Desparate. WTF do I do about unavailable medication and bipolar?

[historyrocks]

Sorry that this isn't really an AIBU, but I'm desperate.

I have bipolar disorder and one of my medications is an antidepresant named Agomelatine (brand name is Valdoxan). This is an unusual antidepressant and one that isn't normally funded by NHS Scotland (whereas it is for people in England). There was a mess up with my medication so I only have 2 days' worth.

Apparently there's a manufacturing problem and my normal pharmacy doesn't have it in stock and doesn'tknow when it will be available again. I've rung pharmacies as far as 70 miles away, but no where has any in stock.

WTF do I do? Having to come off it cold-turkey would be absolutely disastrious. I get severe psychotic lows and it doesn't take much to throw me off course.

Please, any suggestions? I've managed 4 months stability and I'm in tears thinking that it may be lost due to this.

And my CPN is on annual leave . In spite of myself and DH speaking to the CMHT recptionist and saying we needed to speak to her today, the receptionist just said she'd leave a note. Why doesn't that suprirse me!? ps I'm not blaming my CPN, but the system is useless.

I ended up speaking to the duty worker, (who was the person who informed me my CPN was on leave.)

There's nothing he can do to help--no way of seeing if the hosptial pharmacy can help.

He just said that it wouldn't really matter going cold turkey for up to a week as I would still have some of the medication in my system. I don't know how true that is as the plasma half-life is 1-2 hours, so I think the levels will start dropping quickly (but I'm not a biochemist!)

I know my CPN would never have said that as she knows that just the tiniest changes in medication have thrown me into psychosis/depression. All I can do is dose myself up with lorazepam and quetiapine for the weekend.

I know I'm catastrophising here, but I've spent the last 4 Christmases either in hospital or under the crisis team. I was feeling positive that this Christmas would be one I'd enjoyed.

I’m not in Warrington but my wholesaler is so maybe that’s why the pharmacy near there could get you some.
They also have branches in Glasgow and Gateshead.

Get it couriered upto Scotland?

That duty worker is absolutely wrong about the drug still being in the system. That may be so, but it still doesn't represent a prescribed dose otherwise people wouldn't be told to take these meds on a daily basis. They shouldn't treat psychiatric patients in such a cavalier fashion.

I'm so sorry you're having difficulties. Make sure you don't have anything to do over the weekend, take your anti anxiety meds and watch box sets if possible. You can hire movies and series from Google or Netflix. Try and get plenty of rest and don't forget to eat and take fluids.

Only point I can advise on- don’t worry about the half life. Half life has no bearing on how often a drug is taken.

For example, aspirin half life is 15 mins, amiodarone 50 days. Both are once daily on maintenance dose.

Don’t think too much about half life.

I've got 20 exam papers to mark over the weekend. What shit timing that was!

Is there a psychiatric hospital local to you?

Is it an option to do the marking this evening or early tomorrow, so that you have that off your table? A fellow historian, if you are, here :)

Online pharmacies - in England for instance. Or a national chain should be able to source from England. If it's genuinely not available nationwide then go to your dr today

Hi -

I too suffer Bipolar Disorder and crippling depression. The Agomelatine seemed to work for me, but I face the same problem - I can't obtain it anywhere - i've tried local Pharmacies and online pharmacies but still no luck. I wondered if you had any break throughs? Hope you're ok and got something sorted.