maxsurly Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Hello, I was prescribed Zoloft a couple months back for depression but recently moved to Bangkok and was wondering if anybody knows where I might be able to buy some more? Generic or brand-name should be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nonja Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I would recommend having a blood test and checking your B12 levels. This is cheap in Thailand. A deficiency in these levels can lead to severe depression. The Japanese recommend 1,200, not the 200 recommended here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almodeller Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Since this was prescribed for you , you will have to go to a hospital,and see the doctors there and remember to take past prescriptions with you, if you still have them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svadhistana Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 the pharmacy in Sukhumvit between soi 2 & 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxsurly Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) Since this was prescribed for you , you will have to go to a hospital,and see the doctors there and remember to take past prescriptions with you, if you still have them That isn't necessary, I just need to find somewhere to buy 50mg Zoloft pills. I'm already in the process of tapering off them at .25mg per day. A trip to the hospital isn't required, and I believe Zoloft can possibly be bought without prescriptions anyway. Edited September 20, 2013 by maxsurly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belg Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 the pharmacy in Sukhumvit between soi 2 & 4 do they also have probiotics, 5 htp, gaba ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Don't know about Bangkok, but generic Sertraline 50mg is easily available in Chiang Mai at about a third of the price of the overpriced (brand name) Zoloft. Therefore, I would imagine it's just a question of asking various pharmacies in Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 OTC, any large pharmacy. Sertraline GPO is a locally made generic equivalent and less expensive. Starin is another, but I recommend the GPO brand if available. (Government Pharmaceuttical Org, pretty reliabel quality control) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxsurly Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Thanks guys, I'll try out the numerous pharmacies around Siriraj. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotary Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Moving to Bkk should help some on the depression part Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenon Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 HI Everyone! Does anyone know if a generic for Xanax is available OTC? What is it and where? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Therapy is also less expensive here than in the west and there are some good western therapist so be found, see the pinned mental health resource thread. As you probably know it is best to combine medication with short term therapy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayday49 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 How silly it is to SEEK medical advice from the pathetic lot inside a forum environ ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 all benzos (of which xanax is one) are strictly controlled drugs legally available only from hospitals. As of February of this year, xanax specifically has been banned altogether in Thailand. Other benzos (valium etc) remain legal but only from a hospital pharmacy on doctor presecription. In addition, xanax is also highly addictive, even as compared to other benzos. Withdrawal is difficult and very unpleasant. Reference to illegal sourcing of it has been deleted in keeping with forum rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxism67 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) all benzos (of which xanax is one) are strictly controlled drugs legally available only from hospitals. As of February of this year, xanax specifically has been banned altogether in Thailand. Other benzos (valium etc) remain legal but only from a hospital pharmacy on doctor presecription. In addition, xanax is also highly addictive, even as compared to other benzos. Withdrawal is difficult and very unpleasant. Reference to illegal sourcing of it has been deleted in keeping with forum rules. Btw, these ppl that sell such drugs are selling them for the police and happily admit it...I don't want to be rude but sometimes ppl need help with depression as long as they're aware that they're indeed addictive, but I believe ultimately they can also be a godsend to those who do in fact suffer the debilitating affects of depression....which in my experience sometimes do help...but yes I agree pls be careful. I used to take them but discovered that exercise and diet are much better - Edited September 20, 2013 by maxism67 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxism67 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Btw I'm also a personal trainer and have been doing it for over 20 years....if anyone is in need of a trainer pls pm me. Good exercise and diet really does cure depression. I'm 46 years old but if you look at my pic you'll see that I look younger and natural....so I can't stress enough pls be careful with Valium, Xanax, etc they really are very dangerous. However, I will ad sometimes they can help but only as a temporary solution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCC1701A Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 try this. Rhodiola. It is great and acts within 2 minutes. http://www.iherb.com/Herb-Pharm-Rhodiola-1-fl-oz-29-6-ml/15573 and GABA, 5-HTP, SAM-e. and B12. big rush of energy: http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Ultra-B-12-5-000-mcg-4-fl-oz-118-ml/6281 change your diet and exercise everyday. try walking 2 to 5 miles or more a day if you can. don't watch television or the news. stay off the internet. listen to positive music. meditate. yoga. get rid of toxic people. don't drink any alcohol, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Issangeorge Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I don't drink very much, maybe a large Leo every week, but "don't drink any alcohol ever", now I find that depressing. Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoorSucker Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Post advocating illegal activity removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nilz Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I was in a depression when working in Bangkok a few years ago (after a messy separation). After having done a health check-up in the largest hospitals in Bangkok, I spoke with the doctor afterwards and explained that I think I'm in a depression and asked if he had some medicine for me. Surprisingly he did not want to give me any medication, he said: "Try to activate yourself, do things you love, excercise, sleep and eat well". I did that and finally found my way back to a normal life, even if it took a while. Now I'm thankful for his advise, I could have been stuck with medication and perhaps adicted to it and never gotten out of the depression. I think it's a matter of getting those bad thoughts out of your mind by forcing yourself to be active. It's NOT easy but it works! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sceptict11 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I was in a depression when working in Bangkok a few years ago (after a messy separation). After having done a health check-up in the largest hospitals in Bangkok, I spoke with the doctor afterwards and explained that I think I'm in a depression and asked if he had some medicine for me. Surprisingly he did not want to give me any medication, he said: "Try to activate yourself, do things you love, excercise, sleep and eat well". I did that and finally found my way back to a normal life, even if it took a while. Now I'm thankful for his advise, I could have been stuck with medication and perhaps adicted to it and never gotten out of the depression. I think it's a matter of getting those bad thoughts out of your mind by forcing yourself to be active. It's NOT easy but it works! How lucky you were to meet with a wise doctor. "Depression" is part of the normal human condition and is often self limiting. Serious "Clinical" depression is another issue but even this can be managed without necessarily resorting to medication Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I was in a depression when working in Bangkok a few years ago (after a messy separation). After having done a health check-up in the largest hospitals in Bangkok, I spoke with the doctor afterwards and explained that I think I'm in a depression and asked if he had some medicine for me. Surprisingly he did not want to give me any medication, he said: "Try to activate yourself, do things you love, excercise, sleep and eat well". Now I'm thankful for his advise, I could have been stuck with medication and perhaps adicted to it and never gotten out of the depression. I think it's a matter of getting those bad thoughts out of your mind by forcing yourself to be active. It's NOT easy but it works! That's the point why seriously depressed people need something to help them.....they simply cannot exercise, sleep (some oversleep) eat well or motivate themselves and no amount of encouragement from anyone will make much difference. Not even psychotherapy in the clinically depressed phase, it's all too much and their life as they knew it starts to grind to a halt. Anyone who can 'pull themselves together' and able to do all the things you mention, wouldn't be considered clinically depressed IMO. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Medication is often unavoidable in clinical depression, but should always be accompanied by therapy. The medications used in depression are not addictive in the way that benzos (which treat anxiety, not depression) are, and they are not controlled substances in Thailand. However supervision by a pyschiatrist is recommended to among other things monitor for adverse effects on the liver and also to select the best medication as there are a number and not all depression is the same. In some cases there is depression mixed with anxiety. In some cases the depression is part of a bi-polar condition. In both such cases standard anti-depressents will make matters worse. A good therapist will recognize which patients need medication and which can be managed without, and will refer the former to a doctor for medical management while continuing the therapy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxsurly Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) I did receive brief therapy in conjunction with the medication, but upon moving cities (to BKK) I've decided not to continue seeking it. To the previous poster, there was no 'exercising, doing the things you love etc.' way out for me, it was pretty serious. In addition to Zoloft I was also temporarily prescribed the powerful anti-psychotic Risperidone, albeit at a low dose (.5 mg). Anyway, things are stable now and my only dilemma is in deciding whether to taper off the Zoloft at .25 mg for the next 5-6 months after being on 50mg for half a year already, or to keep the 50mg dose for another 5-6 months and then taper off over the course of another year. Given that the generic seems to be pretty cheap, this doesn't seem like a bad option although it may be unnecessary. Edited September 20, 2013 by maxsurly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenon Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 Sheryl How do you find a good therapist in BKK or CM. I don't understand "pinned". What is normal charge? Do you have recommendations? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 At the top of this forum are some locked "pinned" threads with resource information. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/90910-mental-health-resource-list/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenon Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Sorry Sheryl Still don't know where to look. For this non techie can you be more explicit on how to locate these "locked" threads? Thanks for sending the link. But i don't like not comprehending what you are telling me. I would like to learn. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfc Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/23-health-body-and-medicine/ Keep scrolling down and look for the small green boxes that say "pinned" on the left hand side of your screen. Many of them have a small padlock sign next them too which means they are locked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Sorry Sheryl Still don't know where to look. For this non techie can you be more explicit on how to locate these "locked" threads? Thanks for sending the link. But i don't like not comprehending what you are telling me. I would like to learn. Thanks There are 3 distinct sections to the Health forum. Top section = listing of sub-forums. Beneath that, there is a section with "pinned" threads. The word "pinned" appears in green to the left hand side of the thread title. these are for reference. The bottom section is the one with current threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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