Antidepressants in India

KatieKay

I have a question about the availability of perscription antidepressants in India. My husband and I are leaving in about a week which doesn't leave us much time to get him an appointment and a perscription. Plus, he doesn't have a doctor right now (we just moved), and I don't know that a doctor would be willing to perscribe them right before we leave. He has been on antidepressants in the past, so I'm not too worried about getting him the right drug and dose. We're just worried about the effect of the trip on him (we'll be in India for five months doing volunteer work), and I really don't want to be stuck with a morose companion and no way to get him the drugs that will help! He was on Zoloft, but Prozac would be fine as well. Does anyone know if we can get them in Kolkata. Will we need a perscription, and, if so, what is mental health care like in India?

wonderwomanusa

Be sure to write down the CHEMICAL name for the drugs you want, as the brand name may be different.

Last time I had to deal with a mental health issue in India was almost 20 years ago, and some poor tourist nearly got sent to the nearest big town for shock treatments -- and it turned out she wasn't "mental" at all. Someone had given her a bhang lassi without warning and she was stoned for three days.

Beware "special lassi."

Nick-H

We have doctors; we have pharmacies.

Our pharmacies are often pretty free about selling stuff without prescription. It is the rule, rather than the exception.

If you are nervous to just go to any doctor's clinic, you can pick on of the big private hospitals, such as Apollo, that you will find in any big city.

Mental health care in India? For the masses, it is probably almost non-existant; for the private patient, I'd guess that any branch of medicine available elsewhere is available here.

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KatieKay

Thanks! I knew that most drugs were available over the counter, I just wasn't sure about antidepressants. Does anyone know in which part of Kolkata we should look to find a good pharmacy?

Nick-H

You may need a prescription for this kind of drug, but getting to see a doctor is fairly quick, easy and cheep.

Pharmacies, at least in my city, are all over the place. I'd expect the same in in other cities.

federica

Mental healthcare in India is not as common as in the west, but it is existing, so don't worry.

You can get drugs over the counter, and there are "medical shops" all around. I was shocked to see what you can get without prescription...

If you are staying long term it might be not bad to find a doctor whom you can trust, especially for the case your husband feels worse (it's better to look before...) You can go to a private hospital, they mostly have a psychiatric department.

In general (also for not mental diseases)doctors prescribe more drugs than in the west (I can speak only of Europe, not of USA). You will not get information on side affects, so be careful.

India can be demanding, especially the noise. It is very essential for someone with mental problems to take good care of himself. But maybe your husband will feel much better, as it is so different to the west. You will see. Good luck

Nick-H

I was also thinking that India itself might just be the cure!

But, Sheeeesh, this place can be irritating!

iwanttogoback

often with depression (and i speak from experience) to be occupied is one of the important ways to a cure. the worst thing you can do is sit on the sofa waiting to recover, you really need to reconnect with the world, doing something interesting. but at your own pace which, for a while at least, will be slower than normal.

if mr katiekay is occupied with his volunteering and discovering a new country it might in fact be a really good thing for him.

machadinha

Going for such a long period, I wish you'd have looked at it earlier, but never mind. Discussing with your own doctor (I understand he doesn't have one though) and taking the required medication along with you preventatively would have been my advice.

I guess now that you haven't, the advice above is good. Note that if you're taking up some rural position, it's obviously best to make some prior arrangements in a larger city (e.g., Kolkata, like you're suggesting), preferably before there is any episode.

I'm not sure about depression as such; I know that with manic depression (bipolar disorder) a flight trip, or a holiday in general, is a risk factor that could spark an episode, whether of mania or depression. Be sure to work away your jetlag in a sensible fashion like all people should, and to allow yourself enough time to ease into your new situation, esp. on an extended leave as an expat worker.

The ITHVC link in my signature offers some general observations on symptoms of culture shock which you may find helpful. Needless to say, people with mood disorders will tend to be more susceptible to such effects. I agree with IWTGB's observation above, but in keeping with Federica's comment above it, moving to anywhere and esp. to India with its (sometimes) chaos and confusion may as well have an adverse effect. Try to give yourself all the comfort you need when you're down (or overly up). As a traveler, this can often be achieved by simply moving on to another town where you feel better; as a temporary resident, you won't have that luxury. Replacing this by weekend trips and so on if you can is probably a good idea, as it would be anywhere else.

In any case, hope you have a good and untroubled time. If trouble does come up, this forum tends to provide a listening ear at least, so be in touch

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KatieKay

He has been doing alright for the past year or so, but as our trip has gotten closer, I've just noticed him retreating into himself a little. I think that the experience will be enough to help him (when he was on antidepressants, he was living in a sterile suburban community and had no community to engage with), but just in case, I want to be able to get him the help he needs. He has never been suicidal in the past, and he's certainly not bipolar (my father is, so I know what bipolar disorder looks like). He just gets a little down, and starts to feel like the eternal questions of existance are just too much to handle.

NeeliAankhen

Sounds as if your needs will be met.

Re: meds, unless he knows from first-hand experience that he resopnds the same to either Zoloft or Prozac, I emphatically recommend obtaining the one he had the best response to if possible.

I know a lot about this topic. Some people are fine with a range of things, but them some people are not and even respond differently to the generic versus the patented version of a medication (they are not identical, only the main ingredient is identical). The Indian formulation is likely to already differ form the one he bought at home.

madan80

Well, mental health, and awareness is improving in the country. People are beginning to recognize symptoms and there are more psychiatrists available.
Which city are you be volunteering in?

KatieKay

He responded well to Zoloft, although it gave him heartburn. I believe he has also tried Prozac, but I'll have to ask him again. We will be in Kolkata, so it sounds like it won't be difficult to get him some help if he needs it.

machadinha

I suppose in a big metropolis like that it won't be too hard no.

I would strongly concur with the above though: There may be a habit to drop you pills even more easily than there might be at home. Secondly and as already said, patients shouldn't be swapping pills just like that. For the five months, I think it would pay to find 1 practitioner who you're comfortable with. There will be fine hospitals in a place like Kolkata (while at home you might look for a GP, in India and as a foreigner this is probably the first place to look. Costs will be low if that worries you, barring any major surgery or stuff you'd probably not need any insurance for it at all.)

Don't mean to worry you without reason; but I understand the question.

Indizen

Sertraline and Fluoxetine are both readily available in India.