Mental Health
Mental Health lists antipsychotics, mood stabilisers and anxiety tablets for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety, from aripiprazole, olanzapine and quetiapine to lithium, buspirone and hydroxyzine.
Haloperidol
Haloperidol
5/10mg
Haloperidol 5mg and 10mg tablets, for the management of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. An antipsychotic.
Hydroxyzine
Hydroxyzine
10/25mg
Hydroxyzine 10mg and 25mg tablets are a sedating antihistamine used for allergic itching and hives, and for short-term anxiety. Packs hold 30 to 360 tablets.
Olanzapine
Olanzapine
2.5/5/7.5/10/15/20mg
Olanzapine tablets in six strengths from 2.5mg to 20mg, an atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, supplied in packs of 30 to 360.
Quetiapine
Quetiapine
25/50/100/200/300mg
Quetiapine tablets in 25mg, 50mg, 100mg, 200mg and 300mg strengths, an atypical antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, available in a range of pack sizes.
Risperidone
Risperidone
1/2/3/4mg
Risperidone tablets from 1mg to 4mg, used to manage schizophrenia and irritability in autism. An atypical antipsychotic.
Ziprasidone
Ziprasidone
20/40/80mg
Ziprasidone capsules in 20mg, 40mg and 80mg, an atypical antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, taken twice daily with food.
Antipsychotics for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
The biggest part of this category is the antipsychotic group, and most of it is made up of tablets that come in several strengths. Aripiprazole runs from 5mg to 30mg as Abilify (also sold as plain aripiprazole), and is also added to an antidepressant when depression has not lifted. Olanzapine goes from 2.5mg up to 20mg as Zyprexa or Olanzapine; it tends to cause drowsiness, a bigger appetite and weight gain. Quetiapine comes as Seroquel or Quetiapine from 25mg to 300mg and is the more sedating of the three.
Risperidone has three listings: Risnia 2mg, Risperdal and plain Risperidone, both in 1mg to 4mg. Risperdal and the plain listing also carry irritability linked to autism. Raised prolactin, which can bring breast tenderness or missed periods, is its characteristic side effect. Lurasidone, sold as Latuda in 40mg and 80mg, is listed for schizophrenia and bipolar depression and has to be taken with a meal. Ziprasidone capsules (20mg, 40mg, 80mg) also need food to be absorbed properly.
Older drugs remain. Haloperidol is Haldol 10mg or plain Haloperidol in 5mg and 10mg; stiffness, tremor and restlessness are more common with it than with newer drugs. Clozapine, 25mg, 50mg and 100mg, is listed for schizophrenia and needs regular blood counts, because it can cut the number of white cells that fight infection.
Mood stabilisers
Lithium is the long-standing tablet for bipolar disorder, sold here at 300mg as Lithobid, plain Lithium and Eskalith, whose ingredient page is lithium carbonate. The gap between a useful dose and a toxic one is narrow, so blood levels are measured, salt and fluid intake kept steady, and vomiting, diarrhoea with a coarse tremor, or confusion need urgent attention.
Carbamazepine (100mg, 200mg and 400mg tablets) is an anti-seizure drug that is also used as a mood stabiliser. The listing here is for epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia (sharp facial nerve pain). It interacts with many other medicines and can cause dizziness and double vision.
Anxiety and tension
For generalised anxiety there are three different tablets. Buspirone is Buspar or Buspirone, 5mg and 10mg. It is not sedating and does not build dependence, but it needs a couple of weeks of regular use. Hydroxyzine 10mg and 25mg (Atarax, Hydroxyzine) is an antihistamine that calms anxiety and eases itching, with drowsiness as its main effect. Tofisopam 50mg (Toficalm, also sold as plain tofisopam) is listed for anxiety, tension and stress.
One odd fit is cyproheptadine, a 4mg antihistamine (Periactin, also sold as plain cyproheptadine) taken for allergic reactions and as an appetite stimulant, which is how it ends up beside the mental health medicines.
Sources
- Antipsychotics - Royal College of Psychiatrists — Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Mental Health Medications - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Which mental health medicines can I buy online in Hong Kong?
PockDose sells antipsychotic tablets including aripiprazole as generic Abilify, olanzapine as generic Zyprexa, quetiapine as generic Seroquel and risperidone as generic Risperdal. Anxiety tablets include buspirone as generic Buspar and hydroxyzine as generic Atarax. Mood stabilisers include lithium, generic Lithobid and generic Eskalith, with strengths such as 300mg.
Which risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine listings are available?
Risperidone is available as Risnia 2mg, generic Risperdal in 1mg, 2mg, 3mg and 4mg, or plain risperidone. Olanzapine ranges from 2.5mg to 20mg as generic Zyprexa or plain olanzapine. Quetiapine comes as generic Seroquel or plain quetiapine in several strengths.
How are mental health orders shipped to Hong Kong?
Orders arrive in plain, unbranded packaging. Tracked courier takes 5–9 business days; standard airmail takes 14–21 business days and is untracked. See delivery and ordering details.
What is the difference between olanzapine and quetiapine?
Both treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but they are different molecules. Olanzapine ranges from 2.5mg to 20mg and is more tied to appetite and weight gain. Quetiapine goes from 25mg to 300mg and is more sedating.
Does buspirone work straight away?
No. Buspirone usually takes a couple of weeks of regular dosing before anxiety eases, so it is not a tablet to take once for a stressful moment. It is also less likely to cause drowsiness than hydroxyzine.
Why does clozapine need blood tests?
Clozapine can lower the white blood cell count, which leaves the body less able to fight infection. Regular blood counts catch a fall early, and fever or a sore throat while taking it is worth acting on straight away.
Are Lithobid, Eskalith and lithium the same medicine?
All three contain lithium in 300mg tablets for bipolar disorder, and the difference is the name on the listing. Eskalith has its own ingredient page, lithium carbonate, while Lithobid and plain Lithium sit under lithium.