Pharmacy ID suck.

[sld72382]

This thread here reminded me of a conversation I overheard at the supermarket about a week or so ago.

For those that don't know: ANY pharmacy keeps the cold decongestants behind the counter, you can only buy one, and you have to show your ID so they can write down your license #. This is because the key ingredient can be used to make crystal meth, and as such is label a controlled substance.

In this supermarket the bakery is right next to the pharmacy, and I had the (dis)pleasure of overhearing this lovely conversation between a HillBilly type who looked like he hailed more from the rural central part of the state than the more urban south portion.

HB: The SC
PH: The pharmacist.

HB: I need to buy some cold pills for my wife....

PH: I have these available right now (shows him the ones behind the counter, I presume).

HB: I'd like two packs, please.

PH: You can only get one, I'm sorry.

HB: Why can't I get two?!

PH: Per regulations, only one pack can be sold at a time to one person.

HB: That's silly, who would make those regulations?

PH: It's not us, the government did.

HB: See what happens when you vote a damn democrat into office, you get stupid stuff like this happening!

SLD's note: Without going into fratching territory, it was actually George W Bush who signed these laws into place, not Obama.

She takes the cold meds from the shelf and asks for his driver's license. That's it where it gets, well....

HB: Why do I need to show you my damn driver's license for freaking cold pills?!

PH: Again, government regulations.

*Begins to hand it to her until he sees the logbook coming out, then quickly pulls it back.*

HB: Hell no! You are not writing down my info in a book, that's invasion of privacy!

PH: We have to keep a record of all sales of medications that contain Pseudoephedrine, again it's not us it's the people at the federal level that is asking us to do this.

HB: Why the hell would the feds care about me buying my wife cold pills?!

PH: Pseudoephedrine can be used to make crystal meth, and because of that it's listed as a controlled substance, that's why we need to write down your ID info, that's also why you can only buy one pack at a time.

HB: So you're thinking that by getting this shit I'm some sort of drug dealer?! What the fuck is that crap! That's it, you can keep your damn cold pills, I'm going to Wallgreens!

*Storms off before pharmacist can say anything.*

By that time I walked past the pharmacist and gave her the "I'm sorry you had to deal with that" look before paying for my stuff and leaving.

Some people....

[Pixilated]

We have similar laws here north of your northern border for exactly the same reason. This looks like an interesting view of my future, LOL.

I wonder how many places he went to before he finally caved in and handed over his license ... ?

[MamaMootz]

Is it wrong of me that a teeny weeny part of me would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at Walgreen's once he got there and they asked him for his license again?

[RetailWorkhorse]

If it's wrong, MamaMootz, then I don't wanna be right! I'd love to have been a wee fly on the wall.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

If it's wrong, MamaMootz, then I don't wanna be right! I'd love to have been a wee fly on the wall.

Then when the poor cashier goes to clean up she wonders where the trail of glitter came from, and why it says "Sorry, but you're out of bacon."

[RetailWorkhorse]

Not a fairy, Ambrosia! Wait, crap, I kinda am!

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Not a fairy, Ambrosia! Wait, crap, I kinda am!

Yes. Yes you are. Add some glittery butterfly wings to that avatar of yours.

[Merriweather]

We have similar laws here north of your northern border for exactly the same reason. This looks like an interesting view of my future, LOL.

I wonder how many places he went to before he finally caved in and handed over his license ... ?

He should consider himself lucky - in some states (mine included) you can't get it over the counter at all, it has to be by prescription. Not going into fratching as to what is right or wrong, just saying it's even more inconvenient for most people.

[RetailWorkhorse]

Yes. Yes you are. Add some glittery butterfly wings to that avatar of yours.

When I get the Main (my art computer) back from my computer guy, I'll add wings. Although now I know what to do for Halloween.

Besides Mini!Slenderman, I mean.



After a really nasty drowning about a year or so ago, my store's started requiring IDs to buy anything with Dextromethorphan in it. Turns out you can inject with it (straight, apparently) and get really friggin' high. Really really high. Some kid had apparently injected himself and went swimming in the county pool and tried to do a see-who-can-hold-their-breath-the-longest contest. ...he won. Now he's deader than dead. :-| I get people complaining about it, but I explain the story and while they're still grumpy, I still get the IDs.

[raudf]

What's really mental about all this? There is other decongestants out there that don't require IDs. If he was so hung up on not allowing his ID to be recorded, then why didn't buy one of those? Oh... forgot where I was for a moment there.

[MoonCat]

Some people prefer a certain kind of cold meds. One of my sisters is convinced that she had something once that had real ephedrine, as opposed to the pseudo stuff, because I had to sign for it at the store pharmacy. She wanted the same thing for her last cold but couldn't remember the brand name. But all the stuff that you have to sign for is the pseudoeph, and I don't think they even sell real ephedrine in cold meds.

Personally I rarely use cold meds because they dry out my nasal passages so much, it feels like they're on fire. Also even the "non-drowsy" ones make me loopy.

[Draper Mel]

What's really mental about all this? There is other decongestants out there that don't require IDs. If he was so hung up on not allowing his ID to be recorded, then why didn't buy one of those? Oh... forgot where I was for a moment there.

See, and I do this. Buy phenylephrine instead of pseudoephedrine. It works fine, and I don't have to go through the hassle at the window.

But then, I usually have a clue.

[raudf]

See, and I do this. Buy phenylephrine instead of pseudoephedrine. It works fine, and I don't have to go through the hassle at the window.

But then, I usually have a clue.

Me too. Besides, the side effects of the pseudoephedrine are much worse for me than the stuffed up, running nose in the first place. For some reason, it's a migraine trigger for me, no matter what dosage.* Having blood coming from one's nose after a couple of properly taken doses is not fun. Yet, phenylephrine doesn't do it to me.

*I drink plenty of water... it's just something that does not agree with my chemical make up, tis all.

And yes, some people prefer pseudoephedrine over phenylephrine. My mom can use pseudoephedrine with little to no problem and pretty much lives on the stuff at her doctor's orders. Same with Dad... and theirs is prescription strength and is mailed to them with their other meds. I'm just the oddball in the family.

[Sapphire Silk]

But all the stuff that you have to sign for is the pseudoeph, and I don't think they even sell real ephedrine in cold meds.

They don't and never have. Ephedrine has been used in diet pills and as a treatment for asthma. However, it is banned in the US in diet pills and has been since 2004.

Chemically ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are very similar. The former is available only by prescription in pill format.

You can still get ma huang as a tea in Asian medicine; ma huang contains ephedra. I think it's pretty nasty, though.

People with high blood pressure should not take anything wtih ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or ephedra in it. It's a vasoconstrictor and raises your risk of cardiovascular events and stroke.

[PepperElf]

Some people prefer a certain kind of cold meds. One of my sisters is convinced that she had something once that had real ephedrine, as opposed to the pseudo stuff, because I had to sign for it at the store pharmacy. She wanted the same thing for her last cold but couldn't remember the brand name. But all the stuff that you have to sign for is the pseudoeph, and I don't think they even sell real ephedrine in cold meds.

Personally I rarely use cold meds because they dry out my nasal passages so much, it feels like they're on fire. Also even the "non-drowsy" ones make me loopy.

yeah some of the "behind the counter" meds work better than the OTC ones do. Although, not always. For example, those little red Sudafed pills - the original ones that were being tagged for meth-making -... never did shit for me. Might as well have been taking M&Ms.

But others do OK. Although I do find it interesting that stores won't take a military ID for them...