Private Psychatrist to prescribe Zyban. Bupropion off label

[Tiredpeckham]

Hello can anyone in London DM me if they have details of a private psychiatrist who can prescribe Bupropion /Zyban? I have tried SSRI's and the side effects are too much. Obviously I am aware it’s not prescribed in the Uk as an antidepresant, but I do know some psychatristys will prescribe off label for that use. If you’ve come across somone in London, pls could you DM me?

Many thanks in advance.

Hi, just wondering if you had any joy?

Any luck with this? I'm in a similar place tried SSRIs and awful side effects.... Thanks for any advice.

Ffs it drives me mad people keep asking this. You won't bloody get it. It's not licensed. The only way anyone will prescribe it is if you have been living in the states and have an existing prescription and even then they will wean you off it and onto a different one.

With respect @nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut , that's not true. A private psychiatrist in the UK can prescribe it; I know because I've tried it for depression. It didn't work for me but that's beside the point. Private psychiatrists don't have to follow NHS guidelines and it's readily available in the UK as a smoking cessation medication so it's relatively easy to get.

Are SSRIs the only NHS option for depression? I can't tolerate the side effects either - I take agomelatine now. Am currently abroad (not USA) but might have to move back to U.K. My biggest fear is that I won't be able to continue with various medications. Sorry for hijack!

I wanted to try agomelatin, it’s not on the NHS.

Also wanted to try Zyban, come to that.

Between all that and wanting some zolpidem, maybe I’ll see about going private.

No @HandShakingDilema I’ve had SSRIs, NSRIs and tricyclics over the past 7 years. No joy with any mind...

Thanks @OneHanded, sorry that nothing worked for you though 

@AutumnRose1 Agomelatine has been good for me... I don't think it's the most powerful AD ever but I'm pretty stable on it, it helps me sleep and as far as I can tell no side effects! I have zolpidem too, got to love private medicine!

Hand hi, at 5am....

I think zolpidem is now so frowned on in the UK, it’s near a ban, and I’m not sure you can get it privately either.

If what you are after is no weight gain, not messing up sexual function, and well tolerated, then Moclobemide may work for some people. I'm not 100% sure, but you likely wouldn't get it direct from your GP. But you can get it on the NHS if either an NHS psychiatrist or a private psychiatrist advises your GP to prescribe it.

As far as I know, (I could easily be wrong), any GP could prescribe bupropion in theory. They are just rather unlikely to do it, because they expose themselves to more risk if something goes wrong, and it's not licensed for depression. They could be asked to explain themselves over it, in a way that they wouldn't be for SSRIs. Oh that, and I think they are supposed to used licensed medications if any are available to do the job; and there are various antidepressants available. However, there aren't any available that do the exact same function as bupropion. But I imagine the preference for licensed medications would work strongly against them trying it.

Fun fact about SSRIs: they are actually used as a form of "chemical castration" for sex offenders. Of course this is kind of a serious matter, as some people have been seriously harmed by SSRIs.

I take citalopram - no changes in libido for me. I must be one of the lucky ones.

"Are SSRIs the only NHS option for depression?"

The easiest thing to get from a GP outside of SSRIs is probably mirtazapine. You shouldn't have a problem getting it if you can't tolerate SSRIs. A GP could also give you the SNRI venlafaxine. It's known for bad withdrawal symptoms however. Also tricyclic antidepressants.

Some things a GP wouldn't start themselves, but you can get them on the advice of a psychiatrist.

I’m sorry so many of you have had no luck too. I would definitely recommend asking about giving venlaflaxine a go too, once past a certain dose it works by effecting two types of receptor rather than just one.

With meds that is, as far as the drug OP is asking about I hadn’t even heard of.

Not heard of Moclobemide

I’d really like try something that doesn’t cause weight gain issues.

I've got most of those prescribed privately via my psychiatrist.

And supplied via GP though I get private scripts for the sleepers.

Mind you I've been through about 15 different types of Ad before this though.

Cadbury, so a private psych is still prescribing zolpidem? That’s interesting to know.

@AutumnRose1 I got some zolpidem from a private psych last year; not sure whether he'd give them to me now (and I wouldn't want them in any event). In terms of ADs that don't cause weight gain, I've just started duloxetine and it has the side effect of completely putting me off food and I have zero appetite.