I have a question about medication in Japan, if anyone has an answer for me that would be appreciated. I can't find much information online about this and I'm feeling worried.
I'm beginning to get my things in order so I can go on a working holiday to Japan in a year or two. Besides money, my main concern is that I have anti psychotic and mood stabilizer medication that needs to be prescribed as is. I can't have any changes to these medications in dosage or type, it's taken a long time to find stuff that works for me.
I am a functional and normal person with this medication but without out it, I can't do much and it's very dangerous.
The Internet says two things: 1. That I would have to go through a reassessment in Japan. Bipolar assessments in Canada take a long time and even a week off my medication is extremely difficult for me (and anyone around me lol) not to mention dangerous.
2. That doctors in japan might change your dosage regardless of what your original prescription says. I do not want to fuck with my dosage in anyway while I'm traveling.
My questions are:
1. How long do mental health assessments take? Personal experience is fine.
2. How likely is it that a doctor would change my prescription?
3. Is private psychiatrists an option, I'm not sure how the health care works there but I'm willing to pay for private practitioners if it will make the process easier regardless of how much it costs.
I would be able to get a letter from my doctor with my prescriptions, diagnosis ect. That's not problem.
Idk I'm feeling kinda sad about this because if this process is too risky I probably would not be able to do it, it's not worth going off the rails because I can't easily get access to my medication.
That being said I would have up to 3 months to get a prescription figured out since my meds are long term injectables. Is it possible within that time frame?
(If it's important for info I'd probably be going to Tokyo as it's where most of my friends are)
Any info is appreciated! Thanks 🙂
by Eastern_Penalty_1660