Buying Melatonin in NZ?

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Oubadah

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#87299 25-Jul-2011 11:21

I know a lot of people used to buy it overseas and ship it in, but I hear customs is seizing even small amounts these days. Is there anywhere I can buy it in NZ?

I found one promising place, but I'm not sure if it's legit: http://www.biovea.com/nz/category_dispatch.aspx?NAME=SLEEP&CID=7

Anyone have experience?

Dulouz

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#497531 25-Jul-2011 11:28

http://www.tru2u.co.nz/products/tart-cherry-juice

This stuff is natural but is not cheap. Would be interested to know if anyone has tryed it.

Amanon

Oubadah

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#497549 25-Jul-2011 12:10

Dulouz: http://www.tru2u.co.nz/products/tart-cherry-juice

This stuff is natural but is not cheap. Would be interested to know if anyone has tryed it.

Yes, I'm using it right now and I don't believe it's made an ounce of difference.

kiwired23

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#497815 25-Jul-2011 23:24

I took it for a few years, stopped maybe five years ago, but had to get a prescription for it at the time and it wasn't subsidised - 5mg (1x 2mg and 1x 3mg tablet) cost me about $30/month, iirc. The chemist didn't have a problem ordering it in for me.

Kyanar

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#497875 26-Jul-2011 09:15

Melatonin is a scheduled medication according to Medsafe. This means only a licensed clinician or pharmacist can acquire it, and you can only get it with a prescription. If you go see your local chemist, they should be able to prescribe it for you (but they are legally obliged to go through a whole discussion rigmarole to ensure that it's the best choice, and report to the Ministry/Medsafe that they prescribed it to you).

timmmay

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#497888 26-Jul-2011 09:35

http://www.VitaCart.com

These products work well for me

1mg standard: http://www.vitacart.com/melatonin-1mg-180-tablets-natrol.html
3mg time release: http://www.vitacart.com/melatonin-3mg-240-tablets-natrol.html

Shipping cost about US$40 for eight bottles.

The correct way to get it is via a doctor, but that costs almost $400 per year. This way it costs about $100/year, max, including shipping.

Asmodeus

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#497927 26-Jul-2011 11:06

If you import non-scheduled prescription drugs and get a seizure letter from customs, you have 3 options.

Get a prescription from a licensed NZ prescriber and provide to customs.
Get a letter from your doctor stating that they approve of your use of the medicine and that you have imported no more than ten weeks worth of the medicine.
Let customs destroy it.

I recently went through this situation. I was importing something that is not an approved prescription drug in NZ so option 1 was not available and option 3 was not an option. My doc is cool and provided the approval letter at the cost of a phone-in prescription.

These 3 options are all provided on the customs seizure letter.

I wish customs here (and in Aus) weren't such tight a$$es about importing certain "supplements". Not everything is an anabolic steroid or a meth precursor...

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Kyanar

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#499416 29-Jul-2011 13:43

timmmay: http://www.VitaCart.com
...
The correct way to get it is via a doctor, but that costs almost $400 per year. This way it costs about $100/year, max, including shipping.

Via a doctor is not the correct way, it's the only legal way. Importing it as you do is illegal, as it is a scheduled prescription drug.

Asmodeus: If you import non-scheduled prescription drugs and get a seizure letter from customs, you have 3 options.

It's actually a scheduled drug. I'm guessing the options aren't the same?

timmmay

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#499418 29-Jul-2011 13:49

It shouldn't have been made a scheduled drug, according to a pharmacist and doctor I talked to. Still, it is, so we should play within the rules. I'm not going to pay $30 instead of $5 because of a monopoly granted to pharmacies for a relatively harmless product though.

Oubadah

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#501639 3-Aug-2011 21:13

What about that link I posted in the OP? If they import it to their NZ operation, which in turn ships it to you from a NZ address, how can you go wrong? The NZ site looks to me kind of like what Active Components is to Mouser - ie. they import your stuff as part of their bulk imports and save you customs and international shipping costs...

timmmay

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#501640 3-Aug-2011 21:17

The place I linked to is a little cheaper.

If you try to close the window when you're on their shopping cart a popup comes up that offers you an extra 3% off.