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hochigene
Joined: 15 Nov 2010
Posts: 10
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 Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:37 pm Post subject: finding anti-depressants in Vietnam |
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Hello,
I live in the Hanoi area and am looking for the anti-depressant Wellbutrin or the generic form, Bupropion. I can't seem to find it at regular pharmacies; the only anti-depressant they seem to carry is fluoxetine.
Does anyone have advice on the best way to procure some Wellbutrin/bupropion? Is there an international clinic or pharmacy I should check out?
Thanks so much! |
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Andy123
Joined: 24 Sep 2009
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:39 am Post subject: |
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| FV hospital has the largest stock of meds. Expensive but your best hope. |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 6:10 am Post subject: |
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You can also try SOS.
If all else fails, a $12 bus ride to Phnom Penh will probably solve the problem. There pharmacies are well stocked and modern. Some Happy pizza may help, too. |
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hochigene
Joined: 15 Nov 2010
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:09 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the suggestions! Only problem is, I'm near Hanoi, not HCMC... So FV Hospital and Phnom Penh are quite far from me.
Does anyone have ideas in the Hanoi area? |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:42 am Post subject: |
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| I am sure there must be the equivalent of FV or SOS there. Good luck. |
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bentanddisfunctional
Joined: 19 Oct 2010
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 1:23 am Post subject: |
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Anti-depressants???
Vietnam is not that bad mate 
Maybe time for a shift?? |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 1:37 am Post subject: |
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| bentanddisfunctional wrote: |
Anti-depressants???
Vietnam is not that bad mate :roll:
Maybe time for a shift?? |
Don't trivialize someone's health problems. It belies a serious level of ignorance to make fun of people for their problems. If he/she is managing life with a little chemical assistance, that is not much different, really, from the hundreds of other teachers here who self-medicate with alcohol and other substances. At least this person exibits some awareness and responsibility. More than I can say for the average drunken English teacher in Viet Nam.
To the OP- apparently there are huge hurdles to leap every time a pharmacist here wants to order any "mind-altering" medicine, so there are few available, and usually the broadest common denominator. If necessary, go to Cambodia or Thailand (I really can't say about Laos) and get a year's supply of what you need. If you must fly, go to Bangkok, it is way cheaper than flying to Cambodia. Good luck. |
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Jbhughes
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Posts: 254
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 1:48 am Post subject: |
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There's a SOS in Hanoi:
http://www.internationalsos.com/fr/ourresources_clinics_vietnam_3534.htm
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In addition to routine and emergency healthcare services the clinic also offers the following:
house calls
on-site laboratory and radiology
in-house pharmacy managed by fully qualified pharmacists
two in-patient rooms
specialist consultations � orthodontics, gynecology, orthopedics, ear nose and throat, endocrinology, ophthalmology, dermatology, urology, cardiology, pneumology, radiology, psychology and physiotherapy
full counseling and psychotherapy services. |
| Quote: |
International SOS Vietnam, Ltd.
Clinic Address: 1 Dang Thai Mai
Postal Address: 51 Xuan Dieu
Tay Ho, Hanoi, S.R. Vietnam Vietnam
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 1:55 am Post subject: |
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| isabel wrote: |
| bentanddisfunctional wrote: |
Anti-depressants???
Vietnam is not that bad mate
Maybe time for a shift?? |
Don't trivialize someone's health problems. It belies a serious level of ignorance to make fun of people for their problems. If he/she is managing life with a little chemical assistance, that is not much different, really, from the hundreds of other teachers here who self-medicate with alcohol and other substances. At least this person exibits some awareness and responsibility. More than I can say for the average drunken English teacher in Viet Nam. |
Hear, hear! Good luck to you hochigene and hope you feel better soon. |
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bentanddisfunctional
Joined: 19 Oct 2010
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 2:57 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Don't trivialize someone's health problems. It belies a serious level of ignorance to make fun of people for their problems. If he/she is managing life with a little chemical assistance, that is not much different, really, from the hundreds of other teachers here who self-medicate with alcohol and other substances. At least this person exibits some awareness and responsibility. More than I can say for the average drunken English teacher in Viet Nam. |
Whoops- isabel don't label me ignorant.
Sounds like you have some issues.
Get some therapy/counselling. |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 3:03 am Post subject: |
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Hmm, maybe you're not ignorant, just bent and disfunctional.
Is there something wrong with therapy? Counseling? Most of us need it at one time or another, especially expats. |
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bentanddisfunctional
Joined: 19 Oct 2010
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 3:22 am Post subject: |
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touche Isabel.
I agree with you that therapy/counselling is infinitely preferable to medication -be it alcohol or prescription.
Not sure the 'happy pizza'/marijuana is a good solution Doctor..
In Vietnam it is difficult to procure over the counter 'medications',unless one has a doctors prescription from ones own country.
If you really need it,I would suggest you take that route.
Re: Cambodia- that is a slippery slope.
I know personally 3 expats there that pegged it from 'self medicating',plus the problem of counterfeit drugs which are rife.....
Caveat emptor |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| bentanddisfunctional wrote: |
Not sure the 'happy pizza'/marijuana is a good solution Doctor.. |
In the short-term, marijuana actually has the potential to be excellent for depression. Marijunana increases dophamine levels to the brain which, when people first start using it, makes them feel elated. However, self-medicating with illegal street drugs is far from ideal and walking around with elevated dophamine levels can be dangerous and can eventually cause worsening depression and, especially for people with an existing mental illness (including depression) the risk of psychosis. When marijunia grows in nature there is actually an anti-psychotic agent in the plant, but, in commercial growing, this agent is often not present as the plant has been modified to make it stronger. My own personal take is that if an adult wants to indulge in the 'wacky tobacky' that's up to them (personally, I don't). However, I certainly wouldn't recommend someone with depression taking it unless they are living in a country which is civilised enough to allow a medicinal marijunana programme and they have spoken to a doctor about it.
Hochigene I know quite a few people whose lives have been ruined by depression (including members of my close family) and I'm really sorry about what you are going through. I've read a lot about it and, personally, I'm not a fan of anti-depressants. They do have their place in extreme cases where the patient might be a candidate for being placed in an institution, but, other than that, I think there is a huge tendency to over-prescribe them.
Exercise has proven just as effective for treating depression as any anti-depressant and, of course, there are no side-effects  . It is extremely difficult for someone suffering depression to get motivated enough to exercise, but it does get excellent results. Some studies have suggested that yoga is very good for this. Food supplements, like Omega 3, shark liver oil, evervon and tenakan also help. Seditives such as St John's Wort and melatonin are also useful prior to going to bed. These can generally all be picked up in pharmacies and because they are all natural there is no prescription needed.
I would also suggest looking into acupuncture as this can also have amazing results. An acupuncturist who is also a doctor would be the way to go. My acupuncturist, who I see fairly regularly (I've got a bad back), is excellent and would fit the bill, but unfortunately he is in Saigon. I'm sure there are people you could find in Hanoi who could do the job just as well though.
Anyway hochigene hope the above helps and please try and keep your chin up  . |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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All good advice, sarge. If the OP knows to seek out Welbutrin, then (s)he has apparently been to a doctor already.
In the long run, you are absolutely right if you are talking about situational depression. But some depression is physiological and long term. The brain is a complicated thing, and it takes a lot to change it. Meditation can cause true physiological changes in the brain, but such changes take time. Meanwhile, medication can help someone find balance and the ability to continue through tomorrow long enough to deal with real changes.
Depression is a very real and life-threatening condition and should not be belittled. It can be especially difficult when you are abroad away from your closest friends and family. We should all be much more compassionate with each other here. |
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hochigene
Joined: 15 Nov 2010
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:48 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, everyone, for your (mostly) helpful responses!
I contacted some international hospitals in both Hanoi and HCM, and it turns out Wellbutrin/bupropion isn't registered or licensed here in Vietnam. So I'm calling off the search in this country. Pharmacies do seem to carry paxil and prozac, so I might give one of those a go.
I do, in fact, exercise and agree that this works better, overall, than any pill! However, my schedule is such that I can't exercise as much as I'd like, and I've had great results from a couple of different anti-depressants in the past.
I think one of the things that has triggered this new bout of depression is trying to keep up on drinking outings with other expats... gonna give that a rest as well for awhile! |
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