When I was in the US, I was prescribed bupropion for an autonomic nervous system disorder (it is also known as Zyban, as a smoking cessation aide, and Wellbutrin, as an antidepressant). When I got here, the GP told me that bupropion was only licenced for an 8 week course to stop smoking. So we tried another medication that was licenced for continuous use an antidepressant. This one didn't work as well, and now a year later, has stopped working completely.
I've since moved, and thus have another GP (that I haven't met yet). Now I need to go to this GP and try to get the issue fixed. There is one other medication that may work that is licenced for continuous use an antidepressant. However, I would rather just use the one that worked before! The withdrawal from these medications can be quite severe, and I dread going through this one. I don't want to take another medication for a year and have it not work too. I'm taking them off-licence anyway, since they are antidepressants and I am using them for the autonomic nervous system.
So I'm wondering if anyone knows what exactly the rules are for prescribing medications off-licence. Is the amount of time one is supposed to take a medication something that can't be adjusted, but the reason is (as I am guessing by my former GPs behaviour)? Is there some way I could be allowed to take a short-term medication long-term? I'd like to know the rules so that I can prepared when I visit the GP.
