So, I went to take my prenatal vitamin this morning and noticed that I was getting low again. They come in bottles of 100, and this was bottle #6. So if I do the math, I’ve taken 600 of these while TTC. Uggg, I tried to just push that thought away.
So, on my lunch break, I thought I’d swing by the pharmacy to pick up yet another bottle. I searched the vitamin aisle and there were no prenatals to be found. When I asked someone in the store, she told me they’ve started keeping them behind the pharmacy counter recently. I trucked off over to the pharmacy assistant to ask for the prenatals. She gave a sideways look at my tummy and said “are you pregnant?”. “No” I responded back weakly. Hello! why does this matter? “Have you taken them before?” she said back. “Yes, I have been on them for a couple of years” She reluctantly handed over the bottle like it was some sort of addictive narcotic. “Well, I’ll let you have this bottle, but strongly suggest that you discuss with your doctor the appropriateness of taking a prenatal vitamin long term when you are not pregnant”.
So, maybe it was me just being sensitive, but I took the bottle and said I’d pay for it at the front because I had some other items to pick up. I went into on of the aisles and picked up a chocolate bar and left the bottle of prenatals sitting on the shelf while I proceeded to the checkout with only the chocolate bar. Why does this have to be so difficult? Since when do you have to bring in evidence of your pee stick as proof of your pregnancy status to get prenatals? I had never heard of there being a problem taking a prenatal when you are not pregnant. Isn’t it more important to take these before you get pregnant, or in the early stages of pregnancy before you know if you are pregnant in order to get adequate folic acid? I know the iron levels are a bit higher than the regular multis, but my iron has always been on the lower end of normal and I get it tested regularly.
I have just enough in the current bottle to take me through to next Friday when I see the RE again. I will ask him what I should be taking. I will be shopping at another pharmacy if the recommendation is to continue with prenatals.
I think it's appaling and wonderful at the same time that the pharmacist would be concerned with what you're taking...appaled that they would be so concerned that you're taking prenatal vitamins when you're not visibly pregnant (how do they do what your story is without you telling them...they shouldn't be making assumptions) and wonderful that they're concerned about your well-being. When did vitamins become a controlled substance that needed to be monitored by a pharmacist?? Is it that the drug companies are not making enough money and these pharmacies are being paid by them to "monitor" us terrible vitamin takers so that maybe the pharmacist can suggest/prescribe some other pill that would make the drug companies more money??? It all sounds quite funny to me...good for you for changing pharmacies...you don't need their judgement.
ReplyDeleteh.w.p., 21 May 2010 - 06:14 PM
Aw, that stinks. I was told at my store that they keep them behind the counter now because people steal them and they are quite pricey. Go to Costco! They have them for 5.94 for the bottle and it is the same ingredients!
P.S. Hopefully someone will steal the bottle you left on the shelf. Hee hee hee...
snoah, 21 May 2010 - 07:05 PM
I understand. My medication is contraindicated to pregnancy. I bought it and prenatals. Talk about red flags. I just said I knew, paid, and walked away. One thing IVF does allow is perfect timing to stop taking "bad" medication, but I wasn't going to explain it to her. My dad has MS and used to have people chase him down in the parking lot and tell him he couldn't park in the handicap stall, even with the sticker. He would just say, "really?" and walk away. Not their business, even when they mean well. Just keep walking so that they can kiss your ...
Anchors, 21 May 2010 - 07:55 PM
I would seriously go back to her and ask her "why? what are the risks of long term effects of taking pre-natal vitamins" if she can't come up with an answer I would seriously put her in her spot that you are suffering from IF andt that I do not intend to take them long term but I have no control over this. No seriously...I would. Maybe she has some new info about long term pre-natal vitamin usage or is just some quack pharmacist. Just my opinion. Then I would take my business elsewhere if you weren't satisfied with the answer.
LisainSK, 21 May 2010 - 09:09 PM
Yes, there have probably been a lot of thefts. Or she thought you were going to sell the pills on the IF blackmarket. Mwhaaa haaaa haaa. She sounds like a knob, so sorry she gave you the stinkeye. It's the pharmacy's loss. Yeah, I'm an off and on member of the long-term pre-natal vitamin club too.
gibasgirl, 21 May 2010 - 11:22 PM
Wow, that really sucks. It's none of their business.
Still, you gotta love their faces when you start doing IVF and they can see on the screen that you have a prescription for antibiotics, birth control pill AND prenatals!!
I do wonder though about how safe it is to take prenatals longterm. I posted that question under the Naturopath section. After two and a half years of taking them religiously, I've pretty much stopped taking mine and I feel different, in a good way. Could be just my imagination, but I actually think I might have been overdosing on iron and calcium - if that's possible.
impatient, 22 May 2010 - 06:34 AM
Too much iron can cause a number of things including vomiting and diarrhea. (Well, a binge overdosing) Long term you may experience chronic fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, cirrhosis, hair loss, adrenal function problems, ashen skin colour... I always found it interesting that the symptoms of too much of something are similar to the symptoms of too little of it. Oops, I'm blabbing but you get the picture
gibasgirl, 22 May 2010 - 07:02 AM
I'm wondering if you actually spoke to a pharmacy student or a technician? I'm a pharmacist myself and there's no way I would treat anyone that way. I'm sorry it happened to you. I would recommend Prenatal vitamins (or a folic acid supplement) to any woman of "child bearing age", so to me, it's irrelevant whether you are pregnant or TTC. The reason is, folic acid has a huge benefit in early pregnancy and 50% of pregnancies are unplanned. You need the folic acid before you know you're pregnant. Most women can handle a little extra iron too (thanks to AF).
ReplyDeleteAlso, some people here mentioned the cost of prenatals. If you buy the generic version at Costco, a bottle of 90 is less than $5. The brand is HealthBalance and they are just as good as the $20 bottle of Materna. I don't work for Costco, but that's where I'd recommend buying vitamins.
I don't see any problem with taking Prenatals in the long term.
laura02, 22 May 2010 - 08:42 AM
That's interesting about the theft problem -who would have thought.
The IF black market Haa haa!
I am pretty sure it was a pharmacy tech/assistant, and not a pharmacist. I'm not sure what was behind her concern. I probably should have asked more questions at the time, but was feeling quite sensitive/upset.
Thank you for your professional opinion Laura02, it confirms what I've always thought and been advised by my Dr.'s. I will double check with the RE next week too.
Yes, too much iron can be harmful, that's why I get my levels checked with regular blood work. My OBGYN had me take an extra iron pill as well as the prenatal because the prenatal alone didn't get my values up enough. He figured I'd never have to worry about taking too much, but it is a concern for many people.
I'm sure they've seen some strange combinations of meds with IVF. When I left with my Clomid prescription they wished me "good luck" -how embarrassing.
I will check out the costco brand -I'll have to ask around my friends to see if anyone has a Costco membership. Up to now I've usually waited for this unnamed drug store to put their brand (identical to Materna) on sale but it still is about $12.
You ladies are great!
silverdollar, 22 May 2010 - 04:25 PM
Hi silver,
When I started ivf, my RE asked if I had been taking prenatals for the last 3 months. He strongly recommends it. The lady working in the pharmacy obviously has no idea that women should be taking prenatals before they start ttc - something she should obviously know! A prenatal is very similar to a multi vitamin and I've never heard that women shouldn't take them for too long.
alanna, 24 May 2010 - 07:57 AM
OMG! The pharmacist who filled my Clomid prescription wished me 'good luck; too. Arrrrgh! I was mortified. I got all uppity and said, 'Thanks, but, the problem is with my HUSBAND. '
In hindisght, that was a terrible thing to say! Oh IF, you nasty bitch.
Baxie, 26 May 2010 - 12:52 PM
UPDATE -I asked my RE about the prenatal vitamins and he recommends absolutely keep taking them.
silverdollar, 07 June 2010 - 01:40 PM