[JanusunaJ]

Has anyone here traveled abroad for an extended period of time? By extended period of time, I mean a period of time such that you could run out of medication.

I've always wanted to go abroad for such a time that I could say that I've actually lived somewhere overseas. To me, that meant at least a couple of years. But, after being diagnosed, a big concern of mine was access to medication; and of course, in emergency situations, access to a more than adequately experienced and trained and competent psychiatrist and/or psychologist(i.e. PsyD).

[*Laurie*]

Well, you would need to see a doctor wherever you live. In the countries I've traveled in, medical care and access to it was so much better than here in the U.S.

[JanusunaJ]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Well, you would need to see a doctor wherever you live. In the countries I've traveled in, medical care and access to it was so much better than here in the U.S.

How was it better?

[Daonnachd]

I found it much easier to get prescriptions filled when I was living in Spain for two years.

The doc I saw was on the campus I worked on, so I can't speak to the general experience of medical appointments. (He practically lived next door, and was readily available.) From what he said as a friend and colleague, though, I'm a believer in nationalised medicine.

When my son got injured in Scotland we received exceptional treatment and were not expected to pay anything. Again, thanks to nationalised medicine. It's not psych care, I realise, but I doubt they would have stellar medical schools which ignore psychiatric care.

Where are you thinking to go? Would this be to learn a new language? I could see that causing difficulties in psychiatric care. The communication complicating things. If you're leaning toward a couple of years in the UK, where you speak the same language for the most part, things would be easier if you needed the support of psychiatrist or psychologist or hospitalisation.


Foreign medicine (I'm speaking of the EU and UK), while being different to that of the US, still succeeds as health care.

[Woolly Bugger]

I lived in the middle east for a year and had a horrific time trying to get medication. One doctor actually tried to give me an anti-depressant for my BP. I finally convinced an English-speaking doctor at the local hospital to give a short-term supply of lithium. I gave up on getting medications locally and had everything shipped from home. Of course it sat it customs for weeks, but I finally got it. It was a nightmare, and I was a wreck.

[Sunflower123]

If you went for an extended time, you would want to establish a doctor and pharmacy as one of your priorities so they are there when you need them. I went to Russia for 15 days and lost a prescription in transit. I was just out of luck because I was constantly on the move. I did ok.

Happy travels if you go and best wishes.