\[Edited to add: I’m not looking for medical advice, since I already got it from my doctor. I’m looking for logistics advice on how I can follow my doctor’s advice while physically present in Belgium.\]

Hello,

I’m an American traveling for work in Brussels. Yesterday I tested positive for COVID on a rapid test and this was confirmed by a PCR test. I’m quarantining and have talked to my doctor in the US, who recommended Paxlovid for me, but isn’t legally able to write a prescription that I can fill overseas.

When the contact tracing hotline called me, I asked if they had any advice for finding a doctor in Brussels who can handle this, and they suggested I use [doctoranytime.be](https://doctoranytime.be) . So I made a video appointment with the first available doctor I could find, and he told me that Belgium doesn’t use antivirals for COVID and I should take selenium supplements instead. This seemed sketchy to me. I read through [https://covid-19.sciensano.be/sites/default/files/Covid19/COVID-19\_InterimGuidelines\_Treatment\_ENG.pdf](https://covid-19.sciensano.be/sites/default/files/Covid19/COVID-19_InterimGuidelines_Treatment_ENG.pdf) and it sounds like at least as of last month, monoclonal antibodies and anti-viral meds like Paxlovid are being used for high-risk patients, of which I’m one.

Since I can’t get a prescription from my doctor in the US (I also asked about using a mail-order pharmacy in the US that would be able to overnight the medication here, and he said that wouldn’t work either), does anybody have any suggestions for finding a reputable doctor, since the official COVID headline couldn’t suggest anything? I could try calling a hospital, but I’m not sure what department I should ask for, and I feel like showing up at the emergency room would be unnecessary since I’m only mildly ill (just looking for the treatment because I like my internal organs and don’t want them to be permanently damaged any more than necessary.)

11 comments

  1. Just quarantine and sit it out. There’s been enough research and there may be some medications that _may_ speed up the recovery of patients _with really severe covid_, but the cons don’t outweigh the pros in most normal cases.

    Everyone’s just been sitting out out, I suggest you do the same. Please don’t go out to buy all sorts of random supplements, just stay hydrated, eat healthy and don’t follow bullshit advice.

    Edit: sorry, missed the high-risk sentence in your post, I didn’t mean to be harsh. I’m afraid the point still stands though, you’re currently high risk but not yet a severe COVID case which means that through the regular channels you won’t be able to get the medicine you’re looking for. It’s not exactly an over the counter thing you can just buy.

  2. Go get yourself some “paracetamol” at the local pharmacy to ease the symptoms and just sit it out.
    Edit: “Dafalgan” for the Belgians

  4. I guess this is not what you want to hear, but you probably just don’t meet the criteria for being ‘severely immunocompromised’…

  5. You need to fit in a very restricted group of immunocompromised. Paxlovid has only been available for a very short time now and doctors are only just now starting to figure it out, I just now tried to have a conversation with my specialist but I’m going to have to figure it out myself and give them instructions when the time comes…it’s fucking complicated. A general doctor can’t prescribe it on their own, they need your specialist that’s responsible for the treatment of whichever it is that makes you immunocompromised (if that’s one of those very few conditions/medications on the list, I have a dutch link if you’d like it, just respond). So if you can find a general doctor that will work with your US-based specialist, maybe it’s do-able? But I’m afraid you won’t get it fixed in time (taking it within 5 days of onset of symptoms is another condition)

    I am so sorry for the responses here. People have become very cold and ableist, more so than ever before. I hope you pull trough without too much strain on your health!

  6. >I could try calling a hospital, but I’m not sure what department I should ask for

    Call any hospital, explain your disease and explain your situation. They will refer you to the right doctor. If your disease is a bit less known, i would advise you to call one of the university hospitals (UZ Brussel, Saint-Luc or Erasme).

  7. I’m sorry you have to experience this. If you go to the hospital, heart/lung would be the aisle of choice, covid19 is a respiratory disease.

    Stay safe

  8. Go to the Emergency Room, they’ll decide if you need antivirals or not. It feels like you’re overreacting.

  10. I would go to the emergency services of uz Brussel. Friday afternoon should be calm enough.

  11. I am American with COVID too, and I have other health issues but not in the category of “severely immunocompromised.”

    I’m sticking it out. Antivirals have an array of severe side effects, and I don’t want to risk THOSE trying to take medicine that might shorten this a bit.

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