Dec
24
2009
How Do You Get Mental Health Medication (for Bipolar Disorder – A.k.a. Manic Depression) When Away From Home?
Posted by: Alan in Manic Depression, tags: a.k.a., Away, Bipolar, Depression, Disorder, Health, Manic, Medication, Mental, When
I’ve run out of my medication for bipolar disorder a.k.a. manic depression. The meds I have to take are Lamotrigine and Sertraline. However, I’m miles away from where I live so I can’t get a repeat prescription from my doctor and for the next week or so won’t be settled in one place for more than a day or so (I’ve just finished a really big exam so am travelling around the country (Britain) visiting friends). Where can I go to get the medication the same day (as I say, I’m moving from place to place each day)?
Thanks very much in advance for any answers.
Entries (RSS)
December 24th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Go to a doctors surgery and sign on as a tempoary patient or visit a same day clinic in the area. That is what i have had to do to get my bi-polar meds
December 24th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Any local hospital should be able to accomodate you if you explain the situation to them. If you have old bottles or a list of your medications it would help.
December 25th, 2009 at 4:00 am
Call your doctors office and have them call in your presciption to a pharmacist in the location that you are that day.
December 25th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Explain your problem to the American Embassy. They should be able to help you hook up with a Dr. and a script.
December 25th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Minky has the answer,find a local G.P and ask to be taken on as a temporary patient.They will need to check with your own G.P.
p.s. Hope the exam went o.k!
December 25th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I was living in South Africa and went on holiday to UK.
I ran out of meds and just went to see a local Doctor there and explained. He gave me a Camcolit Lithium prescription for free, no problem.
December 25th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
sorry dont know…why dont you phone your doctor and ask him?
December 25th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Hi, this happened to me – I managed to get an emergency private prescription for my bipolar meds from the pharmacist but be warned you will 1) have to pay private script prices and 2)bring your box of meds to prove you are on them and the doses. The alternative is to see a GP where you are as an emergency appt or ring the drs on call where you are and explain the situation but again you will need to take the empty boxes to show the dr what you are on. All the best.
December 25th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Could you get a member of your family to pick up your repeat for you and post you the meds? My wife does mine.
December 25th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Just take you repeat prescription with you when you go away, and take it to any chemist and they will fill it for you. We have done this many times. Ask the doctor to ring the nearest pharmacy of the town you’re staying in.
December 26th, 2009 at 2:54 am
a hospital might prescribe for you..but will probly have to confirm with your doc first so you may have to wait…
December 26th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Aye. You’d better get a prescription- you will be out of your element and without your meds, a perfect storm for an unpleasant episode. Call you doc and have him fax the prescirption to the nearest pharmacy… that should not be a problem. You can request the maximum pill count, and then have another prescription written. Someone from home can fill it and mail it to you, rush, express, whatever. It is imperative that you stay on the Lamotrogine… any more than 3 days missed and you have to go back down to 25 mg and work your way back up. That, obviously, will **** you over for awhile.
Good luck
Anna
December 26th, 2009 at 11:09 am
If you have the empty prescription bottle still you can take to the pharmacy and ask them to call the dr to get it refilled. If you don’t just go to a local dr/clinic and explain what you take and why, and bring your regular dr’s phone number if possible in case they wish to call and verify. Then you could get a new prescription and have it filled that day. But please do something! Staying off your meds is not a good thing at all! Good luck to you, and enjoy your vacation!