Melatonin - told to buy it myself?

[Aparecium]

I was seen by the Long Covid clinic, and I'm sure the doctor there said he would write to my GP asking him to prescribe Melatonin, as it is licensed for sleep disorders in patients over 55y, which I am.

Now I find that the letter he sent my GP recommends that I buy the medication myself, from Amazon, so the GP won't prescribe it.

Why am I expected to source drugs? How am I supposed to know whether it is genuine or of good quality?

AIBU to expect the GP to prescribe me melatonin?

YABU. It will be infinitely cheaper for both you and the NHS if you purchase it yourself. It's no different from being expected to source your own paracetamol.

Use Biovea - it's fine. If you lived in France/Spain/The US, you'd more than likely chuck it in with your food shopping.

It's not at all the same as paracetamol. Paracetamol is a commonly available medication, with a PI number on the side of the box so that you can confirm exactly what is in it.

Melatonin is not commonly available. I looked for it on Amazon and everything that has come up is not Melatonin. I looked at the website for the make you mention - should I choose fast dissolve, or time release, or a third type.

NICE recommend melatonin for insomnia in over-55s. Surely the doctor should prescribe it? It's not about the cost. I'm happy to take over buying it for myself - but once I properly understand what I should be buying. And if you're not supposed to take it for longer than 3 months, shouldn't that be monitored?

Melatonin is a prescription only medication. So no, you don't buy it from Amazon.
You can however, buy it from a reputable online pharmacy, and pay (very little) for an online consultation/private prescription from their own doctor. The letter from your doctor will enable that consultation to be over in two minutes.

Dr Fox is reliable online pharmacy. I've used it many times to get antimalarials.

The CQC rates Dr Fox pharmacy as Good, by the way. So you're only going to get genuine meds from them

https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-9709847380/inspection-summary

You can buy it as an imported food supplement from online retailers but it’s not legal for the retailers to sell it to you because melatonin is a prescription only medicine in the UK.

Your consultant is completely wrong.

Let us know if the melatonin helps you sleep, whenever you get it.

Melatonin is also licensed in the UK as a slow release 2mg tablet (Circadin) for short term treatment of insomnia in adults over 55.

From the Dr Fox site. Unfortunately they only sell the 3mg dose.

Pharmacy 2U is another reliable site. They have it.
https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/circadin-melatonin-2mg-tablets-p10943.html

I'd contact the Long Covid clinic again and ask them to write to your GP requesting they prescribe for you? I doubt you'll be able to get it over the counter.

I buy it from Piping Rock. It hasn't killed me yet.
It isn't a sleeping tablet. It helps you go to sleep but it doesn't keep you asleep like a sleeping tablet would IYSWIM.

I asked my GP to prescribe it. I am also over 55. She said she wasn't allowed to and it was harmful etc.

My daughter takes melatonin - it's prescribed but her paediatrician did say I could also get it from pipingrock.com. I've got a bottle of the 3mg tablets (he said these were fine) as an emergency backup in case we can't get her prescription or something like that.

Im not a doctor but if my 9 year old needs 2/3mg I'm wondering if an adult would need more?

I buy it from the supermarket when I go to the US for work. I have 10 mg capsules.

I've already posted the dosage and type for over 55 sleep issues. It's 2mg slow release.

I was told a similar thing about 10 years ago after going to the GP about sleep problems caused by shift work. They said they couldn't prescribe as it's not licensed for sleep problems in adults but I could buy it online. No idea if this has changed.

Fwiw it did help.

I swear by a mug of cocoa when I can't sleep. Cocoa contains melatonin.

You cannot legally buy Melatonin in the UK!

@Aparecium

@Aparecium GP's are not licensed to prescribe Melatonin, only Paediatricians.

You need to complain if that’s what they’ve put in the letter. A doctor absolutely should not be telling you to try and obtain a medication from abroad when it’s a prescription only item in this country. it’s not a licensed medication in the US so products won’t have the same stringent standards as circadin. The consultant actually should have given you the prescription if they think it’s necessary and we’re also wrong to expect the GP to do it. I’d get PALS involved
You could ask you gp if they’ll do a private prescription. Ask for the whole 3 months so they only have to write one prescription . The dispensing fee is likely to be the same for 1 month or 3 months

I'd like ds to start taking it but he's sleeping OK now I got him a weighted blanket. Try that?

You can order it online from Chronodorm. In tablet or teabag form. I've always found them very good, quick and reliable. Agree that the clinic should give you an idea of the dose you need though - worth ringing and asking them perhaps.

and yes YABU unreasonable expecting the GP to prescribe but YANBU expecting the specialist who actually saw you and recommended the medication to prescribe!

I buy it from a US pharmacy site, in the US it’s a dietary supplement. I don’t think it’s illegal to import it for personal use. I use a site called HerbsPro, I get gummies with 3mg melatonin, it really helps me sleep, I have adhd and have always struggled with sleep.

In my area melatonin is classed by the ccg as a “black” medication meaning gps are not allowed to prescribe it. Was also told to buy it online which I did

This is crazy. GP won't prescribe a prescription-only drug approved for my condition by the NHS and recommended by the specialist clinic. Instead I am told to buy it online, despite the official NHS guidance discouraging this.

From www.nhs.uk/medicines/melatonin/about-melatonin/