Can an American Doctor write a prescription for a UK citizen?

[PrawnSacrifice]

I would like to try a drug that is not available in the UK, but is widely available (under prescription) in the USA, Australia and Canada. The reason it is not available in the UK is cost.

If I travelled to America and saw a Doctor at my own expense, and if they agree that this drug would be appropriate for my condition (it is widely used for my condition abroad where health insurance covers the cost) would/could they prescribe this drug for me and could I then go to a pharmacist and acquire said drug to bring home to the UK. Obviously I'd be covering all costs.

It's not a banned or illegal substance at all, just one that is not prescribed in the UK for my condition.

Sounds like it would be cheaper to start(or pretend to) smoking and get it that way!!!

My GP prescribed brupropian for me. He was aware it was for depression and not to stop smoking. You need to find another GP. I took it for about a year

Yes, tried Mirtazapine. It made me angry and whilst it helped with anxiety, it didn't help with depression.

Tried Venlafaxine and had a terrible reaction to it.

Meds I've tried so far over the years are:

Fluoxetine
Mirtazapine
Citalopram
Sertraline
Duloxetine
Venlafaxine
Amitryptyline
Paroxetine

All bar the Mirtazapine made me sexually numb and killed my libido stone dead.

@Gladtobesilver - that's very encouraging to hear. Not even my secondary care psychiatrist was willing to entertain the idea. How do you find the Wellbutrin works for you? Did it impact your sexual response in any way? Is that why you sought it out? How was it for the depression and low mood?

I would try a private psychologist. NHS refused to assess and treat my adhd, I went private via The Priory. I was prescribed a drug that's licensed for my condition but would be unlikely to be prescribed via nhs due to cost. Doctors in the UK can prescribe 'off licence' in the UK providing they have good reason.

I think if you were to have a drug prescribed abroad you'd have to have the prescription fulfilled in the country it was prescribed.

This thread has motivated me to go and see my GP again about this and ask specifically about Wellbutrin/ Buproprion. Hopeful... rest of my life is AOK these days but gawd the rest of my days with crap sex? Or just... no inclination for sex? No ta.

Sorry I should add, it was recommended by a private psychiatrist to my GP. After that I had it on a repeat prescription. My GP was very aware that "I was taking it to stop smoking". It looks like I was very fortunate to have a GP with a realistic attitude to treatment for depression. Good luck

Oh PrawnSacrifice it's you, I didn't clock that. I've posted on yr other threads. You really have been through the whole pharmacopoeia.

Private might be worth it if they prescribe but ouch, the cost.

Shame we cannot easily do depression tourism as easily as dental tourism in the EU, eh? I think you can get it for depression in Austria, germany, Switzerland and possibly elsewhere in the EU.
There would have been a gap in the market there for sure, had we not just shot ourselves in the foot as a nation and voted to leave the EU 🤨.

Low mood, depression - yes it worked beautifully. It kept me stable and happy. Sex - I haven't had sex for a long time so couldn't comment on that, but ironically that was the reason I changed from venlafaxine to bruproprian. Then the relationship I was in ended and I haven't been in one since, so it's hard to judge. However I would say find a private psychiatrist to start your prescription, then get them to write to your GP and instruct them to prescribe long term. That's basically what happened with me. Good luck

In the US you will receive at most a prescription for 3 months. I'm guessing with a drug like Wellbutrin it will probably only be for a month. Do you plan to fly back to the US every month (or every 3 months) to fill your prescription? Also doctors tend to want to have follow up appts to see how its working. They would start with a low dose and then want to see you again in a month. You would be traveling to the US quite often for this to work.

You can pay privately in the US to see a doctor and you can get a prescription. You can take that to the pharmacy and it will be filled.

But please look into the cost of the drug first. Epipens for children retail at around $700 for a pack of two.

Call one of the well-known drugstores (Walgreens, Duane Reade, CVS, Rite Aid) and speak to one of their pharmacists. Ask them how much a month’s supply would cost. Don’t forget to ask how much the generic version would cost. The prescription would normally allow x3 refills, so you may be able to get 4 months’ worth at a time. That still means x3 trips over per year.

I live in the US, and can ask for you. Send me a PM if you’d like help, I pass my pharmacy at least twice per day. They’re lovely and (sadly) very used to me.

@sevensalmonswimming a doctor will not just keep prescribing antidepressants without follow up visits (especially in the beginning when working out what dosage is needed). I think OP would have to travel here more often then 3 times a year.

Mine did. In the UK. Repeat prescription for bruproprian. For at least a year, quite probably longer, (sorry I can't remember exactly- it was a few years ago) I saw a private psychiatrist who wrote to my GP recommending that he prescribe it. And then I had it on repeat prescription from my GP for a long time. It really shouldn't be this hard to get it ☹️

Instead of travelling to the US could you not travel to PPs private psychiatrist.

Price of generic bupropion at Walmart is $9 for 30 days or $24 for 90 days.
www.walmart.com/ip/bupropion-hcl-er-xl/233349638

But I agree with others that you'd have to see a doctor for regular checkups. Although having said that mine prescribed me a year's supply of fluoxetine but he knows me well.

rock up to a walk in/urgent care. They are everywhere here. Dont try to go to a primary care they wont see you unless u register and have a physical ( at least not in my state).
Walk ins/ urgent care are for people who dont have a primary care or want to be seen out of hours but not pay the ER fee. They generally cost more than an office visit but way cheaper than an ER
If you are paying out of pocket you should have no problems. Picking up the prescription, so long as you say you are paying cash and no insurance involved you should be ok (cant get more than a certain amount at a time with most insurances). Check for discount coupons and go to that pharmacy to buy them. For Welbutrin Walmart is $9 a month, cash, at the moment but Rite Aid is $42 so check it out before taking it to a pharmacy.
Most doctors will give to at least a 6 month repeat prescription so where you buy it will make a difference.
If its any use I know someone from the UK who did this for a medication, not welbutrin though, got 1 year at a time and just came back, went to same walk in and asked for a repeat script, as they were on record there it was seamless

I don’t think it would work.

I’m on Wellbutrin - I’m in Canada. I do really like it - it has helped me and not affected my libido.

But I was initially prescribed a months worth. Then I went back to see my Dr after 2 weeks for a check up. Then he gave me another
Month. Then I went back and how he has given me 6 months worth.

I doubt that any dr would give you enough to make it worth flying over?

For Welbutrin Walmart is $9 a month, cash, at the moment but Rite Aid is $42 so check it out before taking it to a pharmacy

And this is why we switched from RiteAid to Walmart. The difference in prices for pretty much all our prescriptions is amazing.

I'm on bupropion, in Ireland. A private specialist prescribed it, possibly for off label use, I'm not sure. My GP was happy to repeat the prescription so now I pay just a couple of euro a month for the maximum dose, 450mg.
I don't think you'll have to go as far as the US for it.

Where is the best place to find a private psychiatrist and does anyone know the cost of a consultation.

Would it be best to be completely up front about the purpose for the visit - "I'm hear in the hope that you'll understand my case and position and prescribe Bupropion for me, for the following reasons...... and my GOP won't/can't prescribe it.... etc"

I've seen a psychiatrist privately - it was £350 per appointment, so quite hefty, though obviously, that's a lot cheaper than going to the US three times a year.

I did also need a referral (despite already being under secondary care in the NHS).

Honesty is the best policy also.

Just so I understand, you can't just go and see a private psychiatrist by yourself without a GP referral?

I'm not sure how I'd go about that as I've already had a referral to a NHS psychiatrist from my GP who identified my issues and prescribed Sertraline...... which I'd tried and gave me issues, like all the other SSRIs.

How does that conversation go....? "Thanks Dr for the referral, but I don't like the answer they gave, so I want to ask someone privately in the hope they give me the answer I want to hear, please can you give me a referral so I can come back next week with a prescription for the drug you won't prescribe?"

Forgive me, I'm just trying to map out the route to market in my head.

I went to a private psychiatrist without a referral. I did have to consent to the notes being shared with my GP.

First Google result for private psychiatrists is Harley Psychiatrists and in the FAQs under 'Do I need a referral', it says "It’s usually not necessary and our psychiatrists can see you directly without a referral."

I hope you find a workaround OP.

Thanks for the replies everyone, this has been hugely helpful.

If you do need a referral, you could do what I did and go to PushDoctor - it cost me twenty quid but saved arguing with the GP (it wasn't Wellbutrin I wanted to go about, but the principle was similar) and the letter came through by pdf before I'd said goodbye to the doctor on the app.