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[Bella247]

I’ve just come back from boots to pick up my prescription of Vagirux. I’ve been really struggling with VA and my GP has said I can use it up to 5 x a week. When I got there the weird pharmacist smirked at me and said how many times a week are you using this? When I said 5 he practically shouted at me saying no you can only use it twice!! I replied that my GP has said it’s fine and he sort of sneered at me and said well as long as YOU understand the risks (or something along those lines). It was really embarrassing but also made me feel angry. Luckily a much older pharmacist intervened as said no it’s fine depending on symptoms it can be increased. I’ve just got in and it literally says on the sticker it can be used up to 5 x. It’s so upsetting and frustrating that every single so called professional I come into contact with him doesn’t seem to know much at all about menopause treatment. I wouldn’t mind but life is already quite a struggle when you have VA without some stupid uninformed man adding to your annoyance!!

[SarahT]

That was an unnecessary embarrassment for you. You are right in saying how hard it is already living with a distressing symptom and that lack of professionalism is appalling. If I were on a day were I didn't feel bogged down mentally, I would email that store to point out your experience.

My surgery which is attached to our drs have great staff, always willing to help, when my hrt is in short supply they are happy to give me the paper prescription to tout around other pharmacies. And importantly they can be discreet. If I am down for a prescription pick up, if the VA treatment is not available they will point to the prescription itself rather than say the names out loud. It's called respect. Something that man lacked in your treatment today along with his ignorance.

[jaypo]

A pharmacist is NOT a Dr & he had no right to talk to you in that way. I agree with Sarah, I would find out who is the manager (hopefully not him) and tell them about that situation.Was it an independent pharmacy or a chain

[CLKD]

I would be writing to Head Office quite honestly.  If a pharmacist wishes to discuss personal issues they all have private rooms these days.  Could you ask for an appt with the Phramciast [sp] who backed you up?  We don't need men who feel that they 'know better' in these types of jobs 

[suzysunday]

That really is outrageous and upsetting.  I would consider making a complaint.  The condition is distressing enough without halfwits like that embarrassing you.

[Penguin]

I would complain about something like this,  sneering is kidt not on. Is it an independent pharmacy or part of a chain - if a chain complain to their head office, finding out the name of the person who spoke to you like that first. For some reason, it annoys me even more that it is a male pharmacist too 🙄

[Ayesha]

Exactly the same thing happened to me years ago when I asked for Canesten in a Boots chemist. I was given the 3rd degree about my usage of of it in front of a packed counter of people waiting to be served. Needless to say I never have my prescriptions filled out at one of their stores.

Absolutely none of his business and you should write a letter of complaint to Boots head office.

[Bella247]

Thanks everyone. I agree and I’ve emailed boots to complain about him. He was totally inappropriate and he needs to know that it’s not acceptable. Honestly you’d have thought I was trying to score crack to sell on the way he was acting. The more I think about it it was actually quite creepy and odd not to mention ignorant and patronising. I don’t think I’d have minded so much if he’d said you need to use this twice a week rather than asking me what I do rudely.

[jaypo]

I was told the same by a pharmacist when using vagifem,I was using 5x weekly and it was on repeat,the reason why though was because the dr hadn't changed the dosage on the repeat,so I was getting it more frequently and pharmacists can't go over what's prescribed but when I told her I was using it 5x weekly,she said.......well I've never heard of THAT before. Time they were all given a bit of homework me thinks   

[Penguin]

Thanks everyone. I agree and I’ve emailed boots to complain about him. He was totally inappropriate and he needs to know that it’s not acceptable. Honestly you’d have thought I was trying to score crack to sell on the way he was acting. The more I think about it it was actually quite creepy and odd not to mention ignorant and patronising. I don’t think I’d have minded so much if he’d said you need to use this twice a week rather than asking me what I do rudely.

See, what I don't understand is why he needed to ask you about usage. Its not the first time you've had it. You have put in a prescription request and the GP has approved it, so why is it his business how often you use it? I really don't understand.

[CLKD]

Would you dare go back to that Branch to speak to the Senior Pharmacist?  Did I suggest already  I'm not awake yet but totally angry about this behaviour 

[Bella247]

I know it’s appalling. I emailed boots and said at the very least he needs to go on menopause training. There’s just honestly no excuse for it. It’s honestly really draining. It’s hard enough having to battle these horrible symptoms without some horrible little man humiliating me in front of people.

[Ayesha]

This sort of interrogation doesn't happen in any other pharmacy, I wonder if Boots staff have training when handing out meds to give a warning to patients.
It's not their job to do this, their job is to simply fill out a prescription approved by a doctor. They need to stop this practise that they have been doing for years.

Shame back in the day when I was interrogated by a Boots staff member I was too shocked to fight back like I would if put in the same position today.   

[jaypo]

The problem is,Drs are giving pharmacists more to do,to take the load off of them but pharmacists simply aren't trained to deal with certain things 🤷‍♀️

[Jules]

It's not necessarily a menopause related thing when pharmacists question on issue of prescription ( though the tone might be).  I used to collect my son's regular ones for his slipped disc and she always asked if he'd had them before and told me he hadn't to take longer than a certain time even though the doctor had prescribed them indefinitely.