[stellachiara]

I currently take Budeprion XL (generic Wellbutrin), but apparently Wellbutrin is not on their list of approved drugs. They do carry it in its form as a smoking cessation aid, but apparently they won't prescribe it to you outside of that usage. Since I already have a prescription from a US doctor, would it be possible/legal for me to buy it online pharmacy and have it shipped to me?

[dilanium]

As far as I know you cannot get prescription medications shipped to you from overseas. You can however bring a small stockpile in for your consumption while you work on finding a replacement. The birth control I used to use is unavailable here, I had a few months supply and then had to switch to a different kind (which admittedly is not quite the same issue, but still a prescription drug).

I would email customs for the actual regulations they have:
feedback@customs.govt.nz

[kanatakiwi]

My blood pressure meds from Canada were not available here, it took some research by both myself and my doctor to determine what an equivelant medication would be here. Also the dosage had to be lowered as my doctor here told me I could not have that high a dosage without seeing a cardiologist. (even though it was a cardiologist that prescribed it in Canada) in the end it all worked out, I am on the alternative drug at a lower dosage and its working just fine.
I am sure you will find a similar thing here with your medication, there will be some alternative available. and given the high cost of meds int he US and the relatively low cost here, I would opt to find an alternative if its possible. (the drug pressure meds I took in Canada cost me $200 for each refill, here it costs me $8!!

[Questor]

You can get Zyban here (similar to the one you take) although it isn't funded so you have to pay the full cost (around $160 per month IIRC)
Although it's not long term so you won't have to pay that EVERY month!

EDIT: I just noticed you're not taking it as a smoking cessation aid so perhaps ignore what i said!

[sweetpea]

I'm guessing you've seen the NZ government's formulary at : http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/healthpros/Schedule. There are no other drugs analagous to buproprion on the formulary, unfortunately. For some reason, I got into a conversation with a doctor here about bupropion, and did get told in no uncertain terms that they regarded bupropion as a short-term drug only. Wildly divergent (from US doctors) attitudes about various drugs seem to be not uncommon.

What I did, personally, because the drugs I had been taking weren't on the formulary, is to visit my doctor several months before I left, bringing a list of the formulary drugs that might be used to treat my condition. From the list, we came up with a drug regimen that worked.


(Yes, Pharmacology is my favorite subject in school :))

[stellachiara]

Thank you for all your input. I did some further research and it seems that there is an approved drug that works similarly to Wellbutrin, with a similar lack of the usual side effects of anti-depressants (weight gain/sexual dysfunction) -- Effexor. I am happy again!

[m.brad.russell]

You can get Zyban here (similar to the one you take) although it isn't funded so you have to pay the full cost (around $160 per month IIRC)
Although it's not long term so you won't have to pay that EVERY month!

EDIT: I just noticed you're not taking it as a smoking cessation aid so perhaps ignore what i said!

This is not good news. My wife takes this for PMS, so it's not just a temporary thing. Currently we pay US$20 for a 90 day supply. Even at today's exchange rate, it will cost us US$240 for the same amount. Not to mention, we will be earning NZ$ at upon arrival. Yikes! Everyone loves to complain about healthcare in the U.S., but we are much better off in this regard.

Brad

[BkyMonster]

Effexor isn't a bad drug but it isn't fun to come off of, just from personal experience. :)

[stellachiara]

Effexor isn't a bad drug but it isn't fun to come off of, just from personal experience. :)

I hear Wellbutrin is bad to come off of too, but I'm not sure I want to come off it. It basically saved my life, and I am not at all sure I want to see if I can do it without the drug yet.

[stellachiara]

This is not good news. My wife takes this for PMS, so it's not just a temporary thing. Currently we pay US$20 for a 90 day supply. Even at today's exchange rate, it will cost us US$240 for the same amount. Not to mention, we will be earning NZ$ at upon arrival. Yikes! Everyone loves to complain about healthcare in the U.S., but we are much better off in this regard.

Brad

Another thing to consider is that they won't prescribe it for any other reason than smoking cessation. I don't mind paying for it (I pay full price for it now), but I would like just to be able to get it!

[stellachiara]

I was nosing around the Customs site, and I came across this page:

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/RIss/unapp.asp

It outlines a law saying that medical practitioners in NZ can legally prescribe ANY drug they want, even if it is an unapproved one, if they feel it will help their patient's condition. This makes me think that if we found the right doctor, perhaps have a letter from our doctors describing why this particular drug is necessary for our health, we might be able to find a doctor willing to prescribe Wellbutrin to us.

[Parsley]

I was nosing around the Customs site, and I came across this page:

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/RIss/unapp.asp

It outlines a law saying that medical practitioners in NZ can legally prescribe ANY drug they want, even if it is an unapproved one, if they feel it will help their patient's condition. This makes me think that if we found the right doctor, perhaps have a letter from our doctors describing why this particular drug is necessary for our health, we might be able to find a doctor willing to prescribe Wellbutrin to us.


The docs I work with regularly prescribe "off-prescription" drugs if the effects they're looking for can be met by another drug which is not normally prescribed for that condition. However, it is down to each dosc individual judgement as to whether or not they will do this, so there's no guarantee that they will prescribe you the drug you request.

P

[stellachiara]

Right, there's no guarantee, but there's a chance!

[Mrs Pony]

I was just able to get a 3 month supply of my meds and 6 month supply of BC... I had to pay cash for most of it but it wasn't that much more than using my insurance. My dr also took me off one of my meds so that I won't have to worry about getting my eyes checked in NZ every 6 months... That should give me enough time to get over there and to see a new dr to get some new meds... hopefully!

[stellachiara]

That's great Mrs. P! I still have about 5 months before we actually make the move, but I think in a few months I'll broach this with my doctor.