Mental Illness and Drugs...what if there aren't any left?

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I've been troubling over a family members illness and suggested that the doctor be asked how much of a supply they expect to have or the Pharmacy.

Is there a better way to get specific drugs (3-6 months supply) or are we at the potential mercy of the pharmacuticles?

I'm open to suggestions...

In fact this is one of the areas of preparation that I feel virtually helpless.

Father

-- Thomas G. Hale (hale.t@att.net), May 28, 1999

Answers

Talk to the family member's doctor and tell him your fears. I have a diabetic brother and a mom with heart problems. Both are stockpiling the necessary drugs. Thier doctors gave the OK!

-- GeeGee (GeeGee@madtown.com), May 28, 1999.

My father has a number of different medical conditions. He has considered a trip to Mexico. Not everyone has the means to do this. If you can afford to stock meds, the money saved by going South could pay for the trip, depending upon your location. Good luck

-- Will continue (Farming@home.com), May 28, 1999.

Many prescription meds are legally available over the counter in Tijuana and can be brought back over the border with no hassle (so I'm told). Prices can be much cheaper than here. It will depend on what you are looking for. For instance, narcotics are not available over the counter (conceivably by U.S. prescription??). I don't know where something like Prozac would fall.

-- justathought (wh@tev.er), May 28, 1999.

Okay, you covered the drug shortage.

Anyone wanna guess whether we will run out of mental illnesses?

I predict that we will have a flood of sufferers soon! Some folk believe we are experiencing an enormous increase now!

Get in line now! Don't delay!

:-)

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), May 28, 1999.


Thomas,

Check your e-mail.

justathought, narcotics are available over-the-counter in Mexico. You just have to be willing to negotiate a price acceptable to both parties. This is a fact.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), May 28, 1999.



Thomas,

If you haven't already, check these threads:



-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), May 28, 1999.


Sorry about that!

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000AC6

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000lBh

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000mRr

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), May 28, 1999.


I was on a cruise in January and cruisemates told me I could get drugs OTC in Mexico. When we stopped at Cozumel I went into a pharmacy and asked for Vicoden. The response was the same as I would have gotten at home. They looked at me like I was an idiot (which I felt like), and said I would have to get a doctor's prescription. Maybe there are places in Mexico where you can buy drugs OTC, but not at that pharmacy in Cozumel.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), May 28, 1999.

Here is a good link to info on the plans of the Pharmacy Industry

***Koskinen meets w/Pharm. industry - meeting minutes 3/8/99
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000mxe

-- Brian (imager@home.com), May 28, 1999.


I'm surprised I haven't seen this suggestion yet: start investigating homeopathic solutions. For instance, in much of Europe, St. John's Wort is prescribed instead of Prozac, and can be used for mild forms of depression.

Jeannie

-- jhollander (hollander@ij.net), May 28, 1999.



my wife has switched to st johns wort for just that reason,it's also nice to not give money to the drug lords

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), May 28, 1999.

My husband's shrink thinks Y2K is pure foolishness but he still was willing to double his med RX so he can stash a month's supply every time he gets it renewed. He pays for his meds himself. Rx was only a couple dollars more for double the dose so think we'll keep getting it this way for the savings !! Can't hurt to ask your doctor..imagine they'd much rather see your loved one stay stable on their meds then have a problem.

-- MUTTI (windance @train.missouri.org), May 28, 1999.

(1) As someone else was kind enough to mention in an earlier thread, most insurance plans allow you to purchase drugs every 22 or 24 days instead of every 30 days. Doing so allows you to accumulate another week's worth every month. You could get stockpile 7 weeks worth in the remaining time. You might find a somewhat more severe restriction on pain meds.

(2) Most insurance plans allow you to obtain a 2 month supply if you are vacationing overseas...which you are, in Late December, right? So you just ask for a "vacation refill" instead of your regular month's worth.

(3) Psychiatric meds. If I don't get my meds regularly...I COULD GO MAD! Oh, I forgot...I already am.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), May 28, 1999.


My doc geve me 3 month prescription and 1 refill. Mother tried to get meds. in Mexico and was told "they're controlled".

-- leslie (***@***.net), May 28, 1999.

Many of these pharmacies have a doctor just a few doors down who will see you, write you a rx, then you can have your rx filled, and you can come across the border into the US with no problems. Just ask them if there is a doc around the neighborhood. I got the definite impression that there was a regular stream of retired folks who make this pilgramage just because the meds are less expensive there. This is not always the case.....shop around.

-- no body (nobody@nowhere.com), May 28, 1999.


When in TJ, a Doctor's Rx is but a twenty away- no problemo.

-- Barry Jaynes (bchbear@earthlink.net), May 28, 1999.



-- . (
.@...), May 28, 1999.

Thanks everyone for the links and comments.

I've got a bit to chew on.

Hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend.

These are the last best days of our lives.

Father

-- Thomas G. Hale (hale.t@att.net), May 29, 1999.


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