Cough Medicine Shortages

[basil6345789]

Unbelievable! Fortunately I'm well stocked-up on Fisherman' Friend

[Chester Perry]

Been going on at least 3 weeks now in Burnley - same with cod/flu remedies night/day nurse and lemsip

I spent weeks in October, November and early December trying to get the flu jab to no avail - even had an appointment for one only for the person who was to give it go home early (nobody bothered to inform me though they insisted on my contact details when the appointment was made) - drop ins never available when I turned up - it is a crazy situation, and some are profiteering from it I believe. Once upon a time society used to shun such people, now people just don't seem to care on both sides.

[California Colner]

Do they still make Hills Balsam cough medicine?
I just remember my mom giving to me when I had a cold
I think the company was in Nelson?

[Nori1958]

Been going on at least 3 weeks now in Burnley - same with cod/flu remedies night/day nurse and lemsip

I spent weeks in October, November and early December trying to get the flu jab to no avail - even had an appointment for one only for the person who was to give it go home early (nobody bothered to inform me though they insisted on my contact details when the appointment was made) - drop ins never available when I turned up - it is a crazy situation, and some are profiteering from it I believe. Once upon a time society used to shun such people, now people just don't seem to care on both sides.

Lots of chemist's giving out flu jabs, both me and the wife booked next day appointments without any problem, with a choice of about 10 chemist's.. That was Oct and early Nov.

[4midable]

Doesnt work anyway

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I got my flu jab quite easily in early December, I just popped into the local pharmacy to pick some stuff up for the missus and a lady behind the counter asked me if I needed the jab and told me I was having it there and then, didn't leave me room to say no

The only shortage I've seen is Calpol for the kids, and the medication for Strep-A

[MancunianClaret]

Plenty in Manchester. In fact the shelves were full of Covonia in Asda Pilsworth the other day.

[Swizzlestick]

Maybe Chester was checking for flu jab appointments on Companies House.

[claptrappers_union]

A few years ago, I had a persistent cough, and after hearing a radio advert advising people to see the doctor because it could be cancer and I had this cough for months, I went in.

I sat down, and he listened to my chest

Doctor - you have a bad cough
Me - I know
Doctor - yep
Me - so?
Doctor - ride it out
Me - but it's been going on for weeks.
Doctor - it'll pass
Me - so thats it, your not going to recommend cough medication?
Doctor - do you want cough medicine?
Me - will it work?
Doctor - not really
Me - cough medicine doesn't work?
Doctor - it might help soothe your through for a short while, but that's it, take it if you believe it helps.
Me - so keep riding it out
Doctor - ride it out

[Eloise Laws]

Our GP once said ‘cough medicines do nothing to help cure a cough’ but if they make you feel better then go ahead with one.

[Nori1958]

Our GP once said ‘cough medicines do nothing to help cure a cough’ but if they make you feel better then go ahead with one.

My pharmacist said that none of them cure the virus, the body does that, the medicine helps lessen the symptoms.

[mealdeal]

I've never undersood cough medicine. You swallow them which means they go down your oesophagus, how does that help something going on in an adjacent pipe.

[Jellybean]

Honey and olbas oil so much more effective, in my opinion

[ŽižkovClaret]

Chinese shutdown has massively impacted pharma stockpiles for sure. There's a big shortage of pseudo ephedrine in these parts, for one.

[warksclaret]

There is a real epidemic in my area (Market Harborough) of bad chest colds/bronchitis and even in the big chemists stock is zero of any flu related medicines. Needed to get antibiotics for mine and as above the doctor told me not to bother with Benaline or the likes but instead do good old fashioned steam inhalation, which loosens the mucous and that eases the cough

[kentonclaret]

And these shortages of cough/cold medicine being experienced during the tenure of a PM whose parents used to own and run a pharmacy.

You couldn’t make it up really.

[1882Clarets1882]

Same in France

Screenshot_20230105-114409_Chrome.jpg (362.32 KiB) Viewed 1240 times

[evensteadiereddie]

Over fears of...

[Bosscat]

One of the reasons headache medicines are a shortage in parts of South America, Australia, Africa & Asia etc is the parrots eat em all

[ClaretDiver]

A few years ago, I had a persistent cough, and after hearing a radio advert advising people to see the doctor because it could be cancer and I had this cough for months, I went in.

I sat down, and he listened to my chest

Doctor - you have a bad cough
Me - I know
Doctor - yep
Me - so?
Doctor - ride it out
Me - but it's been going on for weeks.
Doctor - it'll pass
Me - so thats it, your not going to recommend cough medication?
Doctor - do you want cough medicine?
Me - will it work?
Doctor - not really
Me - cough medicine doesn't work?
Doctor - it might help soothe your through for a short while, but that's it, take it if you believe it helps.
Me - so keep riding it out
Doctor - ride it out

And yet we now have a media campaign saying if you have had a cough for a few weeks your gp wants to see you as it could be a sign of cancer!!

[gtclaret]

Doesnt work anyway

Exactly right, they're useless. Also most cold/flu medicines are nothingore than paracetamol and caffeine. They're all expensive and a complete waste of money

[Nori1958]

Exactly right, they're useless. Also most cold/flu medicines are nothingore than paracetamol and caffeine. They're all expensive and a complete waste of money

I might be wrong, but I think he meant the jab

Medicines work as they're meant to, in easing the symptoms

[LS7]

Could not get any Night Nurse last time I tried, about a week ago. It’s the best off the shelf medicine going, completely knocks you out.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Pseudo ephedrine is magic for clogged sinuses but its heavily restricted here lol. A map of EU based meth labs explains why tbf

[claptrappers_union]

And yet we now have a media campaign saying if you have had a cough for a few weeks your gp wants to see you as it could be a sign of cancer!!

To be fair, I think while listening to my chest, he knew what he was looking for. I was weeks away from becoming Dad at the time too, so I went to make sure my cough wasn't going do any harm, which he assured me it wasn't going to... and cough medicine doesn't cure cancer anyway.

It made me chuckle how nonchalant he was about the whole thing but was just a cough and I did ride it out, though it didn't continue for a few weeks afterwards. I've never bought cough syrup since though. You can find better remedies at home.

[kentonclaret]

Mick Lynch of the RMT sent 3 bottles of Expectorant to Rishi Sunak in the hope that he might cough up.

[Longsidelenny1882]

It’s a bit dearer treat yourself to a bottle off Benny utc

[MancunianClaret]

Exactly right, they're useless. Also most cold/flu medicines are nothingore than paracetamol and caffeine. They're all expensive and a complete waste of money

Not true - they have far more ingredients than that. Notably Pseudoephedrine which is a very effective decongestant. It won't cure you, but it'll make you feel a hundred times better as you recover naturally.

[Rowls]

Chinese shutdown has massively impacted pharma stockpiles for sure. There's a big shortage of pseudo ephedrine in these parts, for one.

Correct.

[4midable]

Exactly right, they're useless. Also most cold/flu medicines are nothingore than paracetamol and caffeine. They're all expensive and a complete waste of money

Liquid sugar at 5 quid a bottle

[claptrappers_union]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TnJQYpKz0E