Depression Support Group

Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.

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Mendacius 07/17/2017

Hi there.

So today I went to see my GP to ask her to fill out another prescription for my antidepressant medication. I haven't been taking it regularly for the last two months or so and it has greatly contributed to recent downturn. It doesn't help when my entire life is crumbling in front of my eyes, but hey, that's a different thread. Anyways, I went to my doctor to get prescribed my regular medication, and I inform her about my suicidal thoughts, as I wanted to be completely honest. I'm going away for a month back to the US, so I wanted to make sure I had enough meds for whilst I was away from London.

Rather than give me my usual prescription of a month's worth of citalopram, she tells me that she's worried that I'm going to use them to kill myself and decides to instead only provide me a week's supply. I told her i was going back to the US for 4 weeks and that wouldn't be enough. And she simply said to get some OTC antidepressants whilst I'm there, or see a doctor there to prescribe me the meds (at a much higher cost). I told her I wouldn't use the AD drugs to kill myself, knowing that that would be a painful way to go, telling her bluntly I would use sleeping pills if it came to that. She simply said she didn't feel comfortable giving me more than a week's supply. So I may as well have not gone. I'm very annoyed. A week's supply of meds isn't even enough to actually feel a difference.

sharaninmd 07/17/2017

Before you leave for your trip, schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist who you can talk with and they can make a diagnosis. Let her know that your other doctor had been giving you cital

sonnycamehome 07/17/2017

This seems very irresponsible of your doctor, especially since you were so forthcoming. Is there anyway you can see a specialist instead of a GP? I don't know what it's like in London, but here in the US, GP's rarely RX psych meds...this sort of thing is left to psychiatrists who have better training.

I hope you can get the meds you need before your trip, and I'm sorry you're dealing with such incompetence.

sharaninmd 07/17/2017

Sorry, something happened. Let them know that your other doctor had been giving you citalopram. Ask the doctor if you should continue with that medication or if they would recommend something else. Let the doctor know that you will be out of the country for a month, therefore, you would need enough to get you through until you return home. The doctor may recommend a therapist for you to talk to, which I think would be very beneficial for you. When dealing with mental illnesses and medications, it is best to work with a psychiatrist. I wish you the best.

Mendacius 07/17/2017

Sharan, in the UK, GPs are the ones who provide you with antidepressant medication, not psychiatrists. Furthermore, it will have been added to my medical records that I obtained a prescription for 7 days today. Any attempt to procure more medication before then is an illegal offense. I leave this coming Thursday for the US, and was hoping to get enough medication for the duration of my trip. I informed my GP today that I was going to be away for a month, that it wouldn't be easy for me to obtain the medication whilst I was away. She simply said "You can cut the pills in half to make it last two weeks, but I'm worried if I give you more, you may use them to harm yourself". I'm already seeing a therapist (privately, as the NHS wait list is about a year, unless you convince them you're a basket case).

Sonny, I thought so as well. Surely the potential benefit of me no longer feeling suicidal outweighs the small risk of me taking them to harm myself, especially when I said if I was, I had a go-to. As said before, it'll be entered onto the system that I have been given these drugs. I won't be given anything else. I'm unfortunately stuck. I've made an appointment to see a GP when I get back to the US, but as you say, they rarely are able to prescribe such things.

sonnycamehome 07/17/2017

Mendacius, I'm sorry you are in such a tight spot. I wish I could say I had some advice for you, but I don't. All I can say is that I hope the GP in the US is helpful and will perhaps prescribe something just to get you through. It's so hard to be without your meds, and it just seems outrageous to be denied them. You're outright asking for help and just being denied...I feel frustrated for you!

Heidiclark 07/17/2017

First of all, a weeks worth of medication is not going to make a difference. Second, did you tell your GP you were suicidal? Either way let her know that you are NOT suicidal and that you really need more medication. Also since you are well enough to travel to the US she might feel like you're not actually doing that badly.

mamie1890 07/17/2017

Very odd of her to prescribe only a month...was she upset that you weren't taking the meds regularly, (stockpiling??). Never know what they are really feeling. Is there someone above your doc that you could discuss this with? Seems pretty silly to put you in that predicament. Depending on where you are going you might find a "walk in clinic", or urgent care. You could see if you could get some meds there...they might want to contact you doctor in England, but they might prescribe. Good Luck

Mendacius 07/18/2017

Heidi, tell me about it. She said as much herself. I asked her if there was any point in taking a week's worth. And she said not really, aside from some placebo effect. Yes, I did tell her I was suicidal. We discussed it, even. She asked me how I would do it, where I would go, to what extent I think about it. Unfortunately, I can't go back and ask for more, because that's considered an illegal offense.

Mamie, she prescribed only a week. I have all of 7 pills. She wasn't upset by it, as I was explaining to her why I wasn't taking them regularly. Unfortunately, no, there's no one I can discuss this with. As mentioned before, it'll be entered onto the NHS system that I've been given these meds. It won't state that I'm going away. So there's no way to obtain more here in the UK.

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