Prescription Injection

Isn't FV Hospital in Q7?   FV=Franco Vietnamese.  I never went there but many people recommend it for both the quality of the doctors and the availability of English as well as French.

Isn't FV Hospital in Q7?  FV=Franco Vietnamese. I never went there but many people recommend it for both the quality of the doctors and the availability of English as well as French.
-@THIGV

Yes near Cresent Mall.

Wont be cheap at FV. Depends what you define as a little money.

My family member needs a monthly "50mg fluphenazine decanoate intramuscular injection" and we have a proper referral letter from a hospital in her home country... Hopefully, it would be a simple matter of showing the referral letter to a local doctor, paying (a small amount of) cash, getting the injection, and calling it done.
-@catravel

The less you are willing to pay, the less likely that's going to happen, and for at least two good reasons:

Fluphenazine Decanoate belongs to a category of drugs known as Phenothiazine Antipsychotics

The common side effects of this strong medication include a condition known as Tardive Dyskinesia or Tardive Dystonia (muscle movement disorders) which may not go away after stopping use of this medicine.

In addition, if your relative is elderly, there are other common side effects:

Constipation, trouble urinating, dryness of mouth, confusion, problems with memory, dizziness or fainting, drowsiness, trembling of the hands and fingers, and problems with muscle movement, such as decreased or unusual movements, are especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of phenothiazines

There is unfortunately a common "Off Lable" use of Fluphenazine Decanoate which has caused a serious "Black Box Warning" to be attached to any published information about the drug:

Warning

There is a higher chance of death in older adults who take fluphenazine decanoate injection for mental problems caused by dementia. Most of the deaths were linked to heart disease or infection. This medicine is not approved to treat mental problems caused by dementia.

Is this possibly a description of your relative's therapy?

First, a Vietnamese doctor who doesn't speak FLUENT English or Chinese (I note you are from Hong Kong) is going to be less likely to approve and administer this medication to your relative, as there will almost certainly need to be a full history interview with physical exam first (probably including lab tests--urinalysis/blood chemistry/CBC).

It's unreasonable to expect that any physician is going to rubber stamp the administration of this long-acting antipsychotic medication to a transient foreigner.

Second, if the local doctor doesn't agree with the need for this medication, it won't be given.

It will probably be best to set aside a full day and arrive early at a hospital that caters to the needs of foreigners.

Such hospitals are usually at least twice as expensive as places where only Vietnamese citizens usually go.

Hopefully after the full intake process is completed, a physician will treat your relative's condition with appropriate therapies.

Good luck!

O.B

retired RN

The above post by OB, who knows whereof he speaks (at least in medical matters ) likely reinforces my suggestion of FV.   The better hospitals will not automatically rubber stamp your letter even though it may be valid, but will want to make their own diagnosis.   However, your letter will give them a good starting point.

Can't they just self administer it? Diabetics inject multiple times a day as do many other people on hormone therapy and the like. It's extremely easy to do, as long as the medication is readily available.

Can't they just self administer it? Diabetics inject multiple times a day as do many other people on hormone therapy and the like. It's extremely easy to do, as long as the medication is readily available.
-@departed00

A medication such as this requires an evaluation of the patient before administering the next monthly dose.

A diabetic can check their own blood glucose level prior to administering insulin.

A person who needs an antipsychotic medication is almost certainly not capable of self evaluation prior to receiving their next monthly dose.

I got this response from the hospital:

"Thank you for your interest in Health Care Service at FV Hospital.

Regarding your concern, we regret to inform you that the 50mg fluphenazine decanoate intramuscular injection is unavailable at FV hospital at the moment. However, if you would like to search for an alternative treatment, you can schedule an appointment with our specialist"...

Seeing the long list of side effects from fluphenazine decanoate, I see the possibility of better medicine at FV Hospital for my elderly mother.  But my mother's visit in Vietnam was once off and she is already back in Hong Kong.  I guess she will continue to receive what looks like a hazardous drug of fluphenazine decanoate in her next medical appointment.