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Breathe in Now

25 October 2005, 07:25

So I went to the pharmacy today to buy a Ventolin. So I can breathe, you know. The conversation with the pharmacist went a little something like this:

K: Could I have a Ventolin please?
P: Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
K: Yes. I’m pregnant [no, I’m just fat]
P: Have you spoken to your doctor about taking Ventolin in pregnancy?
K: Yes.
P: Do you use a preventer as well?
K: [what is this, 20 questions?] Yes.
P: [looking skeptical] Weeeeeeeel, you’re not supposed to use Ventolin in pregnancy.
K: Well, it’s a category A drug [that’s the way Kinki, hit ‘em with pharmaceutical jargon…] so it should be OK to take during pregnancy – the benefits outweigh the risks.
P: [still looks unconvinced]
K: Look, I either take the Ventolin or I die. Dying probably wouldn’t be good for the baby.

She sold me the Ventolin.

Posted by Kinki on 25 October 2005, 07:25
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  1. I bet you had to take a deep breath so that you didn’t blow your cool with the pharmacist. Not good for breathing either.
    — Hammy    Oct 26, 11:16 AM    #
  2. I was incredulous! I couldn’t believe she wasn’t going to sell me the Ventolin. Sheesh.
    — Kinki    Oct 26, 07:19 PM    #
  3. You can’t take Ventolin while pregnant??? How do they expect us heavy breathers to survive? Unbelievable. It stresses me to hear that and I’m years from potential motherhood (I hope).
    — Andrea    Oct 27, 12:39 AM    #
  4. Well, that’s the thing – she’s the first one who’s put me through the wringer about it. Everyone else (OBs, midwives, GPs) has been like “take the damn Ventolin, you’d be a certifiable fool not to.” Like, hello! What choice do we have????
    — Kinki    Oct 27, 07:29 AM    #
  5. As annoying as they are, your friendly community pharmacist has to ask these questions to EVERYONE these days thanks to health dept regulations and fear of patients suing the pants off them in the event of a catastrophe. With pharmacists in the family, I hear how ridiculous some of these things are all the time.
    — nicole    Oct 27, 10:16 AM    #
  6. That is THE most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Whilst they are required to ask about if you’re on preventers and stuff, it should be clear as day that you need ventolin if you’re an asthmatic or whatever. ARGH.
    — Sussy    Oct 31, 03:44 PM    #