Pharmacy questions: annoying or helpful?

If so, just remember this: pharmacists are required to quiz you when you buy certain types of medicines, such as some types of pain relief. And there are some very good reasons why.

When you ask what medicine you should buy, for instance, pharmacy staff may ask a number of set questions to help them make the best recommendation. The  list includes things like who is the medicine for, what are the symptoms, how long have you had the symptoms and are you taking any other medicines for other conditions? Your answers make it easier for your pharmacist to decide what medicine would be best for you.

In the case of certain types of pain relief medicines – particularly the stronger type that contain codeine – the questions could help prevent you developing an addiction problem too.

Unfortunately painkiller addiction is far more common that most people realise. That could well be because many of those who become dependent on painkillers are often ordinary, respectable souls – and nothing like the stereotype usually  associated with illicit drug addiction. In fact, the term 'respectable addicts' has just been coined by experts at the University of Sheffield.

In a study of OTC medicine abuse in the UK, the researchers discovered a range of problems. All of those identified as having addiction problems with codeine-based products, for instance, said they took the medicine for different reasons than it was designed for, and all said they had tried to stop and had suffered withdrawal symptoms.

However, the most concerning finding to come out of the study was the need of the so-called respectable addicts to hide their addiction and to appear normal.

Another point that came out of the study was that OTC medicines are often considered less harmful than prescription medicines. The fact, however, is that some OTC preparations, particularly those that contain codeine, can cause addiction problems that are notoriously difficult to treat and overcome.

The problem is that many people don't realise the risks involved in taking OTC medicines. And that's where the questions your pharmacist asks come in. They help make sure you do understand the risks as well as how to take the medicine you're buying correctly – and in the case of codeine-based preparations, how long you can safely take it for to avoid developing an addiction.

So next time you're buying painkillers and your pharmacist launches into that list of questions, don't forget: it's designed to protect you, not wind you up.

Should codeine-based medicines be banned from sale over the counter to counteract addiction problems? Or would that put unnecessary pressure on GPs, who would be required to write prescriptions for all codeine-based medicines if a ban were enforced?

Tell us what you think.