How can I (preferably legally) get hold of some Mazindol/Teronac for
my mother in the UK who suffers from narcolepsy/cataplexy and is
inadequately served by other drugs offered to her by her doctors
(Mazindol suppressed her
symptoms for many years far more effectively than the alternatives
do).  Note: she hasn't been told NOT to take Mazindol, it just doesn't
seem to be available anywhere.

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Clarification of Question by bakert-ga on 10 Feb 2005 07:53 PST

Some hints that might help.  It was last imported into the UK by IDIS
and made by Novartis in Switzerland but we believe they have stopped
making it.  The only people IDIS could find still making it were in
South America It might have been Ecuador, or Brazil or ... but the
Medicines Control Agency (MCA) would not allow them to import it from
there as their manufacturing standards are not deemed to be high
enough.

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Clarification of Question by bakert-ga on 15 Feb 2005 13:17 PST

Am I not offering enough money for this question or is it just
unanswerable?  Any tips appreciated.

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Clarification of Question by bakert-ga on 15 Feb 2005 15:19 PST

OK I have put the amount up to something more reasonable according to
the pricing guide.  I just want to clarify my comments above.  If
there were a legal way of getting this drug in the UK then my mother's
GP would prescribe it for her (as he did for many years) and her
quality of life would be greatly increased.  There's nothing dodgy
about all this!  Thanks for looking, Tom.

Dear Bakert, 

Read my answer here: 
Can a foreign doctor give me a prescription over the internet? 
<http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=353524>

I'll sum up the most relevant part for you: 
"Postal ordering and "importing" the medicine, on the other hand, lies
in a  grey area and is basically illegal due to the Postal Service Act
(2000), and, depending on substance and quantity, could be also
illegal of other reasons (Medicine Act, 1968; Misuse of Drugs Act,
1971)."

Thanks for your advice.  That's useful to know.  If there is no source
of the drug then the legality of moving it about is a moot point
though!  My mother's doctor would happily prescribe her some if there
were a place to get it from.  She might also (long shot) consider
moving somewhere it was available.  I'd also like to talk to any drug
company about how we might get some from wherever it is too the UK
legally.  Does anyone know where this drug is (legally?) available?

Dear Bakert, 

Quite honestly, because you've asked: no, I don't think you're
offering enough money for this answer. Answering a question like this
is impossible without investing much time and work. You might want to
have a look at the Google Answers pricing guide:
http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html

Most researcher don't even bother looking at $2 questions, because
most clients expect much more than a single link or a short answer at
this rate of pricing.

Bakert, 

I am writing this as a comment, as I would like to have you (and your
mother) satisfied before I post it as an answer and get paid for my
work. However, feel free to put your experience further in another
comment: and lead me if I'm in the right direction.

I think that one of the solutions might be to go to the continent and
bring it privately: (perhaps previously to have a) prescription signed
there by a local physician.

If your mother carries a letter from her doctor, she could carry up
from abroad to 45 mgs of Mezidnol without a license. (See:
Personal Export/Import Guidance 
<http://www.britainusa.com/faq/showfaq.asp?SID=314> ). 

Here are some more details on bringing in prescription drugs : 
Can I bring prescription drugs into the UK?
<http://www.britainusa.com/faq/showfaq.asp?SID=314> 

The Legislation and Enforcement Unit might also give you more
information on your legal possibilities:

Room 315 
Horseferry House
Dean Ryle Street
London SW1P 2AW
England
Tel: (20) 7217 8457
Fax:(20) 7217 0618
e-mail: licensing_enquiry.aadu@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Of course, if you have the means, an import license might solve the problem. 

Please note that, according to the lawyer writing this article "it is
perfectly legal for an individual to import a prescription drug so
long as it is for personal or family use and not for resale." (SOURCE:
Robin Bynoe, "Drugs on the Net -- Viagra",
<http://hairloss.cyberatlantis.com/library/medicine_import_uk.php>).

Which means, that the same provisions that function regarding
travelling *might* also be valid regarding postal shipment of
medicines. However, this leaves the problem of the Postal Service Act
(2000): you cannot receive shipment of drugs unless it is a medical
emergency. This brings us back to licensing for any amount above 45
mgs or for postal shipments.

Hi there.  Thanks very much for looking at this question.  I think
perhaps it is still a little unclear though.  I /am/ interested in the
legal aspects, obviously, but the most important thing is that a
SOURCE of the drug is established.  I would need specific information
about where I can get the drug as previous searches have come back
empty.  If there is a specific source in the USA then it would indeed
be useful to know how it could legally be brought to the UK, but what
I need for that is the source itself.  So what I am saying is to be
happy with an answer I would need to know /what/ country I could go to
and actually get some, not just that theoretically I could go to
France/USA/wherever - because they may not make/distribute it there. 
Does that make sense?  Thanks again very much for looking at this.

I think I've located some sources for Mazindol online (that would ship to the UK).

Cool!  What's the next step?

Mazindol is legal and readily available here in Mexico and is produced
by a couple of laboratories, as to how to import it I am afraid that I
can not help you...