davieG Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18936197 Asthma inhalers will go on sale in supermarkets for the first time this month, allowing sufferers to get the medicine without seeing their doctor. Asda said it would start selling blue reliever inhalers over the counter without prescription from Tuesday. Customers over 16 will be able to buy two inhalers for £7 instead of the normal prescription charge of £7.65. The Department of Health said medicines must be dispensed "in line with all legal requirements". There are two different types of inhalers, "reliever" and "preventer" ones, available to the 5.2 million people in the UK who suffer from asthma. Blue reliever inhalers - the ones Asda will be selling - contain the drug salbutamol and are used if someone is feeling wheezy or suffering an attack.
Rincewind Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 Thought they may have done alredy. Never had asthma so know little about the inhalers I thought they contained some sort of menthol substance for short of breath. If the drug used is not the sort to be misused I see no problem and it can only be a good thing. Asthma attacks can happen anywhere I assume. I know it says there are two types but do they have a standard strength/?
sphericalfox Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 They'll be turned nefariously into a variety of different types of inhaling devices pretty soon after purchase methinks.
cambridgefox Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 Which supermarket Breathgos!(read with lisp) and yes I used to have an inhaler as a teenager for a while.
Parafox Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 They'll be turned nefariously into a variety of different types of inhaling devices pretty soon after purchase methinks. The construction of the inhaler will not allow this as it is a small container which has a tiny pin connector to the nozzle and can only accomodate the container of salbutamol. Nightguard, the drug is called an "antagonist" (I think). It causes the narrowed airways which occur in asthma to widen and thereby relieving the symptoms od difficulty in breathing. It has no menthol in it and is not useful for traeting blocked noses or other cold/flu symptoms. If pharmacists are to start selling them OTC then I hope the buyer will need to show documented proof of their condition otherwise any fool with a cold will be trying to buy an inhaler.
sphericalfox Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 The construction of the inhaler will not allow this as it is a small container which has a tiny pin connector to the nozzle and can only accomodate the container of salbutamol. Nightguard, the drug is called an "antagonist" (I think). It causes the narrowed airways which occur in asthma to widen and thereby relieving the symptoms od difficulty in breathing. It has no menthol in it and is not useful for traeting blocked noses or other cold/flu symptoms. If pharmacists are to start selling them OTC then I hope the buyer will need to show documented proof of their condition otherwise any fool with a cold will be trying to buy an inhaler. Funny I've seen 'adapted' inhalers, and the medication that was going through those did the opposite of its original use.
Zingari Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 I often get short of breath at the checkout when they tell me how much it's added up to .
Trav Le Bleu Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 It makes more sense than selling automatic weapons.
Rincewind Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 If they are to be sold in supermarkets not sure if those at the checkout till will all be qualified to check documentation.
ADK Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 Is there any actual harm done from using an inhaler if you don't have asthma? If not i don't see how it is different from any other OTC medicine.
acooling08 Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 Excellent news! Can just pop in and buy a few now, rather than filling in prescriptions then having to go to the doctors and collect, and paying a stupid price as well.
21st Century Fox Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 Excellent news! It's such a waste of time for the patient and doctor to have to renew the prescriptions for these things.
davieG Posted 21 July 2012 Author Posted 21 July 2012 I understand it's only supermarkets with a pharmacy that will sell them and subject to a consultation. They will also monitor people's purchasing history through some existing national system.
Guest MattP Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 Fantastic news, I tried to get one in Bristol a few years back and they wouldn't sell in a pharmacy to me as I had no prescription, was one of the worst days of my life as I spent the day struggling to breathe.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 21 July 2012 Posted 21 July 2012 Fantastic news, I tried to get one in Bristol a few years back and they wouldn't sell in a pharmacy to me as I had no prescription, was one of the worst days of my life as I spent the day struggling to breathe. No... no... it's too tempting.
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