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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jackster on April 6, 2003, at 15:54:40
Just wondering if they prescribe if they have problems prescribing it to people - I was always hassled to come off the Aropax/Paxil when I was over there.
Thanks
Jackie
Posted by JahL on April 6, 2003, at 22:30:37
In reply to Does anyone from the UK take rivotril/klonopin?, posted by Jackster on April 6, 2003, at 15:54:40
> Just wondering if they prescribe if they have problems prescribing it to people - I was always hassled to come off the Aropax/Paxil when I was over there.
>
> Thanks
> Jackie+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi.
Both myself and my brother have no problem getting Klonopin, but we're lucky to have an understanding psychiatrist who trusts my judgement (I've tried over 50 medications and so I think I have a good appreciation of what helps and what doesn't. Klonopin helps).
I do know others that have encountered great difficulty obtaining it so it probably depends on the individual psychiatrist you see.
Unfortunately there is much talk of 'drug rationalisation' (read: get them off drugs and into interminable therapy) in UK psychiatry at present. Because of benzo over-prescribing in the 70's and the consequent furore, a lot of clinicians are unfortunately reluctant to prescribe them.
J.
Posted by Jackster on April 7, 2003, at 2:10:35
In reply to Re: Does anyone from the UK take rivotril/klonopin? » Jackster, posted by JahL on April 6, 2003, at 22:30:37
> Hi.
>
> Both myself and my brother have no problem getting Klonopin, but we're lucky to have an understanding psychiatrist who trusts my judgement (I've tried over 50 medications and so I think I have a good appreciation of what helps and what doesn't. Klonopin helps).
>
> I do know others that have encountered great difficulty obtaining it so it probably depends on the individual psychiatrist you see.
>
> Unfortunately there is much talk of 'drug rationalisation' (read: get them off drugs and into interminable therapy) in UK psychiatry at present. Because of benzo over-prescribing in the 70's and the consequent furore, a lot of clinicians are unfortunately reluctant to prescribe them.
>
> J.
>
Hi JahThanks for the advice. Can only a psychiatrist prescribe rivotril - or can family doc prescribe it as well?
Thanks
Jackie
Posted by JahL on April 7, 2003, at 20:24:08
In reply to Re: Does anyone from the UK take rivotril/klonopin? » JahL, posted by Jackster on April 7, 2003, at 2:10:35
> Hi Jah
>
> Thanks for the advice. Can only a psychiatrist prescribe rivotril - or can family doc prescribe it as well?
>
> Thanks++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Jackie.
General practitioners (GPs - family docs) are notoriously conservative when it comes to scheduled substances - far more so than their American counterparts. The 'Dr Death' scandal (I don't know if you're aware of the 'Dr' Harold Shipman story) has not helped in this regard.
I have always had chronic sleeping problems but before I saw a psychiatrist, the best I could do was a single, 5 day course of Diazepam, *1*mg. So a GP *can* prescribe benzos, but in reality it's like getting blood from a stone.
I guess I'm saying that, on the balance of probabilities, you're going to need to see a psychiatrist. That said, if you have been receiving the drug in the States on a regular basis, you would have some case to present to your GP. There are a few sensible ones out there.
If you're intending to come here (and I don't particularly recommend it...), it might be an idea to contact the health authority relevant to where you'd be staying to see whether they have a GP who is willing to prescribe.
If you get no joy, it might be worth, funds permitting, to see someone privately. You'll wait forever (3-6 months) to see a pdoc in the UK, especially if you're considered a 'non-urgent' case. Once you have that private prescription, it should be relatively to convince a GP to co-operate.
Does this help?
Ta,
Jah.
Posted by Jackster on April 8, 2003, at 14:23:12
In reply to Re: Does anyone from the UK take rivotril/klonopin? » Jackster, posted by JahL on April 7, 2003, at 20:24:08
> Hi Jackie.
>
> General practitioners (GPs - family docs) are notoriously conservative when it comes to scheduled substances - far more so than their American counterparts. The 'Dr Death' scandal (I don't know if you're aware of the 'Dr' Harold Shipman story) has not helped in this regard.
>
> I have always had chronic sleeping problems but before I saw a psychiatrist, the best I could do was a single, 5 day course of Diazepam, *1*mg. So a GP *can* prescribe benzos, but in reality it's like getting blood from a stone.
>
> I guess I'm saying that, on the balance of probabilities, you're going to need to see a psychiatrist. That said, if you have been receiving the drug in the States on a regular basis, you would have some case to present to your GP. There are a few sensible ones out there.
>
> If you're intending to come here (and I don't particularly recommend it...), it might be an idea to contact the health authority relevant to where you'd be staying to see whether they have a GP who is willing to prescribe.
>
> If you get no joy, it might be worth, funds permitting, to see someone privately. You'll wait forever (3-6 months) to see a pdoc in the UK, especially if you're considered a 'non-urgent' case. Once you have that private prescription, it should be relatively to convince a GP to co-operate.
>
> Does this help?
>
> Ta,
> Jah.
>
>
>Hi Jah
You pretty much confirmed what I thought the attitude would be to prescribing benzos there! I lived in London for a couple of years about 5 years ago and I was taking Paxil (Seroxat). Every time I saw a doc to get my prescription I got the 'you're young, you should come off these' speel. I would then remind him that I was on them for agoraphobia and there was no way I was coming off them while I was living on the other side of the world. (I'm from NZ).
I'm hoping that if I go over with a letter from my Pdoc stating what I am taking that might help things. I know how slow the NHS is so I'm under no illusion that I'd be able to see a PDoc there within a month of arriving! Do you know roughly how much it would cost to see a Pdoc privately? It might be my only choice.
Also - what amount of time do they prescribe rivotril for? Is it 3 months? Or is it only 1 month at a time?
Sorry for all the questions - but this is prob the best way for me to find out what it's really like over there! And you have been really helpful.
Thanks
JackiePS I was living in London when the Harold Shipman story was discovered - chilling stuff.
Posted by james_ukglasgow on May 30, 2009, at 2:41:10
In reply to Re: Does anyone from the UK take rivotril/klonopin? » JahL, posted by Jackster on April 8, 2003, at 14:23:12
Hi
I have been on and off Rivotril on the NHS since 1993, for anxiety and hypomania prescribed first by my GP and later by a Pdoc.
It is now in the BNF that it is an off-license option for the treatment of panic disorder, along with lorazepam.
It might be possible to get it this way, if you get your GP to read the latest BNF.
James
Posted by Meltingpot on June 4, 2009, at 8:39:09
In reply to Re: Does anyone from the UK take rivotril/klonopin? » JahL, posted by Jackster on April 8, 2003, at 14:23:12
Hi Jackie,
I'm in the UK and have seen psychiatrists both on the NHS and Privately. The NHS ones are very into getting you off drugs and getting you to try more holiastic therapies. This has really started to get on my nerves, so much so that I fantasise about shooting the last one I saw and I've written a letter of complaint to the Complaints Board.
Private psychiatrists tend to cost about £200 per hour. I've seen some very good ones at the Priory.
You might be able to see an NHS psychiatrist within a month if you tell them you are suicidal, even if you are not as this should speed things up but then if you say you are suicidal they might be more against prescribing klonopin.
Alternatively, you can order it online, which I have done but obviously it will be more expensive than getting them on the NHS. It would be cheaper than going privately for them though.
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
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