I have been working on this connection for a few years that is why Michigan Chapter of HDSA calls me the "Tetrabenazine Man"
A year ago I got approval for doctors to buy direct from England.
--Jim Eaton 32-Apl-2001
From: JIM EATON HDSA "THE TETRABENAZINE MAN" 23-Apl-2001
Please find attached a letter explaining how Tetrabenazine can be supplied into the USA. The FDA is extremely strict about supply of unlicensed product.
Customer Services Department contact details for ordering or Enquirer are:-
Tel +44 191 296 9300
Fax +44 191 296 9368
Email customer.services@camb-labs.com
Canadian Nitoman has just received it's license approval and distribution has started through the wholesale supply chain to retail pharmacies.
If you know of patients who previously received their supply of Tetrabenazine through Canada they may find it easier to revert to their original supply route.
Tetrabenazine IS CALLED NITOMAN IN CANADA. YOU CAN BUY IN QUEBEC CANADA WITHOUT HAVE TO VISITING CANADA FIRST. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN ONTARIO YOU MUST SEE ONE OF THEIR DOCTORS FIRST.
SHORE PHARMACY
5025 SHERBROOK ST.
Montreal Quebec H4A1F9
FAX 514-845-8448
Phone 514-844-1980
AND
Can be obtained in U. S. via a physician's prescription as follows.
Pharmacy phone 514-684-6131, fax 514-684-2436 attn: Linda Wilson
They need:
Photo ID or something showing United State Citizen ship for customs
faxed Rx
pt's name, address, phone, how they will pay (check, Visa, MC, AMEX)
shipping is via UPS
Kind regards
Diana
__________________________________________
Diana Boyd
Operations Manager & Company Secretary
Cambridge Laboratories Limited
Tel 00 44 191 296 9311
Fax 00 44 191 296 9368
Email diana.boyd@camb-labs.com
__________________________________________
*****************
Dear
Re: Tetrabenazine tablets 25mg, 112 tablets per pack
Thank you for your enquiry regarding the supply of tetrabenazine tablets. Please find enclosed information on Tetrabenazine.
We are pleased to inform you that Cambridge Laboratories is able to supply tetrabenazine directly to you in the USA on a named patient basis. We are able to do this under section 9-71-30C of the FDA regulations for pharmaceuticals imported for personal use, which allows individual patients to received a maximum of 3 months supply at any one time.
Tetrabenazine is currently in stock and is therefore available for immediate despatch to you. The cost of an individual pack of 112 tablets of tetrabenazine is £100.00. In addition there would be a delivery charge of approximately £50. We will of course ensure that all medicines supplied will have more than sufficient shelf life to cover the likely treatment period indicated by your prescription.
In order to supply the product we need the name of the patient and the name and address of the prescribing doctor and hospital/institution. A copy of the prescription is ideal. To comply with FDA regulations the order must contain the following statement, signed by the prescribing physician : Tetrabenazine tablets are for the personal use of ..for the treatment of .. which is a serious condition. A daily dose of 25mg tablets has been prescribed by . who is responsible for the treatment of the patient with this product. Products currently available in the US are not suitable as the Treatment of Choice because ...
Unfortunately, we will require full payment prior to the despatch of the medicines but payment can easily be made in any of the following ways
- Mastercard
- Visa
- Directly to our bank
Our bank details are : National Westminster
Bishopsgate Corporate Business Centre
PO Box No 34
15 Bishopsgate
London
EC2P 2AT
Sort Code : 50-00-00
Account name : Cambridge Laboratories Limited
Account number : 95 48 42 13
If paying by Mastercard or Visa could you please provide the following details:
- card number
- date of expiry
- name and address of cardholder as registered with the credit card company
Thank you for your interest in our product, we will do all we can to make the supply of tetrabenazine to you as smooth as possible. If you require any further help or assistance please do not hesitate to contact any member of our customer services department. Their names are Alyson, Angela, Liz, Felicity and Caroline.
Kindest regards.
Bob Tridgett
Sales and Marketing Manager
***************************
Patient Information Leaflet
What you should know about Tetrabenazine Tablets
Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take your medicine. It does not contain all the information about your medicine that you may need to know, so please ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. This leaflet only applies to Tetrabenazine Tablets.
What is in your medicine
Your medicine is called Tetrabenazine Tablets. Each tablet contains 25mg of the active ingredient Tetrabenazine, and also the inactive ingredients starch, lactose, talc, magnesium stearate and the colourant iron oxide yellow (E172). These inactive ingredients are included to aid the manufacture of the tablets and to help them disperse in your stomach. Each bottle of Tetrabenazine contains 112 tablets.
Tetrabenazine affects some chemicals in the brain, and by so doing it helps to control jerky and irregular movements.
The holder of the product licence for this medicine is Lifehealth Limited, 23 Winkfield Road, Windsor, BERKS SL4 4BA. The tablets are made by Boots Contract Manufacturing Limited, 1 Thane Road, Nottingham, NG2 3AA or Pharmaserve Ltd., Clifton Technology Park, Wynne Avenue, Swinton, Manchester M27 2HB and distributed in the United Kingdom by Cambridge Laboratories Limited, Deltic House, Kingfisher Way, Silverlink Business Park, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, NE28 9NX, UK. Tel. 0191 296 9369.
What are Tetrabenazine Tablets for
Tetrabenazine is used for the treatment of diseases, which cause jerky, irregular, uncontrollable movements such as Huntington's chorea, senile chorea, tardive dyskinesia and hemiballismus. Tetrabenazine should only be used in tardive dyskinesia when other treatment options have failed.
Before taking your medicine
Make sure that it is safe for you to take Tetrabenazine. If you answer YES to any of the following questions, or are not sure, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist:
Have you ever had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients of Tetrabenazine Tablets (listed under "What is in your medicine") Are you taking any medicine containing reserpine Have you recently been treated for depression Are you taking any medicine containing levodopa (which is used to treat Parkinson's disease)
These warnings are extremely important as using more than one medicine at the same time can strengthen or weaken the effect of the medicines. For example, this medicine can strengthen the effect of some medicines for depression (monoamine oxidase inhibitors).
Important - Depending on your individual response to this medicine, you may find that your ability to drive a car or operate machinery is affected.
May Tetrabenazine be taken during pregnancy or while breast feeding
You must tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you think you are pregnant or if you intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will then decide whether you should take Tetrabenazine. You should not breast feed if you are taking this medicine.
Taking your medicine
Always take the tablets as your doctor tells you to. The dose required varies from person to person.
For movement disorders of organic origin, the usual starting dose in adults is one tablet three times a day (a total of 75mg). This is usually increased by one tablet every three or four days, to a maximum of eight tablets a day (a total of 200mg).
For tardive dyskinesia the recommended starting dose is half a tablet (12.5mg) a day, subsequently titrated according to response. Medication should be discontinued if there is no clear benefit or if the side-effects cannot be tolerated.
Your doctor will decide the best dose for children and elderly patients.
Swallow the tablet or tablets with water or another non-alcoholic drink.
If you forget to take one dose, you should never make up for the missing dose by doubling it at the next dosing time. Instead you should simply continue with the next dose when it is due.
Do not change the prescribed dose yourself. If you think the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, talk to your doctor. Always tell your doctor if you want to stop taking your medicine.
If you take too many tablets or someone else accidentally takes your medicine, contact your doctor, pharmacist or nearest hospital straight away.
While taking your medicine
Unwanted affects from this medicine are usually mild in nature. The main unwanted effect is sleepiness and drowsiness, particularly when taking high doses. Occasionally, patients have experienced a lowering of their normal blood pressure. Some patients have experienced digestive problems. In rare cases, Tetrabenazine can cause depression or symptoms similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease (uncontrollable movements of the hands, arms, legs and head). If this happens you must tell your doctor. He/she may want you to take a lower dose.
If you are concerned about these or any other unwanted effects talk to your doctor.
How to store your medicine
Do not take the tablets after the expiry date on the label. Return any left over medicine to your pharmacist - only
keep it if your doctor tells you to.
The tablets should be stored below 30C
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children - preferably in a locked cupboard or medicine cabinet.
REMEMBER this medicine is for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Never give it to others. It may harm
them even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
Date of revision of this leaflet: July 2000