me a pack"
King Amongst Members
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote