There’s a great deal of confusion surrounding the prescription of antidepressants in the UAE, but Dr Kenneth Mitchell, a consultant psychiatrist at Dubai’s LightHouse Wellness Centre, offers some useful tips. “Unlike many western countries, antidepressants in the UAE are semi-controlled medications, thus restricting how they are prescribed, how much, by which doctor and for how long. There is thus a far greater emphasis on antidepressants being prescribed by psychiatrists, which has the benefit of them being prescribed by the specialist doctors who best understand them and their use.
“Being semi-controlled means only certain pharmacies can supply antidepressants. Only 30 days’ supply can be dispensed at a time, with the possibility of a refill after a further 30 days. It is very important that patients are reviewed regularly to see how they are progressing mentally and physically, monitor for side effects, and make dose adjustments or medication changes when appropriate.
“Antidepressants must be taken regularly every day, otherwise they will not work. It takes two to three weeks to show significant signs of improvement and they may continue to improve for up to eight weeks. The patient should be seen within two weeks of commencing antidepressants to address any concerns regarding side effects and risks of self-harm, how best to take them, and the importance of regular daily doses. A further review should occur within two weeks to assess progress, side effects and make any necessary changes in dose or other management.
“A common myth is that antidepressants are addictive. None of them are and they do not cause dependence. They are not ‘happy pills’, they only work on people with a chemical imbalance in their brains. Another myth is that they change your personality. They do not; they simply return your personality and brain function to what they used to be before the depression.
“When travelling abroad, to minimise problems at airports and customs, it is advisable to have a photocopy of your prescription and/or a travel certificate from your doctor. Newly arrived residents are allowed to bring up to three months’ supply of prescribed medications, provided they are legal in the UAE. Residents returning to the UAE are allowed to bring only one month’s supply.”
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Read more:
Antidepressants: The great debate
Reiki: the stress-relieving technique that uses energy to heal
UAE experts' advice on how to deal with a break-up
A spoonful of medicine with a side of tech: why ‘swallowables’ are the next big thing
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The%20Roundup
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