Welbutrin's availability in the UK

[Ultra]

In Canada, Welbutrin has done an excellent job of controlling my severe depression for the better part of 15 years. I'm thinking of moving to the UK and not being able to get it would be devastating! According to this depression wiki, it isn't legal in the UK! Is there any truth to that?

[Depina]

Hi and welcome,

Sorry Ultra
I have no idea, sounds good though, and it would be a shame for you if you had to change to another type as it suits you so well.

Take Care

[Ultra]

Someone recommend I e-mail Boots, so I did and got this non sequitur answer

I have checked our stock lists and it does not appear that this is something that we regularly stock. However, if you could let us know what area in the UK you will be visiting, I can contact a local Pharmacist to see if this is something that we can order in for you.

And I spelled it right when I e-mailed them.

I'm guessing since it isn't outright illegal, a pharmacist wouldn't know. I need to know if it is prescribed for depression, so I'd probably have to ask a psychiatrist. So far, I've gone to 2 UK mental health forums and got nothing. Where can I find a British psychiatrist to give me a straight answer?

[Alstare1974]

Hope this helps:

http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/16846-uk-zyban-versus-wellbutrin-usa/

[Ultra]

Actually it sort of muddies the waters. It's 4 years old, and it's a public forum with a lot of bickering and contradicting. I don't think I'm not going to be able to believe anything I'm told until I get some sort of professional report. The closest thing I have to that is a GP friend of mine who's neither Canadian nor British. Maybe she has connections.

[Alstare1974]

How about contacting the GP surgery nearest to where you intend to move to in uk. Ask for an e-mail address and then write asking your question. Otherwise try calling the nhs direct number?

[Munchroom]

The only thing that springs to mind is that if you were to find out the Community Hental Health teams details of the area you are planning to move to and email them? They maybe will have more of an idea than a general pharmacist or practitioner?

[Zaf]

Its possible that NICE have a website that will say if the drug is available here

[Ultra]

Thanks for the input. I might find something out soon.
Ok, problem #1: I don't know where I'm going to be living in the UK, so I guess it doesn't matter, because I'm asking about national policies. This is a national policy issue, right?
#2: I tried calling NHS ('went to their web site, selected Department of Health then Next >.) They gave me a 0845 number, which is unfortunately a very expensive one for me to call.
#3: Ok, I found an e-mail to send to NICE. But it's now after 5pm there, so maybe I'll know on Monday.

[Ultra]

And for posterity:

This is an e-mail I just got from the British National Formulary (although, in her sig, she had "Pharmaceutical Press // Royal Pharmaceutical Society")

Unfortunately Wellbutrin® is not marketed in the UK and so is not available on prescription. Bupropion (the active ingredient in Wellbutrin®) is available in the UK but it is marketed as Zyban® for smoking cessation. We suggest that you discuss the matter with your general practitioner.

I guess it doesn't get much more straight forward than that. Now I have to work out why someone on www.mentalhealthforum.net told me that he is being prescribed Wellbutrin(®).
I hate this. Living in the UK was my only hope of living w/my wife before Toronto's pathetic hockey team wins another cup, since your immigration works a hell of a lot faster than mine.  "£$