In Australia, forgot my USA statin meds: Advice easiest way to replace them?

Thunderroad · Jul 22, 12, 6:26 pm

I have statin pills that I forgot to bring with me on a one-week business trip from the USA to Canberra. I'm en route now (Sydney) and will arrive there later today. Does anyone have any advice on the easiest way to try to replace them? I assume that even if my doc back home could email me a prescription, it might not be honored here. I suppose I would therefore have to schedule an appointment with a doctor and get a prescription here, but if there is any easier approach than what I'm coming up with in my jet-lagged state I'd appreciate any advice.

FWIW, this is just a low, maintenance dose in that it's just to reduce cholesterol levels modestly, and I'm emailing my doc back home to see if I even need to be concerned about skipping a week.

Also, plan right now is to have my wife fedex several pills to me with the label from my prescription bottle. I'd then receive them by Wednesday, I believe. Any advice on what to say on the envelope if a description is necessary, beyond or instead of "prescription medication," to facilitate my getting them?

Thanks for any advice for this forgetful, muddle-headed FTer.

smith80678 · Jul 22, 12, 6:31 pm

You could take the vitamin niacin, it also reduces cholesterol levels. I wouldnt even worry for one week.

rdaven2003 · Jul 22, 12, 6:35 pm

As long as it is a low dose you should be fine for a week. If you were on mega doses of 1-2 different types then I would say make that appointment ASAP.

Thunderroad · Jul 22, 12, 6:38 pm

Thanks for this quick feedback. Yes, it's just a low dose of one statin, and I have no previous record of heart problems. Just a slightly elevated cholesterol level which this has helped reduce.

I of course realize that this is a travel rather than a medical forum, but appreciate the responses.

Christopher · Jul 23, 12, 12:21 am

I think, based on what you've said, that I wouldn't worry about it for a week. Are your lipids (cholesterol/triglycerides) especially high, or are you at especially high risk of a "vascular event"? My presumption is not, so I don't think a week is going to matter one way or the other.

If you feel that you really do need to get some statins, then the easiest thing to do would be to make an appointment with a general practitioner (GP) and ask for a prescription. Your hotel would be able to point you in the direction of a doctor. It would be helpful, obviously, if you know the name of the statin and the dose.

A US prescription would not be honoured because the doctor would (presumably) not be a registered medical practitioner in Australia. (As with a cheque, a prescription can be written on anything, not just on an the customary form, but it needs to be from a qualified doctor.)

You would of course have to pay the full cost of the medical consultation and also of the medication.

However, to come full circle, I shouldn't worry about it since it is the long-term impact that the statins are aiming to manage, not any effect deriving from a few days.

Thunderroad · Jul 23, 12, 2:25 am

Christopher, thanks. No neither my lipids nor my risk were particularly high, even before starting to take the statin. In the clearer light of day (or evening, really), and being a bit refreshed, I can see that there's no need to go through the hassles and expense of trying to get the pills while here.

Thanks again to all!