Ambien prescription in the UK?

Asked by sarahjane90 (1805

) February 15th, 2011

I have been taking Ambien for a long time, it has completely changed my life in terms of me being able to sleep soundly and go to sleep quickly. I have felt less depressed since I have been taking it, and I am able to actually wake up early (!) and get things done.

The only downside is that my prescription has to be sent to me, which at times leaves me without having any at a given time.. because of mail delays, customs, alll that jazz … which is not a good feeling.

Would I be able to go to a GP and talk to them about already having been taking the medicine, discuss my problems with them and let them know how much it helps me, and get a prescription in the UK? It would certainly be much easier for me, but I am just thinking that a lot of people probably go in and ‘ask’ for these things. My Mom is a nurse so I have never had to really go about making these arrangements without her.

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3 Answers

I would first get a copy of my medical records to show your GP in the UK. The medical records will show your need for a sleep medication, like Ambien.

This may be a lot of trouble for you, but if you continue to live in the UK and need Ambien, it may be the only way.

john65pennington (29273

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Any NHS GP will have to follow prescribing guidelines from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). You can see the relevant guidelines here for Zolpidem (the generic name for Ambien).

You can, of course, always see a GP privately and pay for your medication, in which case NICE recommendations are not binding, although many GPs will still follow them as they tend to constitute best practice in conjunction with value for money.

meiosis (6483

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Maybe private is the right way to go then, just because I would prefer it was as hassle free as possible. Or I could make an appointment with a GP and see what they say, otherwise I will just have to keep having it sent to me.. which works, but not as guaranteed if I just were able to have it filled here.

sarahjane90 (1805

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