Escitalopram without a prescription

[colourblindrainbow]

Please could anyone advise me what to do next if I don’t get a call back from the gp?
I have been really struggling with my mental health for a long time and it just seems to get worse rather than better and I’m so tired of it all. It’s like I just can’t be normal and my emotions are all over the place every day.
I’m not doing well and it is affecting others around me too but I can’t seem to “unmask” how I am really feeling.
I know that if an adult spent any length of time with me they would see it realise how much I need some help but I don’t spend any length of time with other adult humans which would be long enough to really drop the mask and let them see.
Sorry I’m going on, I’m trying to explain why I’ve made the decision I have.
The intrusive thoughts have been very persistent lately and I have been trying to get some help but it’s taking a long time (probably not actually long, but longer than I desperately need.)
I have been waiting since January for therapy but have had 2 assessments. During the second one I was told I’d get a call back in about a week but it could take longer and it’s now been nearly 2.
I filled out an online request for a mental health appointment with the gp so I could finally attempt some medication but they haven’t gotten back to me for about 10/11 days.
I had a breakdown a couple of years ago now and they absolutely doped me up with all sorts of medication which in time I took myself off.
I have had a pot of antidepressants since that time that I hadn’t taken and I counted them and there were 27 in there so I started taking them a few days ago.
What do I do if I don’t get a call back from the dr in the next 2 weeks or so? I’m worried about having started them and then having to suddenly stop again. I’m worried it will intensify suicidal thoughts.
I know it might have been a bit silly but I didn’t know what else to do to try and help myself.

You won’t feel the benefit for quite a few weeks. You need to get them prescribed by a gp asap as you may need a higher or lower dose or a different drug. Also what’s the point in waiting since you will inevitably run out.
Did you see private gp appointment online is about £50 plus costs of meds (quite cheap) to tide you over whilst waiting for gp appt. This is your safest option ime

Thank you @FlowerBarrow , I will call in the morning and explain the situation and hopefully be able to get an appointment in the next 2 weeks. I just feel like I will be viewed as pestering them and being awkward and/or demanding as that is how they do look at people with certain diagnosed mental health conditions.
I did see that, thank you, I will see what happens tomorrow and then go from there with the private option if needed as I am worried to be taking it and then suddenly stopping it again.
I don’t think I can go higher than 20mg which is what I’ve started taking but I guess they may want to lower it.
I wish it was ok to be 100% honest about how you are feeling without the risk of what they might do and I wish it was easier to get help but ultimately I wish so much that I wasn’t like this.
I just don’t want to spend another year living in the same set of pyjamas from week to week, barely washing or even brushing my hair at times. Being to anxious or whatever it is to take part in the world and failing my children. It has to stop.

I have called the gp today and the lady on the phone told me that there are no appointments available to book at the moment and that I am on the system for a call back for when appointments become available but that they don’t know when that will be as they’re working through them.
I told her that I am taking the old leftover escitalopram 20mg and I am worried about not having an appointment before they run out and she asked me how many I have left. I told her just over 3 weeks worth and she said that hopefully I will get a call back before that happens.

That is so rubbish. Do you think you will be ok to wait that long OP? If not, then ring 111 and take the MH option from
that.

I think I will wait for another week and then call if I don’t hear back. I just don’t want to cause an unnecessary hassle.
I feel like an idiot for starting them knowing I didn’t have an appointment booked yet but I just needed to do something.

For anybody that can help advise now a while on. I have now been taking these tablets for 2 weeks and I am really starting to feel better. I am still not where I want to be but I haven’t cried as much and my emotions haven’t been so erratic. I’ve also found that I’m starting to have a little more energy and have even had some thoughts about the future and feel like I’m starting to feel a little more able to cope with it all. That is the good news. The bad news is that I had a call back from the gp receptionist who has given me an appointment for the 16th of next month. They asked me if that was ok and I said that no, not really, ideally I need it in the next week and they told me that that’s the earliest they have. Would it be ok to call 111 just for the prescription? I just don’t want to be making a fuss or inconveniencing a busy service but I really don’t want to have to stop and start again.

@colourblindrainbow

Can you pop into your surgery and ask them to send over a repeat for the tablets to your local pharmacy?

That's what we have to do at mine.
If it's not put on automatic repeat at the pharmacy I have to go into the surgery and the receptionist will put in the request for the repeat.

When the gp reviews their repeat list if they aren't happy to do it without speaking to you they normally then call ,in which case would be perfect either way for you as either way you could get to speak to the gp and get the script or they put it through for yoh.

If you need an on-the-day emergency GP appointment, tell them you're suicidal. It's not as if it's a lie! And you maybe will be if your meds runs out. They can't refuse you, it doesn't matter if all the appointments are full up, they have to fit you in, even if that means you going there and waiting all day for a doctor to have a spare 5min.

If you're ever in a situation where you don't feel able to keep yourself safe, go to A&E and ask to see the duty psychiatrist about your suicidal feelings. This is a valid procedure for that service, whether you're officially on meds or not, whether you're taking anything or not. There may be a long wait but you will see someone.

I'm a GP and have read your posts. Sorry the appointment is so late. I would recommend that you call 111 during the day to explain your situation, they may be able to either issue the prescription or get you a same day appointment with local out of hour services. Or if you've got any walk in GP services near you, attend one of these.