Shipping Melatonin to NZ

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#988309 16-Feb-2014 16:02

afe66: I remain skeptical that a nz Dr will put their name on the line to legalize importation of a medicine sourced from overseas by giving the OP a prescription.

By writing the prescription they are opening themselves up to criticism as to why they didn't prescribe the nz registered version.

Why doesn't the OP want to see his/her normal doctor to discuss this in an appropriate manner.

A.

Every prescription written in NZ allows brand swap out unless the doc says otherwise on the script. A script for circadin will allow you to bring in amounts upto the amount listed on the script (i.e 2mg once a night for 14 days means you can only bring in 14 pills of 2mg or 28 pills of 1mg)

As to why you would do this? Circadin is around $3-4 a pill in NZ. If you got a script for 3 months supply you could save a couple of hundred dollars

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nakedmolerat

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#988310 16-Feb-2014 16:06

Beccara: ....If you got a script for 3 months supply you could save a couple of hundred dollars

This is only true if OP meets the criteria. (Short term, > 55 years +)

Beccara

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#988313 16-Feb-2014 16:15

nakedmolerat:
Beccara: ....If you got a script for 3 months supply you could save a couple of hundred dollars

This is only true if OP meets the criteria. (Short term, > 55 years +)

Not true, Doctor's are fairly free to prescribe what they want (off-label usage) as long as they feel it's worth doing for the patient and contraindications exist. My partner has been on zopiclone for nearly 7 years despite on-label short-term-only, 4 different doctors from various centers in NZ have continued it as it's the best treatment for her

If the op is having sleeping problems he's best to talk to his doctor and ask them about Circadin, From that point on the op can make the call on importing or not

gzt

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#988314 16-Feb-2014 16:17

Circadin is around $3-4 a pill in NZ.

Imho that is not accurate anywhere in NZ. Exhibit a (unsubsidised price) http://www.pharmacydirect.co.nz/CIRCADIN-2mg-Tablets-30.html.

Beccara

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#988316 16-Feb-2014 16:21

gzt:
Circadin is around $3-4 a pill in NZ.

Imho that is not accurate anywhere in NZ.

Exhibit a: http://www.pharmacydirect.co.nz/CIRCADIN-2mg-Tablets-30.html (unsubisdised price)

I'll dig around and see if I still have the receipt for it but that's cheapest i've ever seen it. Last time ( must be 15'ish months ago now) I ever had to get it i had a 10 pack and it was somewhere around the $40ish mark in Northland

gzt

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#988319 16-Feb-2014 16:23

Gosh! Maybe they sting you for more in the smaller quantities.

Beccara

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#988320 16-Feb-2014 16:30

gzt: Gosh! Maybe they sting you for more in the smaller quantities.

Maybe i'm not sure now lol, Even that links $1.4 a pill and you can get them online for $0.05/pill NZD + Shipping

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#988350 16-Feb-2014 17:24

$0.05NZ per pill - I am pretty sure that is a sugar pill 100% unless the purification factory collects melatonin from the tap

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#988351 16-Feb-2014 17:26

(if you read the reviews and it works for people it's called a placebo effect)

they can make paper clips for cheap because they can make cheap plastic.

you cannot make cheap melatonin! (well ... any chemical engineers out there?)

MikeB4

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#988354 16-Feb-2014 17:28

If you think you need it see your Doctor and get a prescription, anything less than that is crazy.

nakedmolerat

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#988401 16-Feb-2014 18:21

Beccara:
nakedmolerat:
Beccara: ....If you got a script for 3 months supply you could save a couple of hundred dollars

This is only true if OP meets the criteria. (Short term, > 55 years +)

Not true, Doctor's are fairly free to prescribe what they want (off-label usage) as long as they feel it's worth doing for the patient and contraindications exist. My partner has been on zopiclone for nearly 7 years despite on-label short-term-only, 4 different doctors from various centers in NZ have continued it as it's the best treatment for her

If the op is having sleeping problems he's best to talk to his doctor and ask them about Circadin, From that point on the op can make the call on importing or not

Zopiclone is a fully funded non benzodiazepine drug, there is no criteria whatsoever when you prescribe it. It is advisable not to take long term as people can get 'addicted' to it however, there are not addictive as other benzodiazepine-based such as triazolam. Not all drug will be cheap just because it is in the prescription!

Beccara

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#988435 16-Feb-2014 19:28

nakedmolerat:
Beccara:
nakedmolerat:
Beccara: ....If you got a script for 3 months supply you could save a couple of hundred dollars

This is only true if OP meets the criteria. (Short term, > 55 years +)

Not true, Doctor's are fairly free to prescribe what they want (off-label usage) as long as they feel it's worth doing for the patient and contraindications exist. My partner has been on zopiclone for nearly 7 years despite on-label short-term-only, 4 different doctors from various centers in NZ have continued it as it's the best treatment for her

If the op is having sleeping problems he's best to talk to his doctor and ask them about Circadin, From that point on the op can make the call on importing or not

Zopiclone is a fully funded non benzodiazepine drug, there is no criteria whatsoever when you prescribe it. It is advisable not to take long term as people can get 'addicted' to it however, there are not addictive as other benzodiazepine-based such as triazolam. Not all drug will be cheap just because it is in the prescription!

Look i'm not going to go round for round with you, All drugs have an on-label use and criteria for said on-label prescription when approved by MedSafe/FDA/etc/etc. Zop's is short term use only (8 weeks or less) among other contraindications.

You said you'd only get a 3-month script if you were older than 55 and it was for short term use, This is factually incorrect simple as that. Under 55's have and do get 3 month scripts for it

nakedmolerat

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#988479 16-Feb-2014 20:53

Beccara: Look i'm not going to go round for round with you, All drugs have an on-label use and criteria for said on-label prescription when approved by MedSafe/FDA/etc/etc. Zop's is short term use only (8 weeks or less) among other contraindications.

This is incorrect. Zopiclone is RECOMMENDED for short term use. Recommendation and what the medications are approved for is completely different.

Beccara: You said you'd only get a 3-month script if you were older than 55 and it was for short term use, This is factually incorrect simple as that. Under 55's have and do get 3 month scripts for it

Regular medications, anyone even 1 month old baby can have 3 months script. In this thread we are discussing about melatonin!

MELATONIN IS AVAILABLE ON PRESCRIPTION ONLY

Melatonin 2mg Prolonged Release tablet (CIRCADIN®) was approved in New Zealand in 2011, as monotherapy for the short-term treatment of primary insomnia in patients who are aged 55 or over.

Requirements for unapproved indications

Melatonin 2mg tablets are currently registered in New Zealand for primary insomnia in those over 55 years.

For other patient groups or conditions, the patient should be advised that it is an unapproved indication. Unbiased efficacy and safety information should be discussed with the patient, together with other treatment options, to be assured that it may offer benefit and not harm. If the use of melatonin is regarded ‘experimental’, signed consent must be obtained from the patient, as per The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights. Agree with the patient on how monitoring for safety and efficacy will be arranged. The unapproved use of a medicine would be considered to be experimental if there is limited documented evidence supporting its use.

Source: Waitemata DHB

edit: formatting

Aredwood

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#988511 16-Feb-2014 21:25

joker97: (if you read the reviews and it works for people it's called a placebo effect)

they can make paper clips for cheap because they can make cheap plastic.

you cannot make cheap melatonin! (well ... any chemical engineers out there?)

Guess you can as you can buy it cheap. http://purebulk.com/melatonin-powder.html

I have ordered lots of stuff off Purebulk, everything has been as described and haven’t had any problems. (Haven't ordered melatonin from them though).

Cogswell

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#988520 16-Feb-2014 21:31

It's not necessary, I do get enough sleep every night (which is around 7 hours), and so I don't think a doctor would prescribe it to me.

I'm just trying to get a better sleeping pattern, sleep longer and have a deeper sleep so my body can release more Growth Hormone and repair/recover more readily after weight lifting.
I'd like to sleep for about 9 to 10 hours a night, starting from like 11pm, instead of the 1am bedtime I have now.

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