Limitations;

・According to the regulations of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), there are certain limitations on online psychiatric treatment. Please make sure to read them carefully before making an appointment. 

・For online consultations, the first appointment is limited to consultation only. Non-psychiatric medications, including herbal medicines, may be prescribed from the first consultation for up to seven days. Prescriptions for psychiatric medications can be issued only from the second consultation onward. Please take this into account and schedule your appointment with sufficient time.

・Patients who have previously had an in-person consultation with Dr. Yumi Nakao are eligible to schedule their initial appointment as a follow-up visit. In such cases, prescriptions may be issued at the first appointment.

・Yumi Mental Health Clinic accepts only patients who are 18 years of age or older. 

・Yumi Mental Health Clinic do not treat alcohol use disorder or substance use disorders, if these are the primary presenting conditions.  These conditions are best managed with group-based treatment, and we believe they are not suitable for online care.

There are three ways to receive your medication:

To receive prescription medication, counseling by a pharmacist is required, either online or in person.

1. Prescription by mail
   The clinic will mail the prescription to your home or your place of stay. Please take the prescription to a nearby pharmacy to receive your medication.
   Please note that there may be a time lag due to mailing.

2. Fax to a local pharmacy
   Please find a nearby pharmacy in advance. After the consultation, we will fax the prescription to that pharmacy. You can then visit the pharmacy to pick up your medication.

3. Online pharmacy in English
   We can introduce a pharmacy that provides medication counseling in English online. Please make an online appointment with the pharmacy after the doctor's consultation.
   Please note that pharmacies offering services in English are often closed on weekends, which may result in a time lag.

・At present, we do not provide "Jiritsu Shien Iryo (a government support system that reduces the cost of psychiatric treatment and medication for people with mental health disability)" or "Seikatsu Hogo (a government program for people with limited financial resoruses. )

・Benzodiazepine anti-anxiety medications and Z-drugs cannot be prescribed through online consultations.  Non-benzodiazepine sleep medications, antidepressants and antipsychotics, can be prescribed from the second online consultation onward.  However, some medications commonly prescribed in Western countries, such as Wellbutrin and Prozac, are not available in Japan. In such cases, doctor will consider suitable alternative medications whenever possible. 

Medications That Cannot Be Prescribed via Online Consultations

• Zopiclone (Amoban)

• Eszopiclone (Lunesta)

• Zolpidem (Myslee / Ambien)

• Diazepam (Cercine / Valium)

• Lorazepam (Wypax / Ativan)

• Alprazolam (Solanax / Xanax)

• Clonazepam (Rivotril / Landcen)

• Etizolam (Depas)

• Concerta (methylphenidate) : Please refer to the important notes below regarding ADHD treatment.

• Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) : Our doctor is not licensed to prescribe Vyvanse.

• Modiodal (modafinil)

• Any other benzodiazepine and Z-drug