The totally off-topic thread

[serfty]

SWMBO had 'mild' (apparently) shingles earlier this year - affected her badly for a full month then on and off for another two months or so before petering out.

Definitely not recommended! Seems I had chicken pox while in primary school ... so have fingers crossed.

 

[JohnK]

Think this will be my last trip to Thailand around Christmas/New Year time.

The Russians have really increased the demand for hotel rooms. Hotels I would not consider staying in for ~AUD25/night are charging close to AUD100/night. :shock:

 

[Pushka]

I didn't have chicken pox until I was 33, then promptly gave them to my then five year old and 12 month old.

 

[JessicaTam]

Think this will be my last trip to Thailand around Christmas/New Year time.

The Russians have really increased the demand for hotel rooms. Hotels I would not consider staying in for ~AUD25/night are charging close to AUD100/night. :shock:

Do you have an alternate golf destination you are happy with?

 

[JohnK]

Apparently drugs of dependence such as Xanax are now harder to obtain from a GP in Queensland. :shock: You need to see a psychiatrist who is then able to prescribe.

Hmmm....

 

[Princess Fiona]

Apparently drugs of dependence such as Xanax are now harder to obtain from a GP in Queensland. :shock: You need to see a psychiatrist who is then able to prescribe.

Hmmm....

I too am confused as that's not true :?:

 

[JohnK]

Do you have an alternate golf destination you are happy with?

Not really.

New plan would have to be a trip to Thailand in October/November and another in February/March for my birthday.

Spend Christmas/New Years in Australia.

 

[Shelf]

Apparently drugs of dependence such as Xanax are now harder to obtain from a GP in Queensland. :shock: You need to see a psychiatrist who is then able to prescribe.

Hmmm....

That seems illogical.

 

[JohnK]

I too am confused as that's not true :?:

That is what my GP in Brisbane told me today. Apparently it is now an S8 medication, classed as an opioid, and each prescription needs to be recorded. He did mention there was a change in Queensland recently.

I am not going to visit a psychiatrist. I just need 1/2 a Xanax when I am flying or when I have an anxiety attack. I do not need counselling or therapy.

I will try to get a prescription with my GP in Sydney in a couple of weeks.

 

[Pushka]

You would think such a change to a drug would be nationwide.

My gripe is with sudafed. As in pseudoephedrine. My partner flies a lot and gets sinusitis. He can manage it with saline sprays etc but needs sudafed just before a flight. The pharmacists treat you like a criminal even with a doctors script. And I have not met one person who finds the replacement phenyl (something) to do anything at all. And a google search tells that it is just a placebo.

Given this used to be available at supermarkets it's just stupid and the only people penalised are genuine sufferers. Surprisingly sudafed is freely available in Singapore.

 

[blackcat20]

You would think such a change to a drug would be nationwide.

My gripe is with sudafed. As in pseudoephedrine. My partner flies a lot and gets sinusitis. He can manage it with saline sprays etc but needs sudafed just before a flight. The pharmacists treat you like a criminal even with a doctors script. And I have not met one person who finds the replacement phenyl (something) to do anything at all. And a google search tells that it is just a placebo.

Given this used to be available at supermarkets it's just stupid and the only people penalised are genuine sufferers. Surprisingly sudafed is freely available in Singapore.

Im the same. I always take in the empty pack, explain why I need it, and hand my license over. I do understand why they are more strict with it, but I agree that the PE sub isn't as good.

 

[markis10]

You would think such a change to a drug would be nationwide.

My gripe is with sudafed. As in pseudoephedrine. My partner flies a lot and gets sinusitis. He can manage it with saline sprays etc but needs sudafed just before a flight. The pharmacists treat you like a criminal even with a doctors script. And I have not met one person who finds the replacement phenyl (something) to do anything at all. And a google search tells that it is just a placebo.

Given this used to be available at supermarkets it's just stupid and the only people penalised are genuine sufferers. Surprisingly sudafed is freely available in Singapore.

I don't think Singapore has the same problem with the alternate use of Sudafed!

 

[JohnK]

Given this used to be available at supermarkets it's just stupid and the only people penalised are genuine sufferers. Surprisingly sudafed is freely available in Singapore.

That is generally case though isn't it?

The people that take drugs for kicks and then get addicted spoil it for those who actually need the drug.

 

[Flashback]

I didn't have chicken pox until I was 33, then promptly gave them to my then five year old and 12 month old.

This is what I found.. when you're young, if you have it, everyone is your best friend!

Apparently drugs of dependence such as Xanax are now harder to obtain from a GP in Queensland. :shock: You need to see a psychiatrist who is then able to prescribe.

Hmmm....

I'm not surprised. Anything like that, that is addictive should be only dished out with careful consideration for the underlying issue behind it. You pretty much can't get anything like that at all from a GP in the UK.

Im the same. I always take in the empty pack, explain why I need it, and hand my license over. I do understand why they are more strict with it, but I agree that the PE sub isn't as good.

Agree with you on that one. Fortunately there are pseudo varieties still available here in the UK without the 3rd degree from the chemist!

 

[JohnK]

I'm not surprised. Anything like that, that is addictive should be only dished out with careful consideration for the underlying issue behind it. You pretty much can't get anything like that at all from a GP in the UK.

Totally understand that point of view.

The silly thing is I have been suffering from firstly panic attacks and more recently anxiety attacks for 20+ years.

Lets not kid ourselves there is no magic cure. The medication does the trick. I do not abuse it. Why am I the one penalised again?

 

[Flashback]

Totally understand that point of view.

The silly thing is I have been suffering from firstly panic attacks and more recently anxiety attacks for 20+ years.

Lets not kid ourselves there is no magic cure. The medication does the trick. I do not abuse it. Why am I the one penalised again?

You're not. Xanax is an addictive drug and shouldn't be used long term......... that's why there are the restrictions around it...

 

[Princess Fiona]

Totally understand that point of view.

The silly thing is I have been suffering from firstly panic attacks and more recently anxiety attacks for 20+ years.

Lets not kid ourselves there is no magic cure. The medication does the trick. I do not abuse it. Why am I the one penalised again?

Xanax is changing next year from S4 to S8, any long term prescription will require the prescriber to obtain writtten authority for that particular patient from the relevant state health body. It will not be restricted to any particular medical specialty or specialties to prescribe.

 

[erkpod]

Bad day fire wise around Sydney in the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands & Hunter. Some are calling it as worse than 2001.

I haven't been called yet. I've been driving trains all afternoon.

 

[JohnK]

You're not. Xanax is an addictive drug and shouldn't be used long term......... that's why there are the restrictions around it...

You are generalising again. It can be addictive if you take large amounts of the drug daily. I do not take it daily. I take it when I need it. I control the quantity. For flights I take 0.5mg which generally lasts 4-6 hours and for anxiety I start off with 0.25mg and then another 0.25mg if necessary. Hardly ever take bigger doses.

What makes me different? I don't know. If I cannot get it in Australia then I will buy it in Thailand even though it is a little more expensive.

 

[Flashback]

You are generalising again. It can be addictive if you take large amounts of the drug daily. I do not take it daily. I take it when I need it. I control the quantity. For flights I take 0.5mg which generally lasts 4-6 hours and for anxiety I start off with 0.25mg and then another 0.25mg if necessary. Hardly ever take bigger doses.

What makes me different? I don't know. If I cannot get it in Australia then I will buy it in Thailand even though it is a little more expensive.

It still doesn't change the fact that it is a benzodiazepine and these class of drugs are addictive. Scientific fact...