Medication Availability

[illumin184]

Hi there

I would like to relocate to Torrevieja, but I need medication on a daily basis and have to find out if it would be available in Torrevieja/Spain.

The medication is PROCHLORPERAZINE (Brand Name STEMETIL). I cannot function without this daily medication, so obviously it is very important that I find out if it is available.

In the UK it is prescription only, so not sure if that is the case in Spain too. If it is prescription only, how easy is it to get a prescription from a Spanish doctor? If non-prescription, would it be expensive? I have checked some of the online pharmacies but they are very expensive indeed.................

Any help/advice would be gratefully received as this matter is very important.

Cheers

Simon

[scouselover]

Most drugs can be bought over the counter in Spain, prices vary. My sister in the UK was asking about this so I will check it out tomorrow at the Farmacia and post further info.

[R2D2]

As this is something that is so personally important to you - vital even - I would suggest that you come on a visit, bring your medication along, go into the Farmacia and check with them on costs and availability, and/or make an appointment to see one of the doctors in the many private clinics here and also discuss it with him. Unless there happens to be someone else on this forum who is in exactly the same situation as yourself, then this I believe to be the only sure way of knowing the facts.

[beastess]

[scouselover]

Checked at my local farmacia today and he could find nothing in his book by this name although there were many others with similar names. He had an inkling that this drug might have been discontinued in Spain a few years ago. Check with your own doctor if it has other names and I can re-check at this end. Also give the dose you are on as prices vary by strength also.

[illumin184]

Thanks for the posts, much appreciated.... Scouselover - I have checked if it is known by any other names, and COMPAZINE appears to be another name for it. The full title of my medication is PROCHLORPERAINE MALEATE if that makes any difference, although it doesn't sound promising so far.......
Very grateful for the help so far.....

***Forgot to mention the dosage I am on - I have to take three 5mg tablets per day. Also worth mentioning that the drug is taken to prevent dizziness and nausea, symptoms of vertigo. This is what I suffer from - maybe there is an alternative medication in Spain.............****

[GillyS]

Did you ever find out whether you can get Stemetil in Spain as that is a tablet that I get from my Dr in the UK for occasionally dizziness so I would probably want some when we go to live in Spain?

[illumin184]

Did you ever find out whether you can get Stemetil in Spain as that is a tablet that I get from my Dr in the UK for occasionally dizziness so I would probably want some when we go to live in Spain?

Hi there GillyS

Occcasional dizziness - I am quite envious! To answer your question, I have still not yet managed to find out if it is available in Spain. I wrote to the company that makes it - they kindly sent me a list of countries where it is DEFINITELY available and Spain was not one of them (Then again, neither was France or Germany). I am continuing my investigations as I still have the dream of relocating to Spain, but it is a faraway dream at the moment as I can't go anywhere without my Stemetil!

Sorry I couldn't help you at the moment - if I do find out any definite answers I will let you know.....................

[GillyS]

After reading your post, I spoke to the nurse at my surgery who said if I go to see my Dr a few weeks before leaving to go to live in Spain, they will check on any medication I am taking and see if it is available and may be able to give me a prescription for a large amount as they do have quite a long shelf life. That does not, of course, solve the problem of where you get them from after the 2/3 years are up unless you have retained an address (be it yours or someone else's) and are, therefore, still registered with a Dr in the UK and come back to visit.

There are countries and online sites for prescription medicines - Mexico, Canada and USA especially - where you can order prescription medicines wthout a prescription but they are not cheap. My sister in law in the States put me on to them as she gets some from these sites.

I was going to order some tranquillisers but if they are being posted to the UK there would be a problem with customs. However there would be no problem with ordering them and having them posted within the same country if it were possible.

I bought tranquillisers in India over the counter which lasted me for several years.

(I only take one occcasionally if I am stressed - like now trying to sort out going to live in Spain!!!)

I don't know if that's any help to you but if you search online pharmacies or maybe online prescription medicines or something along those lines a lot of sites will come up. There were certainly some in Germany and there may be one in Spain.

[pnorman]

stemetil

If you cant find out for definate if you can get stemetil in spain you might be able to talk to your GP here in the UK to try you on alternative medication for your vertigo that definatly is available in spain - presumably spanish people get treated for vertigo too so they must have some form of effective treatment available.

[scouselover]

Hola
I believe this drug is called DOGMATIL here in Spain. Sorry I nevwer got back with this info sooner but I have moved house and been without phone and internet for some time. Google it and see if its the right drug.