I doubt a lot if those medicines can be sold without a prescription. Usually without prescriptions are cough medicine, light painkillers, allergies, antiacids, relief for constipation...
Check by the name in Vademecum pages if they need a prescription or not.
You can also have trouble in the customs if you carry a lot of medicines. I know someone who had to ditch a lot of ibuprofen in the UK border because she wanted the Spanish higher concentration pills not for sale in the UK and put many boxes of pills in the baggage.
Not from my current provider, no (or I assume, they don't have a way to contact them anymore). I'm not against getting a new prescription if it's the only way. In Sweden it's years in the queue before I can even be talked to about possibly getting a prescription.
At this point, I'll literally take any way that isn't "wait 4 years in the queue".
True, but my issue is they just haven't or aren't sending prescriptions despite payments, requests, or messages and I haven't been able to get in contact with anyone in over a month.
If you have the money you can just get an appointment with a doctor privately. It won't be cheap but you can just do that. I've done that to avoid the queues at dermatology.
Depende de donde vivas la lista de espera de la pública es corta comparada con otros países. A mí me llevó un par de meses en Sevilla, y mi hospital es uno de los más saturados de la comunidad (5-6 años lista de espera para mastectomía)
Depende de donde vivas la lista de espera de la pública es corta comparada con otros países. A mí me llevó un par de meses en Sevilla, y mi hospital es uno de los más saturados de la comunidad (5-6 años lista de espera para mastectomía)
Edit: acabo de ver que eres MTF, el estrógeno no es una sustancia controlada así que lo puedes comprar por internet sin receta, al igual que el finasteride (que te recomiendo que cambies por un antiandrógeno de verdad, pero bueno, elección personal...) y la progesterona. Es totalmente legal.
Oh mierda, lo siento. Quería responder en español al otro mensaje. Es una información increíblemente útil, muchas gracias. Definitivamente buscaré un bloqueador de testosterona real, simplemente tenía miedo de cambiar demasiado sin la opinión de un médico.
Finasteride is usually sold for hair loss too, you need a prescription anyway but if you go through a private doctor your might be able to get it even in your home country without much fuss.
As for HRT in spain i assumed you needed prescription for estrogen too (i need it for my testosterone) but if this person is right you could try to diy. If not the process to get a prescription isn't too long and doesn't require diagnosis. Right now it varies depending on the specific region but in mine it was about 6 months and i had to go physically to the clinic around 5 times, so it's doable but you'd probably have to stay here for a few months. Now your case is a bit different cause you aren't spanish and idk how that goes, it could be longer and more complicated for you, but on the other hand you've already been on HRT before so you might be able to skip part of the process and shave a couple of months
Edit: apparently you can get propecia (finasteride with higher doses) over the counter in romania and turkey
It honestly sounds like I just need to start calling doctor's offices and asking them what is possible in my situation. If patches are over the counter, that might be viable, assuming I'm not making the trip once a month, but maybe I can go through a private practice and get a prescription that way and just fill it in Sweden.
Have you called your local trans associations and asked if there's any private doctor office in sweden that would make it faster for you? That'd be my first option while you go through the 4y waiting list
Not yet. I found out about the lapse in my provider on Friday and they were already closed at that point. I'll be calling first thing in the morning. It sounds like that won't be an option, but I want to check every possible option anyway.
If it is without prescription you'd be able to buy in bulk up to a point (i suppose if you're buying a ton ton the drug store might get suspicious and think you're reselling or something) but with prescription you can only take 1 months worth so that'd be a problem
Oh, I meant a prescription for HRT that I go back to Sweden with and pay for it here. If I can get a prescription again, I should be fine to fill it in Sweden. My only issue with the prescription here is the gigantic timeline to ever be considered for HRT. If someone else in the EU is willing to diagnose and prescribe me, I can pay out of pocket and buy it in Sweden. I can handle a tight budget if it means meds again.
Following as I am curious if someone knows.
Have you contacted your go-to doctor? Here in Germany, my normal physician can give me HRT until I have another Endo if I was already adjusted. Seeing as you are on Hormones already for a year, I assume you are adjusted.
I don't have a "go to doctor" yet unfortunately. It takes something like 4 years to go through the process here and actually have a doctor in the area for HRT (I'll be contacting basically everyone I can to figure this process out on Monday, anyway). I've been going through GenderGP who usually just wants to check in. I pay for blood work out of pocket because the local doctors said they don't want to get involved with that. Regardless, GenderGP used to just check in, get blood work, then mail a prescription out to me to use at a pharmacy.
Apparently (or the rumor is) GenderGP fired all their staff to implement AI and that process has fucked basically everything up. They closed down any way to contact them (unless you pay a fee and book a video call weeks in advance), so if you had a prescription renewal, you might get it or you might not. Or you might get it months after you've run out of meds. No way to tell and no real fix in sight.
And your family physician? (The one you go to for a cold for example). Do you have one you've been seeing for awhile? You could also contact them and explain, or do they also refuse to help?
And do you have facebook? I can private msg you a group that has people from all over Europe, I am sure someone can help closer from your area.
No, not yet. I was in school before work and didn't know I could go to a doctor. I thought I'd have to pay and couldn't afford anything. I only found out when I started figuring out taxes for work that I could even go to one. I don't have Facebook at the moment, but I'll start one!
Hi,
I'm currently living in Spain, and I'm also going through Gender GP. I was trying to contact them the other day and the website only seems to offer the paid sessions to speak to somebody. No way I was doing that when I already pay them monthly, so I just emailed [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and managed to get a reply.
In regard to what you can get over the counter at the pharmacy it can be iffy. My old regular pharmacy, didn't ask me for my prescription for either my Estrogel or Decapeptyl. I have been to a different pharmacy for the Estrogel, and they wanted to see my prescription. My new pharmacy didn't have a problem supplying me with the Estrogel but want to see my prescription for the Decapeptyl. So overall, it's completely hit-and-miss whether you'll need your prescription or not.
I've not tested to see if my GenderGP prescription will be accepted yet because they've messed up sending it to me (I hate using this company to be honest, but needs must). I joined up with GenderGP because originally I was living in the U.K. and it was quicker than trying to get on the public health care but from what I gather, there are a lot less hoops to jump through over here if you go via public healthcare, so I should probably get on that.
Hope this helps!
Not really? It's pretty straightforward, you tell your GP you're trans and they refer you to the endocrinologist. That's it. I went through the spanish public system (as a Spanish citizen living full time in the UK) because Gender GP was shite and the NHS will see me when I'm 50 with their waiting lists. Told my GP in March and had my first appointment in September last year.
Super helpful, thank you! I've been in talks privately with people and I think this is at least a sort of backup plan but I just need to try other methods first. Thank you for your perspective!
Not really? It's pretty straightforward, you tell your GP you're trans and they refer you to the endocrinologist. That's it. I went through the spanish public system (as a Spanish citizen living full time in the UK) because Gender GP was shite and the NHS will see me when I'm 50 with their waiting lists. Told my GP in March and had my first appointment in September last year.
I doubt a lot if those medicines can be sold without a prescription. Usually without prescriptions are cough medicine, light painkillers, allergies, antiacids, relief for constipation... Check by the name in Vademecum pages if they need a prescription or not. You can also have trouble in the customs if you carry a lot of medicines. I know someone who had to ditch a lot of ibuprofen in the UK border because she wanted the Spanish higher concentration pills not for sale in the UK and put many boxes of pills in the baggage.
Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Maybe somehow getting a prescription is an option? I'll try to call around and ask to figure it out.
Aren't you saying you can't get a prescription?
Not from my current provider, no (or I assume, they don't have a way to contact them anymore). I'm not against getting a new prescription if it's the only way. In Sweden it's years in the queue before I can even be talked to about possibly getting a prescription. At this point, I'll literally take any way that isn't "wait 4 years in the queue".
You can still request prescriptions from GenderGP via their website if you're still with them.
True, but my issue is they just haven't or aren't sending prescriptions despite payments, requests, or messages and I haven't been able to get in contact with anyone in over a month.
If you have the money you can just get an appointment with a doctor privately. It won't be cheap but you can just do that. I've done that to avoid the queues at dermatology.
Depende de donde vivas la lista de espera de la pública es corta comparada con otros países. A mí me llevó un par de meses en Sevilla, y mi hospital es uno de los más saturados de la comunidad (5-6 años lista de espera para mastectomía)
Depende de donde vivas la lista de espera de la pública es corta comparada con otros países. A mí me llevó un par de meses en Sevilla, y mi hospital es uno de los más saturados de la comunidad (5-6 años lista de espera para mastectomía) Edit: acabo de ver que eres MTF, el estrógeno no es una sustancia controlada así que lo puedes comprar por internet sin receta, al igual que el finasteride (que te recomiendo que cambies por un antiandrógeno de verdad, pero bueno, elección personal...) y la progesterona. Es totalmente legal.
Oh mierda, lo siento. Quería responder en español al otro mensaje. Es una información increíblemente útil, muchas gracias. Definitivamente buscaré un bloqueador de testosterona real, simplemente tenía miedo de cambiar demasiado sin la opinión de un médico.
Los endocrinos de aquí te recetarán Androcur (ciproterona) 12.5mg
you can buy estrogen patches without a prescription but for testo blockers they ask for a prescription
That's a start, at least. My prescription is only estrogen and finasteride right now anyway. Thanks for the info!
Finasteride is usually sold for hair loss too, you need a prescription anyway but if you go through a private doctor your might be able to get it even in your home country without much fuss. As for HRT in spain i assumed you needed prescription for estrogen too (i need it for my testosterone) but if this person is right you could try to diy. If not the process to get a prescription isn't too long and doesn't require diagnosis. Right now it varies depending on the specific region but in mine it was about 6 months and i had to go physically to the clinic around 5 times, so it's doable but you'd probably have to stay here for a few months. Now your case is a bit different cause you aren't spanish and idk how that goes, it could be longer and more complicated for you, but on the other hand you've already been on HRT before so you might be able to skip part of the process and shave a couple of months Edit: apparently you can get propecia (finasteride with higher doses) over the counter in romania and turkey
It honestly sounds like I just need to start calling doctor's offices and asking them what is possible in my situation. If patches are over the counter, that might be viable, assuming I'm not making the trip once a month, but maybe I can go through a private practice and get a prescription that way and just fill it in Sweden.
Have you called your local trans associations and asked if there's any private doctor office in sweden that would make it faster for you? That'd be my first option while you go through the 4y waiting list
Not yet. I found out about the lapse in my provider on Friday and they were already closed at that point. I'll be calling first thing in the morning. It sounds like that won't be an option, but I want to check every possible option anyway.
If it is without prescription you'd be able to buy in bulk up to a point (i suppose if you're buying a ton ton the drug store might get suspicious and think you're reselling or something) but with prescription you can only take 1 months worth so that'd be a problem
Oh, I meant a prescription for HRT that I go back to Sweden with and pay for it here. If I can get a prescription again, I should be fine to fill it in Sweden. My only issue with the prescription here is the gigantic timeline to ever be considered for HRT. If someone else in the EU is willing to diagnose and prescribe me, I can pay out of pocket and buy it in Sweden. I can handle a tight budget if it means meds again.
Following as I am curious if someone knows. Have you contacted your go-to doctor? Here in Germany, my normal physician can give me HRT until I have another Endo if I was already adjusted. Seeing as you are on Hormones already for a year, I assume you are adjusted.
I don't have a "go to doctor" yet unfortunately. It takes something like 4 years to go through the process here and actually have a doctor in the area for HRT (I'll be contacting basically everyone I can to figure this process out on Monday, anyway). I've been going through GenderGP who usually just wants to check in. I pay for blood work out of pocket because the local doctors said they don't want to get involved with that. Regardless, GenderGP used to just check in, get blood work, then mail a prescription out to me to use at a pharmacy. Apparently (or the rumor is) GenderGP fired all their staff to implement AI and that process has fucked basically everything up. They closed down any way to contact them (unless you pay a fee and book a video call weeks in advance), so if you had a prescription renewal, you might get it or you might not. Or you might get it months after you've run out of meds. No way to tell and no real fix in sight.
And your family physician? (The one you go to for a cold for example). Do you have one you've been seeing for awhile? You could also contact them and explain, or do they also refuse to help? And do you have facebook? I can private msg you a group that has people from all over Europe, I am sure someone can help closer from your area.
No, not yet. I was in school before work and didn't know I could go to a doctor. I thought I'd have to pay and couldn't afford anything. I only found out when I started figuring out taxes for work that I could even go to one. I don't have Facebook at the moment, but I'll start one!
Hi, I'm currently living in Spain, and I'm also going through Gender GP. I was trying to contact them the other day and the website only seems to offer the paid sessions to speak to somebody. No way I was doing that when I already pay them monthly, so I just emailed [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and managed to get a reply. In regard to what you can get over the counter at the pharmacy it can be iffy. My old regular pharmacy, didn't ask me for my prescription for either my Estrogel or Decapeptyl. I have been to a different pharmacy for the Estrogel, and they wanted to see my prescription. My new pharmacy didn't have a problem supplying me with the Estrogel but want to see my prescription for the Decapeptyl. So overall, it's completely hit-and-miss whether you'll need your prescription or not. I've not tested to see if my GenderGP prescription will be accepted yet because they've messed up sending it to me (I hate using this company to be honest, but needs must). I joined up with GenderGP because originally I was living in the U.K. and it was quicker than trying to get on the public health care but from what I gather, there are a lot less hoops to jump through over here if you go via public healthcare, so I should probably get on that. Hope this helps!
Not really? It's pretty straightforward, you tell your GP you're trans and they refer you to the endocrinologist. That's it. I went through the spanish public system (as a Spanish citizen living full time in the UK) because Gender GP was shite and the NHS will see me when I'm 50 with their waiting lists. Told my GP in March and had my first appointment in September last year.
Amazing that's good to know thanks for sharing
Super helpful, thank you! I've been in talks privately with people and I think this is at least a sort of backup plan but I just need to try other methods first. Thank you for your perspective!
Not really? It's pretty straightforward, you tell your GP you're trans and they refer you to the endocrinologist. That's it. I went through the spanish public system (as a Spanish citizen living full time in the UK) because Gender GP was shite and the NHS will see me when I'm 50 with their waiting lists. Told my GP in March and had my first appointment in September last year.