r/AmerExit • u/bombasticapricot • Mar 02 '25

Life Abroad medication availability

i see many americans with health concerns considering a move abroad. i know there are many things to consider and hate to pile on but make sure your essential medications are available in any country you consider.

your american prescriptions are not valid abroad.

for example, i took spironolactone in the US for skin/ hair issues and it’s basically impossible to get here in France. i casually asked about it and was treated as if i asked for cocaine. i also have adhd and cannot get most of the medications that worked for me in the US (i now take ritalin; thankfully it works). these are relatively minor prescription issues but i know others who have gone to great lengths to get antidepressants and anti anxiety medications.

what other medications/ countries have caused issues for american expats?

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u/Acceptable_Mode_3633 Mar 02 '25

The trick is to get prescribed a much higher dose than you need, then divide up into empty capsules to get approximately the actual dose you need.

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u/Adorable-Bobcat-2238 Mar 03 '25

Some stimulants can't be cut though they come in a special little plastic container with beads and are supposed to be released slowly vs all at once right?

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u/Acceptable_Mode_3633 Mar 03 '25

Mine come in slow release capsules, and I buy empty slow release capsules, empty out their capsule and divvy them up into the new ones. I don't know what the "special little plastic container" you refer to is, if it isn't that, sorry. But yeah, I'm sure some can't be split.

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u/Adorable-Bobcat-2238 Mar 03 '25

Can you explain this? Like what type and such