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BlueBelle

You are right Oldnproud and I was refused Chloraphenicol for conjunctivitis at Boots because of my age

It is true but if you buy it on Amazon ( or other online shops ) you can fib about your age if you realy want to buy it .

Re thrush treatments My DH has to intermittently self catheterise. He got a bit sore and wanted some Canasten cream. The pharmacist in Boots also refused to sell it to me, even when I explained it wasn't for me. I went into Superdrug next door. Picked it up from the shelf and bought it without any questions what so ever.

Yes I did

Would it make sense if a pharmacist could prescribe to women on HRT who don't have falling oestrogen but have a UTI?

When I went to the GP with mine (about 9 months ago) she just did a dip test and prescribed antibiotics and asked me to bring another sample in three weeks' time to make sure it had been cured. If that hadn't been clear I would have been referred for an ultrasound to check for bladder cancer, but luckily all was well.

A pharmacist could have done that, I'm sure, and informed the surgery in case the patient doesn't follow up. I assume that they record any antibiotics on the patients' records anyway?

Ex pharmacy assistant here. The pharmacist can't prescribe for a uti over 65 as the symptoms can mask something more serious, which is why they refer you to a gp.

Similar to Win’s comment at my GP the receptionist said I would have to put a urine sample in first this would be dip checked by the nurse at some point that day. Depending on the result they would then ask the GP for a prescription. I explained I had a temperature over 40, clammy, bearing down pain, weak and nauseous. As a nurse I knew I had a raging UTI. I had to point out that a positive urine sample is not always the main infection indicator but symptoms were more so. This is due to the ageing process, lack of oestrogen and vaginal atrophy which can all give false negative urine samples. I demanded either a GP appointment or antibiotic prescription. The GP gave me a prescription UTI resolved. I think knowing my body for 68 years entitles me to know what it needs. Come on ladies stand up to ageism.

It's also women only for the UTI

Bazza

'I would lie about my age under the circumstances now I know!' It wouldn't work if it's via the 16-64 system, as the chemist told me your details need to go through the computer. That was after telling him in that case, I'm 63 when he said I didn't look 70.

Pharmacies also have limits on when they can prescribe for infected insect bites, which I am prone to. I had one last year and went to my local pharmacy the day after the bite when the area was very red and swollen. The pharmacist agreed it looked bad but said they could not prescribe until 48 hours after a bite.

The next morning I called the GP surgery but they had no appointments. When I went back to the pharmacy they said it was too bad for them to treat and I should go to the minor injuries unit some miles away.

l keep d-Mannose in powder form in the cupboard and if I think I am on the verge of a UTI I take several doses of it and drink loads of water. Sometimes it wards off the UTI - which usually of course threatens at a weekend, or, worse still, a Bank Holiday! Thanks to the OP for highlighting the Pharmacy regulations - I recently found these out when I couldn't get the antibiotics I reckoned I needed. Luckily, it was not a weekend so I was able to get a 'bottle' from the pharmacy, and take a sample round to the surgery. If patients do this before midday (having said they are coming) the sample is then 'dipped' and antibiotics are prescribed if needed. So I got them! Luckily it's not too far to travel to the surgery for me - we are in a rural area and some people in villages must have problems, particularly as some don't any longer have a bus service.

I’m 77, and here, in Scotland, I’ve been prescribed an antibiotic for a UTI more than once. I don’t recall being asked my age, but, as it’s where I get repeat prescriptions, they have all my details. However, when I asked there a few months ago, the pharmacist saw from my records that they had prescribed for the same problem within the previous six months, so said that I’d have to contact the surgery in this instance.

I'm very prone to uti's especially on holiday. I discovered you can buy a 3 day course of uti antibiotics from an online pharmacy called Dr Fox. If you are over 65, as I am, they won't send them out within 4 months of a previous order.

Thanks, Bazza and win. I will get some and use them if I get another UTI. If they do start to recur I'll take them every day. It's great to know that there is something that works if you can't get to a GP.

It’s primarily supposed to be a precaution Win

The pharmacist was wrong about you not getting sepsis so quickly. My husband had a prostate operation and was sent home and seemed fine but during the afternoon he started acting oddly, I called the hospital and they said bring him in asap. I called my son and he drove us to the hospital and by then my husband was raving like a lunatic. We managed to get him into the A&E department and a doctor was waiting for him. My husband was immediately hooked up to an antibiotic drip and fitted with a catheter. Within the space of less than eight hours he had gone from perfectly normal to deaths door. The doctor said another hour and we may have lost him.

Doodledog

Are the D-Mannose tablets a preventative or a cure, please? I had a UTI which started on holiday, and couldn't get anything from a pharmacist. I hadn't heard of D-Mannose, but luckily a friend had some Amoxicillin. I know you shouldn't take other people's medicines, but I am not allergic and figured it was better than risking a kidney infection or worse. I am not particularly prone to UTIs, so don't fancy taking a preventative dose of anything, but if it is a cure I would happily get some D-Mannose in case something similar happens again.

You can use it as both or either

Bazza

I take mannose every day doodledog as a preventative and it certainly works for me. I take two a day but you can take up to three.

It is brilliant my friend who usually had UTIs permanently started taking it daily after recommendation from this site, she has not had one since.

Sasta

Hi all

I only found this out last weekend, but wanted to highlight this as I think it's important. As you probably know, Pharmacists can now prescribe I think, for five common conditions, one being UTIs. I was away from home last the weekend and very suddenly found I had a very painful a UTI. It was a Sunday and I went to a pharmacy in the town I was staying to ask for help. I was pretty sure I needed antibiotics. The pharmacist said yes, he could help me and proceeded to ask all the relevant questions. Then he asked my age, I said 70. He said 'oh, you don't look it, I'm afraid I can't help you'. I was unaware that this service is only for ages 16-64. I said I was in great pain (but I didn't have a very high temp, just elevated) but all he could suggest was call 111. I said I could have sepsis by midnight. He assured me I wouldn't get it that quickly. I went home and by 1.30am I had a temp of 40, teeth chattering and was freezing cold and felt so unwell, I thought if I go to sleep I'm not going to wake up. I didn't even think of calling 111 then, I know very stupid. I went downstairs and sat waiting for the Surgery to open. Anyway, it's the 16-64 limit I wanted to highlight. I got antibiotics from my GP the following morning which did the trick.

Yes it has always been like this, also our surgery will not prescribe antibiotics without first having a urine test. We can't just take it, but has to have the GPs confirmation before we can drop off a sample which means it can take up to 3 days before you get your medication. Get a younger friend or relative to get you some from the chemist so at least you have a rescue pack when required. I understand they chemist has to cover their own backs as the guidelines are not to be sold to over 65s

it does seem a bit of a lottery really even though it is a good idea in practise. i think it depends on the pharmacist really but if they could do it then it would seriously cut down on queues in a and e.

Very helpful to learn the restrictions. Had never heard of any of tgem. Think they should be publicised a lot more.

Gosh it sounds like so many of you have suffered, even this weekend. After four days clear, I woke up at 3am - it had returned with a vengeance and a temperature. I luckily got a drs appt first thing and have the same antibiotics. I can't quite believe it. We've been out and about a lot eating out with the grandchildren etc, and the dr said as well as personal hygiene, and wiping correctly, which we all know, you can get it from food and drink if prepared by somebody who hadn't washed their hands properly 🤢. Apparently testing my sample showed it was e-coli. Thanks for sharing your stories and suggestions.

I’ve got antibiotics twice from pharmacist. I’m in Scotland. Don’t know if we have different rules

I take mannose every day doodledog as a preventative and it certainly works for me. I take two a day but you can take up to three.

I only recently found out you csnt buy thrush tablets over the counter if you are over 60 in case you have diabetes

D-Mannose is always my first "go-to" when I have UTI. Then Vit C, lemon juice and bicarb dissolved in a glass of water.