bags of 100 Aspirin

Oh yes, I remember when they sold aspirin in massive bottles, paracetamol too. And all the stomach washouts we did in A & E (or casualty as it was in the 80’s) following intentional overdoses. Usually by teenagers who really didn’t understand what they were doing, or, that those drugs just weren’t going to work in the was they intended. Mental health issues are not a new thing at all. 😢

You still can but has to be over the counter, not on supermarket shelves

You can usually get germoline on Amazon .
Remember when it used to come in little tins and was pink . Much better stuff in those days than it is now

I have a first aid drawer … known as the drug drawer!!! All types of remedies in there.. but I usually only use paracetamol!

My Dad used to mix ny gripe water with gin .

It's ridiculous, u can only buy 32 paracetamol at a time. I have to go to several shops to buy them, bc my son has to have pain relief

Anyone else remember Bile Beans. I can remember seeing the bottle but have no idea what they were or what they did

Granmarderby10

Aspirin in a glass bottle with cotton wool stuffed in the neck. Don’t know why!

The cotton wool was to stop tablets rattling around and breaking up during transport, as neither bottles nor tins were filled right the way up.

I was delighted when foam rubber started being used instead, as a doctor's daughter I collected the small round pieces of foam rubber, so all my dolls had their own bath sponges.

I do have a medicine box with elastoplast, tweezers, cotton wool, bandages, a nifty gadget for removing ticks, over the counter remedies for colds, tummy upsets and the like in the house.

I don't drive, but I believe it is illegal here not to have a box with sterile dressings etc in you car if you drive. The idea being that you can assist anyone hurt in traffic until the ambulance and police arrive.

We have a large first aid bag, it came with one of my DH’s new cars. It had all the usual bandages and slings. Sticking plasters which were almost impossible to remove once applied, sterile wipes safety scissors and tweezers. The kids played with the bandages trying to make each other into mummies. The bag was filled in Germany I believe as I’ve never been able to find the sticking plasters here. It’s a great bag which we keep filled with medicines and other first aid supplies. Everyone knows where to find if they need plasters, germolene, tcp or ice packs. Anything dangerous is kept in a lock box with a green cross designed for medicine so the grandchildren can’t get it.

You can still get Gripe water - in the baby medication aisle at most supermarkets. It for tummy ache caused by wind, .... and it works for old ladies with wind too!

I don't think it contains alcohol any more.

Mum always had in the medicine box 'Indian Brandy' you put it in hot water and drank for an upset stomach. Or in mums case she gave it for every illness.
Also there was 'Kali and Morphine' for diarrhea.
Germaline which was pink in a round tin.

Paracetamol is dangerous stuff. I remember visiting a young man in the hospital where I worked - he had taken an overdose and seemed to be recovering. A few weeks later he died of liver failure. It is engraved on my mind.

All together now…

What’s the sense of feeling ill
With Flu or a cold or chill
For relief that’s sure and quick
Beechams Powders do the trick

Does anyone remember Beecham pills, a laxative? They were little round balls, and we were given them if we had been in contact with any contagious illness as our mother believed a “good clear out” would stop us becoming ill. It seemed to work because the only childhood disease we ever had was German measles which we were encouraged to have. I can’t even remember having so much as a cold. Neat TCP for cuts and grazes which stung!

Back in 1972 i has a friend who died of liver. failure from too many paracetamol. we were both 17 years old. i visited her poor mum and have never forgotten her grief. they had no idea until it was too late.

Why are current doctors so fixated on prescribing these now as its not much cop for severe pain relief.

Dibbydod

I have two large boxes of paracetamol on doctors prescription every month as I need to take them regularly every day , along with another painkiller , for chronic pain .
I recently had full blood tests to make sure all were ok with all my medications and everything came back normal . Previously to the blood tests I were concerned about the amount of paracetamols I take but needn’t have worried .

My surgery will not prescribe paracetamol, I take it every day for chronic pain too. The NHS apparently put this restriction on prescribing them because it is cheaper to buy than pay for a prescription.

When I broke my hip they were still very reluctant to prescribe it for me, even though driving 10 miles was the only to buy it. And naturally I was not allowed to drive for a few weeks.

At least I know my surgery is being careful with the money they spend.

HowVeryDareYou2

Let's not forget Kaolin and Morphine

Blimey! Yes, a large brown bottle with a thick white sediment at the bottom. It was still around in the early 1980s I think. I can't believe we were merrily swigging liquid morphine for our upset tummies!

BlueBelle

Luminance it’s not sensible as you can walk round a pharmacy and buy your two packets walk round again and buy two more then walk into the next pharmacy and buy more

I didn't see this before but I am just catching up here. Any delay is sensible. Any chance for a member of staff to notice or report a concern. Any chance for someone to have extra time for thought or feelings to calm. Even should you disagree still it is rather better than doing nothing and having no concern at all. Also you really must remember that if the person is already at home they are less likely to simply be able to find a large amount available in a cupboard. Many do in fact change their minds and go to hospital to be saved and then find themselves with damaged organs. Again, rather better than doing nothing. Larger amounts can be obtained via prescription for those who need them for long term pain management, the rest of us need not have large amounts available in a cupboard for others to potentially access too.

To back myself up, the legislation was introduced in 1998 and led to a 43% reduction in overdose deaths which says what you need to know far clearer than I have articulated.

Granmarderby10

Aspirin in a glass bottle with cotton wool stuffed in the neck. Don’t know why!

I also remember Junior Aspirin in a bottle like that.

My Nan used to give Andrews Health Salts for everything. It was a standing joke that it could cure anything from a broken heart to a broken leg! She also had a large medical dictionary. She would look up our symptoms and inform the doctor what was the matter with us.

Germolene has changed its name here (Ireland) to Bepantaseptic.

That doesn't trip off the tongue lightly!

I have a comprehensive first aid box, I’m sure I could do minor surgery!

I did once fix up my Labrador’s split ear with anti bacterial swabs, skin glue and steristrips.

I used to love the smell of germolene in the little tin.

20 years ago we painted our kitchen “ointment pink”