Mental health issues

Certain pain killers can be hard to get while other meds are priced out of sight.
Hopefully someone could give you more info if you could list the specific meds you will need.

Psych meds-
Cymbalta
Lamictal         
Vistaril
Elavil

Arthritis-
Paquinal

Hormone replacement-
Estradiol

Psychotropic meds must be prescribed by a specialist, who writes a "receta especial" or special prescription that is honored at farmacias.

In Quito, contact my personal physician, Dr. Ney Dolberg.

He IS such a specialist and has provided med-refill recetas for me since 2013.

Office at Leonidas Plaza N23-224 y Veintimilla
Telephone: 2223047 or 2223015.  For local call, dial 02 preceding.

An office visit costs $50.

cccmedia in Quito

cccmedia wrote:

Psychotropic meds must be prescribed by a specialist, who writes a "receta especial" that is honored at farmacias.

In Quito, contact my personal physician, Dr. Ney Dolberg.

Office at Leonidas Plaza N23-224 y Veintimilla
Telephone: 2223047 or 2223015.  For local call, dial 02 preceding.

An office visit costs $50.

cccmedia in Quito

What about mental health clinics in Ecuador? Do you have any knowledge or info on that CCC?
Mostly, am just curious. My youngest sister has mental health issues. Is something that I take very seriously. My personal thought would be that Ecuador is probably not very advanced in the mental health field. No offense to Ecuador in that regard. Most countries are still in the dark ages when it comes to recognizing, and treating mental health issues.

Thanks for the info ccc. I'm wondering if there is a clinic closer to Canoa and also I'm wondering about how the phone numbers work from USA to EC .
Ps.  Does Dr speak English?

j600rr wrote:

What about mental health clinics in Ecuador? Do you have any knowledge or info on that, CCC?....
My personal thought would be that Ecuador is probably not very advanced in the mental health field.

My "receta" meds are just for a sleep issue, and I have not had any need to seek out an Ecuadorian mental health clinic personally.

There's an issue beyond your thought that EC may not be advanced in mental health treatment.  That issue is language.

Certainly, Ecuador's (mental) health facilities are not set up to accomodate Expats whose espanol abilities are limited.  In spite of occasional comments on the Internet that some town or sector is "overrun with Gringos," the truth is that Expats make up only a tiny of percentage of the resident population.  (Vilcabamba could be the exception.)

If I had a mental health issue, I would not seek out an Ecuadorian clinic;  I would look instead for a qualified Expat to assist me in discussing the issue(s), to avoid the language-barrier issue.  His or her assistance might have to be supplemented by pill-prescriptions from an Ecuadorian specialist such as Dr. Dolberg.

I agree that most countries -- maybe all countries -- are backwards in treating mental health issues.  IMO drugs are over-prescribed in the United States.  And, once meds are prescribed, doctors in the U.S. and elsewhere are reluctant to stop them for a patient.  Doctors often have to be prodded into even reducing the dosage of an already-prescribed medicine.

cccmedia in Quito

Thanks for the suggestion ccc. If anyone knows of a expat with this kind of knowledge please have them contact me.

Okie dokie sue wrote:

Thanks for the info ccc. I'm wondering if there is a clinic closer to Canoa and also I'm wondering about how the phone numbers work from USA to EC .
Ps.  Does Dr speak English?

Better to ask Leonard about doctors near the coast.  That's his geographical area and he may have personal experience with doctors or clinics there.

There's information about dialing to Ecuador from the USA, for instance at howtocallabroad.com ...  However, I think a non-espanol speaker would do as well or better (less frustration) in trying to set up medical stuff, by waiting until they arrived in Ecuador.  Most good doctors will know enough English, especially in understanding you, but the receptionist who answers your call probably will not be able to communicate in English.

In the meantime, you might work on the language needed to set up an appointment (days of the week, time of day, as examples).

"Quisiera una cita con el medico (MED-ee-koh) para conseguir una receta especial.  Es posible jueves por la tarde...."
(I would like an appointment with the doctor to get a special prescription.
Is he available Thursday afternoon....)

A couple of additional notes about Dr. Dolberg's office.  Similar to many offices in Ecuador, they go to lunch from 1 to 3 p.m. and the phone may not be answered during lunchtime.  Also, the office once gave me an email address of [email protected] ... However, the one time I tried to use email to set up an appointment, my email was not answered.  So don't depend on the email approach being successful.  Typically, the receptionist answers the phone consistently, on weekdays outside of the lunch hours.

By the way, many medicines prescribed in Ecuador go by names that are different from the names used in the USA.  Also, the generic form of any given medicine is likely to be the one prescribed in Ecuador.  During your office visit, the doctor can look up the appropriate name for the medicine(s).  Pharmacists are also helpful in this regard.

cccmedia in Quito

Sue:
This guy may be able to help you.
http://themiddleoftheworldecuador.blogs … iving.html

He's a US-licensed psychologist living in Quito.

He used to post here at expat-blog, but he hasn't been around in a while. He is (or was) in Quito, which again may be a problem for you in Canoa. He also is a psychologist, so not able to prescribe medications -- but I assume knowledgeable in terms of advising you of local options.

You are much, much more likely to find the doctors/meds you need in the bigger cities.

Good luck,
Bob

Okie dokie sue wrote:

Are there any mental health clinics in EC ?
I need to find a clinic or doctor that will prescribe refills for my psych meds.  I also take meds for arthritis and hormone replacement.  I am 41 yr female on disability for depression.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

Have you considered what kind of Ecuador visa you might qualify for? You would need a residency visa to live in Ecuador.

More visa information can be found on the pinned post in the forum.

New online Ecuador guide: https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=379032

What kind of medications are available for sleep issues and do they require special prescription?

The (two) medications that I mentioned in report number 2, above, are for sleep.
In Ecuador, a specialist doctor must prescribe a ¨receta especial¨ for each of these two medicines every few months.

I do not list my medicines online, but can tell you these two are effective and were originally prescribed in Cincinnati, Ohio.

cccmedia in Quito

I was told (I think by Nards Barley) that probably the most popular US sleep medication, Ambien (generic: zolpidem), is not available in Ecuador. He mentioned a medication he used, and which he said was available over-the-counter (again, if I am remembering the discussion correctly).

Sorry to post on this blog, but I am not sure where to post.  I am wondering if there will be any problem once I am living in Ecuador (likely Loja province) in getting my asthma medication.  I take two puffers, one is the blue Ventolin puffer, but the other one (expensive, about $100) is a corticosteroid called Symbicort.  The doctor always gives me samples for free as it is too expensive to buy here.

Helen Pivoine

Ambien, aka zolpidem, is available in Quito, but requires a special prescription, "receta especial," issued by a doctor who is a specialist and is authorized to prescribe such psychotropic meds.  Farmacias Fybeca is a good source for such meds.

cccmedia in Quito

Thanks for the correction, ccc.

Many thanks to you, cc Media.

Helen Pivoine

We have IESS, where you can get Zoloft,  generic Elavil. When we came down we brought all our prescriptions with us, of course, but we  took them to a farmacia.  We were able  to get the same or similar, with same compounds. We also buy sleeping pills over the counter. The farmacias here are very helpful. Go to one in a hospital they have the largest inventories. We never have had to have a prescriptions, except for new ones for different meds. Just show the farmacia your empty box for refills. You can not get Ambien here, maybe by a dr. But there are local brands over the counter, for sleeping. They change often, but just say similar n they will understand. We are in Cuenca, which is a large city. Dr. appts. run $25-$35.

Lizardo wrote:

We also buy sleeping pills over the counter....You cannot get Ambien here, maybe by a dr. But there are local brands over the counter, for sleeping. They change often, but just say similar n they will understand. We are in Cuenca, which is a large city. Dr. appts. run $25-$35.

The sleeping pill atarax, aka hydroxizina, is available over-the-counter at some farmacias.  It was prescribed for me, but I have never had to show a prescription to get it.  Sleep medications should not be obtained and used without a doctor's supervision.

As mentioned earlier, for the psychotropic medicines sometimes used for sleeping, a special "receta" must be issued by a doctor who is a specialist.  For this purpose, I have visited two different specialists in different years.  Ambien, in a generic form, WAS available.

Each specialist charged $50 for an office visit in Quito.

cccmedia in Quito

Just ran into this conversation and wanted to add that Dr. Fred Klopfer in Cuenca is a licensed psychologist in the U.S. and licensed in Ecuador. He sees clients on a regular basis, and you can visit his blog at ecuadormental.blogspot.com/ - If you need to call, his cell number is 099-428-0580. I hope this helps.

Here's one more link for Dr. Klopfer ecuador-retirement.gringotree.com/recommendations/clinical-psychologist/  (Tried to add it to the previous post, but couldn't get in to edit.)

msklopfer wrote:

Just ran into this conversation and wanted to add that Dr. Fred Klopfer in Cuenca is a licensed psychologist in the U.S. and licensed in Ecuador. He sees clients on a regular basis, and you can visit his blog....

Signed,
Mrs. Fred Klopfer

Good on everyone for helping out in this topic. Going without psych meds is not a good idea.

Medical service in Quito are wonderful.  We have searched for our doctors we use there by LinkedIn. If you have a LinkedIn account you can search what type of doctor you need and read their profile and see their training.  That's one reason we moved here. My husband has a 10 year old kidney transplant, his only kidney and he has a great dr at hospital metropolitano.  Before his transplant they had surgically done a fistula in his arm for his dialysis.  Over the years the scar tissue had grown and it looked like he had huge growths from his shoulder down to his elbow.  Before we moved he went back to the original surgeon in Orlando to have it removed and they wouldn't do it because they said the complications were too great.  2 years ago here, he began having complications with it, went to the Head of vascular surgery in Quito and he took it out, but it took 2 surgeons and 2 nights in the hospital. They found a huge aneurism had developed in it.  He's had no more problems and you can hardly even see the scar.  Total out of pocket expense was $2,880, as we have no insurance here.  The vascular surgeon speaks perfect English and still goes to seminars and training in the US.  Plus hospital metropolitano has international accreditation, which is not easy to get or maintain.

Also if anyone in manta needs a general doctors contact info, I have one.  I met this Dr in the ER for a bad sinus infection.  He speaks perfect English and did part of his residency in NJ.  He works for the IES hospital in Porto Viejo (not sure I'm spelling that right), but on his days off he goes to private hospitals in different towns and works in the ER.  He told me to pass his info to any English speaking people who may need help.  Anytime I have texted him with questions he has tried to help me and always responded right away.  He's a good contact to have.

Jeisens0719 wrote:

Looking for info on psychiatric services in Quito area.  Am considering a trip followed by a move.

It's a smart decision to visit first. A friend of mine's wife who has completely changed after having a baby (highs and lows, apathetic towards her own baby) has not been properly diagnosed. One mental health professional thinks it's due to pre-menopause (btw she's only 30) and another believes it's due to a childhood trauma.

Another friend who is a student in this field said the perception in Ecuador is that if someone sees a psychologist they automatically assume that person is crazy. There's a lot of ignorance concerning mental health here and developing countries in general. My point is get your business in order before you move because you are taking a drastic step down. I hear Chile and Argentina are more advanced in mental healthcare.

vsimple wrote:

Another friend who is a student in this field said the perception in Ecuador is that if someone sees a psychologist they automatically assume that person is crazy. There's a lot of ignorance concerning mental health here and developing countries in general. My point is get your business in order before you move because you are taking a drastic step down. I hear Chile and Argentina are more advanced in mental healthcare.

Have mentioned before that I have a family member with mental illness. There is still a lot of ignorance in the developed countries about mental health as well, or at least in the U.S. The treatment and education has really advanced in the last decade, and the stigma has gotten somewhat better, but many people are still very misinformed. Education is the key.

Here's a crazy fact.  My chiropractor here is from NYC.  He met and married an Ecuadorian in NYC, was educated and practiced there.  He fell in love with ecuador and moved here in the 80's and brought his medical equipment.  His wife's family and him started a business making clothes for Victoria secrets catalog, but lost money because in the 80's transportation here was not dependable and they couldn't meet deadlines due to it.  Today would be different.  He loved it here and didn't want to go back.  His wife of course didn't want to live here and they divorced, he kept and raised his sons here and she went back to the US.  He says that chiropractor, while legal to practice here is not listed as a medical profession.  So for him to keep his practice license, they license him as a phychology practice. I think he may have an under grad degree in that also.  I love him, he does acupuncture, is very holistic and even teaches tai chi. I've seen him give Ecuadorians discounts when they empty their pockets with all the change they have to pay, and he just lets them go.  I've offered to make up the difference as I was waiting to pay behind them and he refused to allow me.  You are able to get anti depressant drugs at the pharmacies here without a prescription, but not certain controlled phycotic meds or Valium or Xanax without a prescription.  Even if you do have a prescription it is very hard to find them at any pharmacy here.  My friends elderly mom is having some heart problems which they are having problems diagnosing and they just prescribed her Valium.  To me, it sounds like panic attacks as I had them when I was younger and I've been through all the testing also, and been prescribed the Xanax for them.  I now can feel them coming on and if I take a Xanax right then they subside.  In 4 years I've gone through what I brought here from the states and now use essential oils to control it.  But every now and then I still need a Xanax if it's bad, but couldn't find them, and phychiatrist are the only ones who can prescribe it here.  I talked to an Ecuadorian lady, who is a court translator and now going to school for her phsycology degree and they don't believe in panic attacks.  They don't just prescribe meds like that and think it's an underlying condition that's mental.  However, we have found a pharmacist here in manta, through the grapevine that does sell those to gringos without a prescription by the box. I usually keep a few on hand for the just in case moments to avoid a trip to the ER.  My friend Thursday night said he couldn't find Valium here for his mom even though he has a prescription and I opened my med cabinet (all the meds my husband takes are in there.  He takes many cause of his kidney transplant), and I said do you need those for her?  He said yes please where did you find them, he could only find klonopin for her and I know my body chemistry doesn't react well to that med, so I have them to him and said let me know when you need more, we have the business card to the pharmacy owner and will contact him with her prescription and he will get them for her.  So depending on where you live availability of meds can be scarce. You can usually find what you need with or without a prescription if you have the right contacts. But it takes time to find it and figure it out.
I also have an English speaking dr's contact info that is an IES Dr, but works at different ER's in different cities on his days off who told me pain meds are very hard to get here.  I had had surgery and just needed a few.  He said I can write the script, but after checking with the private hospital and pharmacies here in manta, he said no one could fill it.  But he did say he keeps fentanyl patches at his house for his patients who need them and can't afford them or can't find them.  So he said let me know if you have surgery or have a sever injury and I will give you some that I have.  I personally want no part of those and instead just took over the counter anti-inflammatory meds that I know are safe and non addictive.  Although my body chemistry is weird and pain meds never make me high, I don't really understand that, and barely take my pain away.  They usually make me throw up whether I eat or not, so my body doesn't tolerate them very well anyway.  I think I'm actually blessed for that.