Availability Of Bellamine-s (Top voted first)

Are Bellamine-S and similar drugs still available? My pharmacy can't find them, so if you know how and where you can get them, please let me know. Thank you.

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I am a psychiatrist who has found this drug to be helpful in selected patients over the years. Phenobarbital and ergotamine are too old to have been approved by the FDA; approval wasn't required when they were introduced. However, many drugs with phenobarbital and (at least the generic for) Cafergot, used to treat migraine, is still on the market. I suspect the drug simply wasn't selling enough! My nephew is a perfect candidate for Bellergal-S. Donnatal doesn't have enough belladone alkoloids to be effective and cintaines no ergotamine at all.

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Re: over 55 (# 19)

I’m a man, but I’m also a psychopharmacologist. It’s important that you and your doctors understand that it’s not necessary to compound these ingredients. Bellamine-S is just Ergotamine, Phenobarbital, and various Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) alkaloids. I’m fairly certain Belladonna/deadly nightshade supplements are sold at vitamin shops, but you can also get Rx’d scopolamine and atropine at the correct dosages for blood pressure. Ergotamine is also Rx’d for migraines. And phenobarbital is prescribed for severe anxiety, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal.

Phenobarbital is a C-IV scheduled substance similar to Valium (diazepam), but prescribed less often. If your doctor has any issue with Rx’ing a barbiturate like phenobarbital, discuss the possibility of a low dose of benzodiazepine like Valium or Librium. That’s what you need for the sleep. It’s also more likely your doctor, insurance, or pharmacy will question your barbiturate prescription—which is more dangerous than a benzodiazepine.

[warning]: Please discuss this with your doctor! For any of you that take Bellamine or other phenobarbital-containing products, it’s SO important to understand that long term phenobarbital use leads to tolerance, dependence, and addiction. So stopping Bellamine or phenobarbital overnight may have extremely unpleasant or even life-threatening side effects depending on your dosage. So it may behoove you to switch to phenobarbital or an equivalent dose of a long-acting benzodiazepine like Valium (2-5mg)/day.

Finally, because drugs like phenobarbital and all benzodiazepines can lead to serious dependency over time, please try to limit your dose and stop taking it once your menopausal symptoms subside. These drugs should be taken on as ‘as needed’ basis only to avoid chemical dependency. If you suddenly stop Bellamine or your doctor switches you to a drug without phenobarbital and you experience severe anxiety, insomnia, confusion, shakiness, or other withdrawal symptoms related to barbiturates...tell your doctor immediately and ask to taper down your dose slowly using phenobarbital or Valium. Doctors do not know enough about barbiturate or benzodiazepine-related “protracted withdrawal syndrome” and will often deny that you have it. Older women also comprise the highest percentage of patients dependent on sedatives like benzodiazepines or barbiturates because of doctors like that. So be your own advocate and find a doctor who takes you seriously. Good luck.

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I can't see how these were unapproved, as this, formerly Bellergal-S, has been made and sold and prescribed for many, many years. It is not something new. I still cannot understand why they no longer make it. From the replies, I can see that many, many people have been helped by it.

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Has anyone had any luck finding Bellamine-S tabs? Have been out of them for 3 weeks & haven't slept well since, not to mention the flashes are back.

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I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37. The treatments left me with horrible hot flashes that were more depressing than the surgery. Bellamine worked incredibly well for me. My doctor has been unable to find a suitable substitue. Has anyone found anything?

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I cannot sleep at night because of hot flashes. Was taken off hormones because of (blood Clots). Need Bellamine-S. Would appreciate knowing what pharmacist will compound this drug.
Colo Springs, CO

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Anyone know why the FDA took this drug off the market? My mother was on Digitek which was recalled and the FDA has not done a very good job of letting the public know. People are getting real sick and dying. Would love to have some infor about this drug. I am another beleiver in this. It was a wonderful drug.

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Regarding compounding: we have to write new scripts and they look almost like cake recipes! I have several patients that I concluded would be helped greatly by Dexamyl (Dexedrine and Amytal), which was pulled from the market by the FDA in 1975. (I've been doing this a long time - almost 35 years). Compounding is expensive, but I cut my fee by the amount they had to pay and found a neighborhood pharmacist who was willing and sufficiently skilled to do the job.

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Just one more comment about compounding — as far as I know, only Florida permits the filling of scripts written by physicians licensed in other states. I'm licensed in New York and Florida, There seems to be a loophole (or a gentlemen's agreement) that permits NJ pharmacists in the NYC metropolitan area to fill our scripts. Phenobarbital per se is a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, so I have a feeling professional courtesy stops when a pharmacy has to place an unusual order for phenobarbital powder for compounding. Experienced compounding pharmacists are invaluable in helping us write these scripts. I remember they had a recipe all ready for topical Cleocin years before Cleocin-T and Cleocin Gel hit the market. My nieces and nephews thought I was SO cool to write for meds their friends' dermatologists told them were not yet available.

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My pharmacist told me that the drug manufacturer which makes Bellamine is no longer making it. My doctor is searching for an alternative by another brand name. If I have to, I will try Canadian pharmacies on line. This drug has allowed me to get uninterrupted sleep for the first time since going off hormones (mandatory due to blood clots). It has kept the sleep deprivation away and gotten my sleep-wake cycle back to normal. Bellamine is the only drug that has worked for me and is helping me get through menopause.

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Hi there Linda. I was looking for information about the discontinuance of Bellamine S and saw your question. Even though Bellamine worked well for me while I was taking it, once I stopped, since it has been discontinued and was no longer available through my health care provider, I called around and did locate it at CVS [drug store].

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I too have used Bellamine for two years with phenomenal results for night sweats and other menopausal symptoms. When I learned my pharmacy could no longer get the medication, I too did some research and found out the manufacturer has discontinued the product. My endocrinologist has prescribed Clonidine HCL (a blood-pressure med) as a substitute. I will run out of my bellamine tabs this week and begin the new meds. I hope it works . . . will keep you posted AND plan to try CVS!

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My doctor found a compounding pharmacy in my town to make up the Bellamine tabs for me, #90 tabs for $75. It is more than worth it for me. I can't tell you how relieved I was. I also was started on a Catapres patch weekly to help with hot flashes & sweats, but when it was discovered my blood pressure was high, I was kept on the patch by my cardiologist. The combination of the patch and Bellamine is a winner for me.

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Will insurance not cover the medication when compounded? Is it a standard pharmacy (Rite Aid, Walgreens) that is compounding the prescription? I certainly would be happy to pay (as you are), but any information is GREATLY appreciated.

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The compounding pharmacy only deals in cash, the patient is responsible for taking the matter up with his/her health insurance to check about a co-pay or reimbursement. They do not actually make the pills, but put together the same ingredients in capsule form. Just ask your physician to contact a local compounding pharmacy about this.

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Thank all of you who have replied! It is obvious that I am not the only person with this problem! My next question is, what company is making the medicine that CVS is selling, since the mfg. co. seems not to be making Bellamine-S? If I check with CVS, what is the name of the drug? Is it Bellamine-S? Thank you.

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I am searching for a pharmacy that is providing Bellamine-S. tablets. I tried CVS and cvs is no longer providing the medicine. please help if anyone knows of a pharmacy.

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I have been using bellaspas (Bellamine) for almost a year now, but I'm about to run out of it. It has been miraculous in stopping the hot flashes and letting me sleep. If anyone knows of any way to get hold of it, even outside the country, I'd appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

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I had responded to this problem of no Bellergal or Bellamine, as I had no solution, either. My doctor has now prescribed Belladonna Alkaloids w/PB tablets, made by Qualitest, and I really believe that they have helped me, not with the headaches, but with the hot flashes, anxiety, sadness, etc. I had a little trouble getting the prescription going, though. When he went it to Walgreen's, for me to try for a month, he sent it in as Donnatal, for which they substituted the above named drug. However, when it sent it to Caremark for my 90-day supply, he sent in Donnatal, for which they recognized no generic and were going to charge $80 for a 90-day supply, 270 tablets, but if he sent it in the Belladonna.... they would fill it for 90 days for less than $20. I don't understand the reasoning there, since Walgreen's had considered it a generic for Donnatal. However, it has helped me, and I hope that it will help someone else. --

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My pharmacist can not get anyone to call him back regarding the compounding of the drug. If someone has a compounding pharmacy, would you please submit the name and number. I would be so very grateful.

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