Hello all,
Back with another thread! We’ve decided to move to Japan. Next thing I need to confirm is medicine. Back when I lived in Japan, I had very high stomach acid, and I was able to get 20mg of Omeprezol / Nexium from the doctor.
This was okay, but didn’t entirely fix the issues. When I went back to the UK I was diagnosed with GERD and Barrett’s Esophagus.
Now in the UK I take between 40-60mg of Omeprezol per day.
I also remember Japan only prescribing 1 month at a time, where as the UK prescribes 2-3 months at a time.
Does anybody have any recent experience with this? I guess a few questions:
1. If I get a prescription from the UK and give it to the doctor in Japan, will they give me 40-60mg (2-3 20mg tablets a day)?
2. Any idea if it’s even possible to be prescribed that amount in Japan?
3. Any other ideas on how I can resolve this?
3 comments
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**Omeprezol in Japan**
Hello all,
Back with another thread! We’ve decided to move to Japan. Next thing I need to confirm is medicine. Back when I lived in Japan, I had very high stomach acid, and I was able to get 20mg of Omeprezol / Nexium from the doctor.
This was okay, but didn’t entirely fix the issues. When I went back to the UK I was diagnosed with GERD and Barrett’s Esophagus.
Now in the UK I take between 40-60mg of Omeprezol per day.
I also remember Japan only prescribing 1 month at a time, where as the UK prescribes 2-3 months at a time.
Does anybody have any recent experience with this? I guess a few questions:
1. If I get a prescription from the UK and give it to the doctor in Japan, will they give me 40-60mg (2-3 20mg tablets a day)?
2. Any idea if it’s even possible to be prescribed that amount in Japan?
3. Any other ideas on how I can resolve this?
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I do know that Japan prescribes medicine based on your weight.
So when I took my Dad to the Doctor recently, the doctor apologized to him saying “I am so sorry but for your weight, I can only give this much medicine due to Japanese laws”
I don’t think it matters what your UK doctor has prescribed. Japan doctors have to follow Japan guidelines. Dosing guidelines can be different here based on test results on the Japanese population. I have run into a situation where an Rx medication I took back home in daily “maintenance” doses is only available here when the particular condition flares and at a 5-day Rx. Apparently, there was some side effect issue when tested on the Japanese public, hence the restriction.
Omeprazole is available here in 10mg and 20mg strength. The 20mg can be prescribed twice a day for certain conditions. I take a similar med (lansoprazole) but only 15mg daily (the standard dose).
I am also able to get 2 month refills on all my medications. That has never been a problem.
I see my gastroenterologist in a few weeks and I’ll ask him if he’s allowed to Rx omeprazole 20mg 3 times/day long term. I’m curious to know.