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OTC prescription drugs in Shenzhen

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  1. #11

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    @huja: Fanda will sell OTC valium? That sounds like exactly the kind of drug that they would be at pains to be careful with.

    Doctors here suck with medical prescriptions. I've seen people come back from doctors with half courses of antibiotics... no wonder HK is such a problem for when it comes to drug-resistant bacteria.


  2. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jaberwokey:
    Thank you so much for all the replies so far. My father was diagnosed with Leukemia recently, so that has been the main cause of my depression/anxiety. I have found benzos the most helpful in calming my nerves and stopping the rumination, worry and dark thoughts, while at the same time allowing me to stay coherent and function as normal. I did pop into Fanda pharmacy though they require a prescription which I'm not sure how to get here in Hong Kong.
    You need to see a GP to get a prescription. You certainly shouldn't be self-medicating as it can do more harm than good. It sounds like you might also benefit from a few sessions of CBT to help you manage the ruminating and dark thoughts (Dr Susan Mistler at Central Health is very good). If that's too expensive, the Dummies Guide to CBT is actually pretty helpful.

    Very sorry to hear about your father. My mother had cancer on and off (it came back twice) for almost 15 years before it finally took her from us when she was still only 51. It's hard to function normally with something like that hanging over you 24/7 but please don't turn to addictive meds. So many people have problems getting off benzos. That's why doctors these days only prescribe a small amount. They're just meant as a short term stop gap. See a GP and get some proper advice re which meds can help you best.

    It's good you came on the forum to ask for advice. Keep talking and sharing, it will help.
    Fiona in HKG and jgl like this.

  3. #13

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    For what it's worth, I had a visitor here a few weeks ago from Singapore, he decided he wanted some Valium, we wandered into a local pharmacy in HK and they happily sold him some, no questions asked, no prescription...


  4. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by vmlinuz:
    For what it's worth, I had a visitor here a few weeks ago from Singapore, he decided he wanted some Valium, we wandered into a local pharmacy in HK and they happily sold him some, no questions asked, no prescription...
    That's terrible!!! Where's their duty of care?? I'm so appalled that for once I'm pretty much speechless. Just staring at my phone with my mouth open in horror.

  5. #15

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    Never purchased Valium or Xanax or any sort of anti-depressant. Usually things like Cipro, Flagyl and Zithromax.


  6. #16

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    Probably worth seeing a specialist or one of the recommended docs on this thread. They are much more likely to offer you longer term treatment options. Sorry to hear about your father. Hang in there!


  7. #17

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    I have heard there are some pharmacies here who are a bit 'loose' about prescriptions. I know Fanda will sometimes do some drugs without prescriptions, didn't realise they would do it for that sort of drug.

    Reminds me of my days in the Canary Islands - you could buy Valium across the counter but when I tried to get some melatonin to help with jet lag, they looked at me as though I had asked for crack cocaine!!! Really strange.

    bibbju and Claire ex-ax like this.

  8. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by bibbju:
    OP lives in HK not SZ.
    Ah got it.

    OP, lots of Pharmacies in HK, just pop into one and ask.

  9. #19

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    Sep 2013
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    I agree with bibbju.

    You need a Psychiatrist on your side.

    Dr Josephine G.W.S Wong MBBS (London), MRCPsych(UK), FHKCPsych, FHKAM Psychiatry specialist, also at Central Practise Queens Road Central. She's a very bright star and helped my foster daughter overcome some serious health issues. Besides also being a very nice person she has an excellent no nonsense immediately on the job approach which is also immediately and immensely empowering.

    Very expensive but wont stretch the issue out should you need medication. After assessment you will get three weeks or even more medication depending on that evaluation of course.

    Ativan or its generic Lorazepam would probably be better than something like Valium IMO as a fast acting supplement to possibly getting onto anti-depressives if needed.

    GP's are useless in this department and will not mostly prescribe more than four or five of anything related to Psychiatry, nor should they. Its unfair (and quite honestly unprofessional) on people who dont need the frustration ontop of everything else of countless visits to a GP not for them to refer you immediately to a Psychiatrist along with the four or five tablets.
    You might (not sure its worth a try without even) need this referral from your GP for JW (Dr Josephine) for example as she's a specialist. Also don't go to a franchise GP operation if you have any particular Psychiatrist in mind.

    I hope you get sorted as soon as possible, these kinds of life events can trigger depression even in the most happily stable of people.

    jw1701 likes this.

  10. #20

    I agree with the above that Dr J Wong is an experienced and nice psychiatrist!
    And never buy anydrugs from Shenzhen, very likely be a fake one!