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Contraceptive pills

Contraceptive pills

Old Sep 30th 2003, 2:18 am
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Red face Contraceptive pills

Hello - can anyone tell me, do you have to get the pill on prescription in Oz or can you buy it over the counter at the chemists?

If it's a doctors visit and a prescription - is that expensive?

(Just working out whether to get loads in advance and bring them with me!)

Cheers.
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 2:38 am
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I took a load out with me, only got 1 pack left!

pitter patter pitter patter

Diane
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 2:58 am
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Originally posted by DianeOZ
I took a load out with me, only got 1 pack left!

pitter patter pitter patter

Diane

Thanks Diane - is it hard to get them in Oz then?
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 3:03 am
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you need a doctors prescription for the pill. a visit is about AU$45. perhaps you can ask for a repeat script so you dont have to go back to the doctor.
it costs about AU$40 for a 3 month pack of Diane-35 (or Diannette).
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 3:06 am
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it costs about AU$40 for a 3 month pack of Diane-35 (or Diannette). [/QUOTE]


Ooh didn't know I had a pill named after me! Do they do the ones we got in Uk ones here or are all the brands totally differfent?

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Old Sep 30th 2003, 3:08 am
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Thanks for all the info. I am from the UK originally, but living in Hong Kong at the moment (where the pill is available over the counter) so I will definitely be stocking up!

Thanks again.
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 3:30 am
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Originally posted by DianeOZ
Ooh didn't know I had a pill named after me! Do they do the ones we got in Uk ones here or are all the brands totally differfent?
dunno, you have to ask my girlfriend. i just do as i am told!!
i suppose the major pharmacutical companies like, AstraZenica, Schering, GlazoWellcomeSmithKlineBeechham (whatever?) & Roche are pretty much global multinationals so whatevers sold in UK is sold here but maybe with a small name change - like Diannette in UK is Diane-35 here and is Diane in South Africa.
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 5:35 am
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Done a little bit of research into what I could get, and there are fewer brands available and all have different names - if you have found one that suits you, take all the leaflets and stuff along so they can try and find the nearest one. Litttle note to anyone using one of the UK's newest - Cerazette - Family Planning Queensland told me you can't get it, the licence got refused (its progestagen only, but without some of the side effects you usually get with progestagen only). So if you're on that, you will need to stock up for as long as possible.

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Old Sep 30th 2003, 6:21 am
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the major pharmacutical companies like, AstraZenica, Schering, GlazoWellcomeSmithKlineBeechham (whatever?) & Roche are pretty much global multinationals so whatevers sold in UK is sold here but maybe with a small name change
Unfortunatley not the case. However most stuff comes with helpline number, call that and ask if they sell in Oz, NZ whatever they should know the brand its sold under if they do it here.

Saves the hassle when you get here.
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 8:49 am
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Anyone know if you can get the Depo-Provera contraceptive injection in Oz? Is this a brand name that will have an Aussie alternative? Unfortunately this one requires a visit in person (!) so repeat scripts won't be an option.
Cheers
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 9:39 am
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I believe you can get depo provera; if you do a search on the Aussie Yahoo for family planning clinics, you can email them and ask - thats how I did it, and they were very helpful (unfortunately I've packed the stuff, so can't give you the address - sorry)
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 9:47 am
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Originally posted by Pollyana
I believe you can get depo provera; if you do a search on the Aussie Yahoo for family planning clinics, you can email them and ask - thats how I did it, and they were very helpful (unfortunately I've packed the stuff, so can't give you the address - sorry)
Many thanks Pollyana

This is a useful link which might help a few others, Queensland based but I'm sure there are others

http://www.fpq.asn.au/
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 10:17 am
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Just to clear a few things up ....
  • A doctors visit is usually about $35 (standard consultation here in Brisbane anyway). Once you have been to the doctor you can then claim back the medicare rebate which is about $23. Therefore you end up paying about $12 for the doctors visit.
  • Then you pay for your prescription, if its a PBS(NHS?) medicine (most medicines prescribed by doctors are), then you will pay the cost of the medicine up to a max. of $21.50. Alot of medicines are cheaper than that.
  • If you are considered a low income earner (I think its under about $32,000/year? but I might be wrong) you are eligible for a health care card. In this case your scripts will cost you $3.20.
  • If you pay full price for your medicines & you use alot there is a safety net in place. If you spend more than a certain amount of money in a year on prescriptions then you are eligible for your prescriptions for the remainder of the year at the concession price. Im not sure how much it is, its a fair bit though I believe.
  • SOME doctors bulkbill - in this case the doctor takes the scheduled fee direct from medicare & you pay no *gap*. The ones that bulkbill everyone are getting as scarce as hens teeth, but quite a few bulkbill children only.
  • If you have private health insurance you can claim anything NOT on the PBS & at least get some money back. The sort of things not on the PBS are viagra .

All these points apply if you have a medicare card & are eligible for things like Health Care Cards. I dont know the rulings on eligibility & visas etc.

As for the different drugs, either call the helpline in UK as K88 suggested or simply bring a packet or leaflet along with you when you first have to visit the doctors here. The doctor will then be able to prescribe something similar.

Ohh & when you get a script for the pill from the doctor there will be up to 3 repeats. Most brands of the pill come in a 4 month pack (all brands I have ever used anyway).

Last edited by MrsDagboy; Sep 30th 2003 at 10:26 am.
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 10:22 am
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I think thats the clearest info I've had so far on doctors! Thanks for that Mrs Dagboy - I'll keep that one!
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Old Sep 30th 2003, 10:30 am
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No probs Pollyanna, I sometimes wonder where some of the people on here actually get their info from.
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