Mental health care in Santo Domingo

[Givadogahome]

I am trying to find out what mental health care is available in Santo Domingo, I really don't know where to start. My mother in law is having a bit of a rough time of it, she has always suffered anxiety attacks, to the point it can stop her going out, but we now hear that this has become a huge issue and she is housebound agoraphobic. It is difficult to know how to go about this from so far away, but I'd like to try and get her to see someone, but she is between a rock and a hard place right now, unable to help herself.
ive told her on numerous occasion just pull yourself together, no one is out to get you, but I think it needs a bit more of a professional approach to convince her nothing is going to happen to her, but I can't understand the issues as she tells me, which is probably the case.

So does anyone know if there even is help for this kind of thing? I'm not even sure what it is she needs, a psychiatrist or whatever?

 

[Auryn]

If your mother in law has a history of anxiety that has led her to become housebound, it would be worth looking into Mental Health counselling to help improve her quality of life.

I am not sure how much help this will be, as it dealt more with general Mental Health in the DR. There was a thread started by donP called http://www.dr1.com/forums/living/124588-there-no-mental-institutions.html that may be of some use to you.

I remember reading that the Ministerio de Salud Publica had recently held a meeting regarding Mental Health. Perhaps they could provide you with some direction to help your mother in law? It would be a long shot, but maybe someone can get you in touch with a therapist who would be willing to initially visit her at home considering the agoraphobia.

There is also Dreyfus Health Foundation - Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo. I know nothing about this organization other than what their website states, but they do seem to deal with Mental Health issues and the founder was a proponent of a drug called Phenytoin (Dilantin).

If none of that gets you anywhere, if she is religious (as I would assume she is)... her church or one nearby? I certainly hope you can figure something out and find help for her somehow. Perhaps someone else will have more direct information.

Best wishes to you and your family.

 

[KJS73]

I've been told that there are psychiatrists in SD. I'm actually looking into it. I have anxiety/depression and want to find a psych here to continue to prescribe meds. If I find out anything I'll post it on this thread.

 

[AlterEgo]

Here's a link to an article written by our Mountainannie on this subject:

IPS – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Managing Mental Illness on a Few Pesos a Month | Inter Press Service

And a DR1 thread that might shed some info:

http://www.dr1.com/forums/living/111430-no-free-meds.html

 

[dv8]

why don'y you call CENTRO DE DIAGNOSTICO Y SALUD MENTAL. SD, calle duarte 251-B, (809) 548 1664. maybe they will be able to help...

newspapers have been running stories about insufficient level of mental health care in DR for about a year now. SD should be better than other cities thou. still, i doubt you will find a doctor willing to pay a house call. not without paying cold hard cash - insurance companies normally do not cover mental health issues and offer no assistance with meds.

if you get a doctor to visit her and prescribe her medicine things should get better. she may still need therapy but pills will bring a relief and make her life easier. for one, she will be able to leave home and attend support group meetings, see doctors and maintain contact with family.

lots of medicine to treat anxiety and depression are available OTC but they are not very cheap. other meds may be prescription only, they tend to be a bit cheaper but sold exclusively per box. farmacias de pueblo have only a handful of such drugs so you will have to rely on normal pharmacies.

 

[Givadogahome]

What OTC drugs could we get her? We need to get out of the house as no doctors will make the trip way out to her place. Apparently she won't even go in a car. I suggested getting her drunk (has always given me false confidence) but I don't think that is the answer.
from what I can understand the issues are a huge sensation of something bad is going to happen to her, she knows she has no enemies but she can't stop her mind from playing tricks on her and giving her what now is a constant sense of panic, 24/7.

Do you know any meds OTC to help with this?

 

[dv8]

listen, i stress that i am not a doctor. you should consult a specialist, even if only to discuss the symptoms and seek advice. OTC (well, in DR) meds that could help are sertralina or fluoxetina. sold in DR under different brand names. sertralina should be about 45 pesos per pill, fluoxetina about 30 pesos per pill.
they both take time to show results, on average 2 weeks to a month.

again, i am not a doctor. i am sure your mother in law needs a proper long term therapy. medicine alone will not bring her peace.

 

[KJS73]

listen, i stress that i am not a doctor. you should consult a specialist, even if only to discuss the symptoms and seek advice. OTC (well, in DR) meds that could help are sertralina or fluoxetina. sold in DR under different brand names. sertralina should be about 45 pesos per pill, fluoxetina about 30 pesos per pill.
they both take time to show results, on average 2 weeks to a month.

again, i am not a doctor. i am sure your mother in law needs a proper long term therapy. medicine alone will not bring her peace.

Are these meds SSRIs (similar to Prozac, celexa, etc)?

 

[dv8]

yes, they are both selective serotonin inhibitors. fluoxetina IS prozac (brand name). you can find it in DR both in imported and local versions. there are some other meds that can help, paroxetina, for example (paxil), also available OTC. so is citalopram, actually.

 

[Hernandez]

The best private clinic in the country is Clinica Reno in Zona Universitaria, but if you need hospitalization, be prepared to pay 50000 pesos a week plus costs of all medicines... yeah that's expensive.

They have all pills like Prozac etc for sale for their patients. If you don't need hospitalization, you still can go there for consultation of Dr. Reyes. He speaks English, I believe he is US citizen too.

 

[dv8]

be prepared to pay 50000 pesos a week plus costs of all medicines

50k pesos a week? you'd must be crazy to pay... wait... yeah, sounds about right.

 

[KJS73]

yes, they are both selective serotonin inhibitors. fluoxetina IS prozac (brand name). you can find it in DR both in imported and local versions. there are some other meds that can help, paroxetina, for example (paxil), also available OTC. so is citalopram, actually.

Thanks for the info. I'm also on Wellbutrin and ativan. The ativan is a benzo and most likely a controlled substance. I haven't felt the need for it much and may try to get off. If I can't succeed I might have to go back to states to get refill.

 

[mountainannie]

If you cannot get her to a doctor, I would suggest that you visit the doctor yourself and explain the situation and see if you cannot get him or her to come visit her. Psych meds are a tricky field to navigate on your own because the dosages are so fine and the interactions can be severe. Try reading up some on a forum called crazymeds.org which is run by the patients and that will give you a better idea of some of the diagnoses and treatments.

 

[dv8]

wellbutrin is available OTC, expensive as hell. lorazepam prescription only.

JD, happy pills, as i call them, are very popular in DR. mexazolam (sold here as sedoxil) is one of our best sellers. people like to take stuff para los nervios. you'd think dominicans are worry free, eh? not so much. this is another face of DR that gringos do not see that much. some people are truly tormented. and usually they receive no help whatsoever. locked at home, with no money for meds, no professional support, no hope for changing this situation.

 

[KJS73]

Mexazolam appears to be a benzodiazepine so if I have trouble coming off ativan it can help me.

What is Wellbutrin called at the pharmacy in DR?

Thanks for all the information DV8.

 

[waytogo]

If you cannot get her to a doctor, I would suggest that you visit the doctor yourself and explain the situation and see if you cannot get him or her to come visit her. Psych meds are a tricky field to navigate on your own because the dosages are so fine and the interactions can be severe. Try reading up some on a forum called crazymeds.org which is run by the patients and that will give you a better idea of some of the diagnoses and treatments.

Now that's crazy...............

B in Santiago

 

[tao112]

they have a place around kilometro 28 were you can get free help for your mother in law..

 

[Givadogahome]

(sold here as sedoxil) is one of our best sellers. people like to take stuff para los nervios.

Would this stuff effect the patient immediately? I remember Mrs Dog taking some pill before her English exam, can't remember what it was called though. I think it is great that they can get stuff over the counter to give them a false feeling nof security, no wonder they are always full of themselves.

 

[dv8]

wellbutrin is sold as wellbutrin.

givadogahome, those pills need time to take full therapeutic effect. at least 2 weeks to a month. there is no miracle cure here.

 

[spmc]

All anti-depressant use needs to be monitored professionally. This is not an area to self medicate.