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Meds in Japan -
02-26-2010, 03:13 PM
In Sept. of 2012 I will leave for a year's stay in Japan (in Beppu). The thing is that I take meds for high cholesterol, COPD and bipolar disorder. I can't just not take them while I'm there!. What would I have to do to get the meds I need in Japan?
Thanks! Amanda  Wanted to also add: How can I afford these meds? Does Japan have a sort of prescripton assistance program for us poor folks? 
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03-02-2010, 11:07 PM
You can bring up to a months worth of prescription medication into Japan. Assuming that it's administered externally or orally.
For your stay, you'll have to apply for a Yakkan Shoumei. The procedures are listed here : Importing or Bringing Medication into Japan for Personal Use As for financial assistance, I wouldn't expect any handouts from Japan.
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03-03-2010, 12:00 AM
In what capacity will you be staying in Japan?
If you are under the national health insurance plan then you may be able to be prescribed medication from a Japanese doctor. Whether or not the same medicine exists in Japan or your Japanese doctor gives you the same diagnosis is to be determined.
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03-03-2010, 12:09 AM
To get the same meds in Japan you will have to go to a doctor here and have them prescribed, same as in any country. Bring copies of your medical charts, letters from your doctors and prescriptions from home- while not many doctors here speak fluent English, most can read anything medical-related.
Sign up for National Health Insurance as soon as you get here, do not go on any kind of private health insurance. Then 70% of your medical costs will be paid by the government, more if you qualify as being in particular need. National Health only costs 2,000 yen or less a month for your first year in Japan, although it does go up in the second year.
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03-17-2010, 07:00 AM
You may want to do some research on whether your prescription exists there or not. My grandma comes over for 6 months at a time and last time around she brought some utterly untranslatable prescriptions for Parkinson's. Luckily her charts made sense so the doctor here just represcribed based on that, lol.
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03-17-2010, 02:09 PM
So one should bring over a copy of his/her medical chart focusing on the medications one take or just some chart in general? Should it have the technical name? Does anyone know where I can even look up the names of my medications, and what their equivalents would be in Japanese to save up on the trouble?
I'm looking over the form for the Yakkan Shoumei and how it has to be mailed in. It mentioned the "post" and how one of the things needed when submitting for one is a Return Envelope with Japanese Postal Stamps. Does anyone know if it's acceptable to use something faster like UPS or FedEx? I wanted to overnight this using that since I know it'll take at least a week for them to send it back. I also wanted to do that since I won't be able to send out anything until tomorrow afternoon since that was the earliest I could see an actual doctor and I already told them of my situation and they were cool with it. I'm supposed to leave March 28, I'm scared I might not get the Yakkan Shoumei back in time. Does anyone know what happens if this is the case? Can medication just get shipped over or is there a rule or law to doing something like that? So, when one does get the Yakkan Shoumei back, and then head over, I just show it to customs when going through my baggage? I wanted to bring at least a 6-month supply of my medications with me since I'm not sure when the insurance will start up right away.
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