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.
poster:Jackster
thread:216717
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030407/msgs/217466.html