Antidepressants in Japan

[avocado]

Are there any people who have been to Japan while on antidepressants? I know Japan does not offer as many options as in the US. I am going early next year and I might have to switch to a new one offered in Japan (going off completely is NOT an option for me). Can anyone share their experience?

[GaijinPunch]

I can only give second hand experience.
Find someone in the US w/ insurance and the same prescription as you. Have him send them, and hope there's no problems w/ customs.

[epigene]

I have heard that there are antidepressants not yet available in Japan and that dosages are different.

If you can't get your prescription from the US, you will need to present your US prescription to a psychiatrist here in Japan and have a roughly equivalent prescription issued for you. You might have to find a psychiatrist who sees foreign patients and/or have US training.

There are many Japanese people suffering from the same condition as you, so I don't think you'll have a hard time finding a suitable doctor and prescription here.

HTH!

[Mikawa Ossan]

If you follow GaijinPunch's advice, I thoroughly advise you to check to see whether the drug you are prescribed is illegal in Japan or not. If it's illegal, you shouldn't follow that advice.

I know that some drugs, even over the counter drugs that you can find in America (and probably elsewhere) are illegal in Japan. I have never had this be a problem (I have asthma, and my medicine was illegal in Japan), but the last time I owned medicine for my condition from America was quite a while ago.

Epigene's advice is much more orthodox and therefore safe. If you must have your medications, you should proceed in the safest manner possible to assure yourself a steady and consistant supply.

[GaijinPunch]

If it's illegal, you shouldn't follow that advice.

Indeed, but it's not that illegal. How many people brought birth control back from foreign countries up until 2000 or whenever it became legal in Japan, and got caught? I wouldnt' want to get caught, but something tells me the repercussions aren't as bad as you'd think.

[Mikawa Ossan]

I guess I don't like to roll the dice like that so much. I suppose it depends a lot on the person you meet at immigration and how strict they feel like being at the time if you bring your drugs with you on the plane, and likewise if you have someone mail them to you.

My first concern is that if these are medications that you MUST have, then having them mailed to you might not be very reliable, if only because every time they come into Japan you run a risk of having them confiscated. Therefore you run the possibility of running out on your prescription with no immediate way to get a refill.

Other legal repercussions are outside the field of my knowledge, but I would imagine that you have a greater chance of being caught through the mail.

Therefore, I think having a local supply is the best way to go. It eliminates all of the above problems, but presents the new one of finding a doctor who will give you an equivilent prescription. I really don't think that should be much of a problem, though.

[epigene]

Indeed, but it's not that illegal. How many people brought birth control back from foreign countries up until 2000 or whenever it became legal in Japan, and got caught? I wouldnt' want to get caught, but something tells me the repercussions aren't as bad as you'd think.

I don't think it's illegal to bring your own prescription drugs into Japan, in the sense that they are not "banned" drugs. I'm pretty sure that the OP can bring the prescription when hand-carried personally. The problem is the laggardly pace of approval the Ministry of Health in Japan gives to new drugs. This poses the problem of sending prescription drugs by mail, since it can be perceived by Japanese customs as smuggling.

Plus, I don't think that the OP's psychiatrist will dole out prescriptions without seeing the patient for a long period of time. From what I know, psychiatry requires careful observation of the patient, and dosage and drugs prescribed can change, depending on the patient's condition. In this respect, I think the OP should be seeing a doctor in Japan and receiving prescriptions there.

That's the reason for my recommendation. :relief: