Holidaymakers Buying Thai Prescription Drugs Over the Counter

Unfortunately, neither the prescription medicine nor the prescription vitamins I use are available here, so every time I take a trip home my suitcase is fully loaded for a year, the price is high there, but worth it IMO compared to trying something that every other pharmacy here says should be the same.

Felt

People are much better educated about medical issues that affect them and the effects of pharma drugs now, and doctors no longer have a monopoly on everything medical. Many folks will get a prescription in the West and knows it works, then go source the same thing elsewhere for less.

Also, there are many doctors online giving out sound advice too and more and more people are taking their health into their own hands... which is good, but also with that comes responsibility and accountability. For me, anything I need to see a doctor for I'll research online first before the appointment, so I know what direction it should be going in, and if things align up, then fine no problem... if not, then more research and a second opinion is needed. I'm not a doctor obviously, but I'm also not an ignorant patient that knows nothing and just throws himself at the mercy of some GP who might be 20 years or more younger than me.

6 minutes ago, Front Row said:

Perhaps because the article origin was the Dailymail?

Thanks, that helped 😂

16 hours ago, Yagoda said:

if you abuse any drug or use it wrong its your fault.

i like cheap meds.

you can buy morphine and ketamine otc in cambodia. obviously that attracts a certain western crowd

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

No - thats just your interpretation of the article which simply feeds any negative Brit-Bias you may carry.

This story covers the British, because its lifted from the Daily Mail - A British Tabloid.

In fact, much of Thailand's English-language news isn't generated locally. It often republishes or rewrites stories from UK tabloids, media outlets and English langaiuge based social media.

That naturally creates a British centric news feeds.

Some people then mistake that media bias for reality, using the volume of British stories to reinforce their own preconceptions. In many cases, it's simply a reflection of where the article came from, not evidence that Brits are uniquely worse than everyone else.

I'm convinced your interpretation doesn't picture the reality.

There are other blogs for French and Germans. I didn't read any even similar about this attitude to travel to Thailand in order to buy prescription only medicine over the counter.

So, yes, it's a British attitude for sure, if the news are right.

And it's no doubt about it to be an insane attidude.

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Here, amazingly, it's aspirin which is hard to get!

I get 81mg of aspirin OTC easily at my local pharmacy. I stopped taking it though under doctor's advice.

5 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

For me, anything I need to see a doctor for I'll research online first before the appointment, so I know what direction it should be going in, and if things align up, then fine no problem... if not, then more research and a second opinion is needed. I'm not a doctor obviously, b

I'm exactly the same. I thoroughly research a condition before seeing a doctor, and have done so for years.

I always make it clear that I've done some homework and apologise in advance for any "Google knowledge", but it's usually apparent quite quickly that I've developed more than a superficial understanding of the subject.

In my experience, good doctors appreciate informed discussion and sensible questions. I've had some fascinating conversations with GPs, surgeons and specialists in both the UK and Thailand about treatment options, surgical techniques and long-term management plans.

As for age, I generally prefer doctors in their mid-30s to around 50. They tend to have enough experience while still embracing new techniques, technology and current research.

A good example was my ligament reconstruction a few years ago. Before surgery I shared peer-reviewed research highlighting shortcomings in the standard bracing protocol and discussed alternative approaches. The surgeon, one of the best in Thailand in his field, was extremely receptive and even adapted part of his post-operative protocol.

Others have described him as arrogant, but I never saw that. I saw confidence, expertise and a willingness to engage in an informed discussion. I suspect the difference often lies in the quality of the questions being asked.

11 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

I'm convinced your interpretation doesn't picture the reality.

There are other blogs for French and Germans. I didn't read any even similar about this attitude to travel to Thailand in order to buy prescription only medicine over the counter.

Impressive that you're fluent in both French and German and regularly follow their news sources and blogs.

What I find rather bemusing, though, is the logic. Your conclusion appears to be based on not seeing one very specific article about buying prescription-only medication over the counter in French or German media, and using that absence as evidence.

Surely you can see the disconnect? Different national media don't publish identical stories. The fact you haven't come across one particular article in another language isn't evidence that it doesn't exist, or that the underlying reporting trends are different. It's a rather curious benchmark to base a comparison on.

11 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

So, yes, it's a British attitude for sure, if the news are right.

And it's no doubt about it to be an insane attidude.

Or perhaps it simply reflects the fact that Britons appear far more frequently in English-language Thai media than other nationalities - lets face it, can you even speak / read French of German ? any other languages ?

If you're repeatedly reading stories about Britons on sites like ASEAN NOW and The Thaiger, it's hardly surprising you conclude it's a uniquely "British attitude". That's precisely the point I'm making. Greater exposure naturally creates the perception that it's predominantly a British phenomenon.

Whether that perception reflects reality is another question entirely - one I'm particularly interested in and the reasons why.

Out of curiosity, how often do Thai media or Thai social media quote French or German newspapers and media outlets compared with British ones? My suspicion is: very rarely. If the source material is overwhelmingly British, it's hardly surprising the resulting news appears disproportionately British too.

It really depends on where you’re from what you need. Some of my prescribed medications are cheaper here OTC and others are cheaper at the hospital. 1 med I need they don’t even carry, Percocet, and I have to travel back to the US to get it. I don’t just buy drugs because I want them, it’s because I need them, so yes I will shop around for the cheapest I can find. It sucks that they don’t have Percocet, but you gotta do what you need to do. It’s very cheap to consult with a doctor here and if you ask them if you can get them at the pharmacy, they will usually tell you.

1 hour ago, vangrop said:

Besides, I don't understand why this article specifically targets the British, since those of us from Western countries are all affected.

It doesn't 'target' the British - the Article is from a British Tabloid thats all - its others who have failed to identify this and 'then' target the British with their "why always the Brits" question....

1 hour ago, vangrop said:

I don't think it's really worth traveling to Thailand to take advantage of cheaper medication. Medication is generally more expensive here than in the West. Certainly, if you consider that in our countries, many medications are covered by social security. The only advantage is that many prescription medications aren't required here.

I think the position is that many tourists, while here, take the opportunity to 'stock-up' on medication they cannot get back in their home countries due to prescription requirements.

Wegovy was used as an example - a weight loss injection thats only available in the UK with GP consultation and prescriptions - meanwhile it seems its readily available here for anyone who wants to self medicate (and use this drug to lose weight).

19 hours ago, johng said:

yes indeed its all about control

Control ...and Money . no stop to it !

You can't buy many cough medicines ( just one example) without a prescription ...which costs ridiculous fees in many places (like US)

but if one wants some cheap Fentanol .... easy as pie to get on the street . Free needles supplied by some governments ... to boot

24 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Impressive that you're fluent in both French and German and regularly follow their news sources and blogs.

What I find rather bemusing, though, is the logic. Your conclusion appears to be based on not seeing one very specific article about buying prescription-only medication over the counter in French or German media, and using that absence as evidence.

Surely you can see the disconnect? Different national media don't publish identical stories. The fact you haven't come across one particular article in another language isn't evidence that it doesn't exist, or that the underlying reporting trends are different. It's a rather curious benchmark to base a comparison on.

Or perhaps it simply reflects the fact that Britons appear far more frequently in English-language Thai media than other nationalities - lets face it, can you even speak / read French of German ? any other languages ?

If you're repeatedly reading stories about Britons on sites like ASEAN NOW and The Thaiger, it's hardly surprising you conclude it's a uniquely "British attitude". That's precisely the point I'm making. Greater exposure naturally creates the perception that it's predominantly a British phenomenon.

Whether that perception reflects reality is another question entirely - one I'm particularly interested in and the reasons why.

Out of curiosity, how often do Thai media or Thai social media quote French or German newspapers and media outlets compared with British ones? My suspicion is: very rarely. If the source material is overwhelmingly British, it's hardly surprising the resulting news appears disproportionately British too.

Sounds a bit like white washing.

Doesn't work.

If those mentioned British attitudes would be an issue in France and Germany, it would be mentioned in specific blogs.

I can't exclude that some French or German would do it like Brits, but obviously not to such an extend.

And I can't give proof that Germans and French are more responsible for their own health not misusing medicines.

However, it would be it would be mentioned in French and German newspapers. And it's not.

Actually Thai newspapers publish stories in Thai language from around the world since the official language is Thai language!

5 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Sounds a bit like white washing.

That possible - because its impossible to avoid my own bias in this - I don't see the Brits as problematic, because neither I, nor numerous friends that I have overseas have ever been involved in an issue - I simply see media amplification - we'd have not read of or heard of all these issues 20 years ago.

5 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Doesn't work.

If those mentioned British attitudes would be an issue in France and Germany, it would be mentioned in specific blogs.

What French and German blogs are you reading ?

5 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

I can't exclude that some French or German would do it like Brits, but obviously not to such an extend.

And I can't give proof that Germans and French are more responsible for their own health not misusing medicines.

However, it would be it would be mentioned in French and German newspapers. And it's not.

Why would it be mentioned - it would only be mentioned IF a journalist thought about it.

Its not more likely to be mentioned than any other story - as stories go its already quite random and rather typical of the Daily Mail in the first place - creating a headline out of insignificance.

5 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Actually Thai newspapers publish stories in Thai language from around the world since the official language is Thai language!

No need to argue the obtuse - you understood the point.

Don't even mention Xanax, Valium and Codein....

Those all all completely restricted to hospitals with a prescription from that hospital's doctor.

Except for the black market on, for example, Sukhumvit between Nana and Asoke. Of course, you're taking your life in your hands betting that they're genuine.

I get 81mg of aspirin OTC easily at my local pharmacy. I stopped taking it though under doctor's advice.

Try finding adult doses like 375 or 500 mg. In 15 years, I have found 375 mg one time at a pharmacy in a Foodland. The next time I looked (and every time after that), they only had 81 or 100 mg.

6 hours ago, Front Row said:

On the other hand you have to pay a small fortune for Ibuprofen in Thailand while in the USA a large bottle of the stuff is cheap as chalk.

It's 40 baht !

All drugs should be sold over the counter. Prescriptions are a scam to fund doctor's new boats! Blind Freddy can use Ai to read up on drugs. No need for these scamming doctors.

6 minutes ago, impulse said:

Except for the black market on, for example, Sukhumvit between Nana and Asoke. Of course, you're taking your life in your hands betting that they're genuine.

Try finding adult doses like 375 or 500 mg. In 15 years, I have found 375 mg one time at a pharmacy in a Foodland. The next time I looked (and every time after that), they only had 81 or 100 mg.

Multiplication is your friend. 81mg is or was the recommended dose for people with underlying heart problems.

Posts with excessive or lengthy AI content will be deleted!

I find Aspirin 81mg available very easily but they do like to limit the amount they will sell, with pharmacies as numerous as 7/11’s its not a problem .

Multiplication is your friend. 81mg is or was the recommended dose for people with underlying heart problems.

I'm looking at a Thai bottle of 81mg aspirin (Aspent-M), 60 tablets that's marked 55 baht. Bought it last month.

Back home, 500 mg aspirin can be bought at Walmart for around $0.015 per pill, in quantity. 325 mg can be bought for less than a penny.

Do that math. It's rather depressing, though.

5 hours ago, Keeenok Powell said:

I quite like how the Thai government treat us as adults and it is up to us to decide which meds are harmful.

Bugger all to do with treating you as an adult. They want your money and don't care if you get sick or croak (as long as you have insurance).

I use blood pressure meds that were prescribed for me by Dr Olivier when he was at the rear of Tukcom. That's 23 years ago and my blood pressure has been spot on ever since. I'll tell you one thing, I checked around Pattaya and my BP meds were the cheapest at Fascino 650 baht per month. I have a house in Nong Chok Bangkok but do my shopping in Minburi the pharmacy there charges me 335 baht for exactly the same meds. Thais business people in Pattaya think that we're all tourists and rip us off. Whereas the locals know I'm an expat and want my regular business. I always buy 3 months at a time and take them to Pattaya when I go to my condo.

2 hours ago, D Peter said:

No, not my experience

Here in Phuket the pharmacies in the shopping centers like Central are not allowed to sell aspirin, I tried one day so I went to them all, and got the same answer, once you leave and drive home I can get at any pharmacy,

If you live in Phuket the best place to buy any medication is Super Cheap, if you are in Phuket town and can get to the main place I think they have anything and everything, The Super Cheap in Chalong is the next biggest place, I have a dink of "Ensure" everyday it's the cheapest place to buy,

Getting an appointment to see a doctor is a nightmare in itself. Getting a diagnosis and then the correct medication is the next hurdle. So I self medicate. Just get the ex to give some of her stash of medications she gets sent from Thailand.

Towards the end of covid I was getting very mild nose bleeds every night. Impossible to see a doctor and too minor an illness anyway to bother the doctor during covid. Last year I had reason to contact the doctor for something else so I mentioned the nose bleeds. Ran a few checks, BP normal, blood clotting normal, everything normal. Got called in for a doctor to take a look. Now if I look in a magnifying mirror and shine a torch up my nose I can see some sort of damage to the nose lining. Go to the surgery, doctor looks up my nose and can't see anything. All that training and the doctor can't see what I could see in a mirror with a torch. Get referred to the local hospital and almost a year later get called in . I was in and out in less that 5 minutes. The ENT doctor saw immediately what the problem was and gave me prescription. The hospital doctor even said how dismayed he was that my own GP didn't prescribe the same medication. I had to say that the doctor looked up my nose and didn't see anything.

Do you understand why here in the UK we don't usually waste out time going to see a doctor when a course of Amoxycillin normally does the trick.

9 hours ago, Front Row said:

On the other hand you have to pay a small fortune for Ibuprofen in Thailand while in the USA a large bottle of the stuff is cheap as chalk.

Is 20thb for 10x400mg a small fortune for you?

3 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

All drugs should be sold over the counter. Prescriptions are a scam to fund doctor's new boats! Blind Freddy can use Ai to read up on drugs. No need for these scamming doctors.

Unfortunately, the above comment highlights that some people range from remarkably foolish to outrageously dumb.

If you accept everything AI tells you without applying an ounce of critical thought, you're doing an excellent job of proving the point.

Medicines are not risk-free simply because they're available over the counter. Many can interact with prescription drugs, worsen existing medical conditions, or reduce the effectiveness of other treatments.

That's precisely why many countries maintain centralised medical records, allowing healthcare professionals to see a patient's medical history, allergies, and current medications before prescribing or recommending additional treatment.

I'm generally in favour of being able to buy medication without unnecessary bureaucracy. However, yesterday was a good example of why a little humility matters. I could easily have bought treating medication (corticosteroid eyedrops) that could have made a condition worse - without proper assessment by an ophthalmologist I could not be sure and took the safer option - my initial assessment and choice of medication was correct - however, I have not spend x years at medical school.

So yes, antibiotics for a confirmed bacterial infection, absolutely - make it easy - but that still requires some medical understanding.... And... if someone is taking antibiotics for a cold, which is most likely viral, they're taking medication that won't treat the illness, while unnecessarily contributing to antibiotic resistance and exposing themselves to avoidable side effects.

Buying Xanax? No. It's heavily controlled in Thailand anyway so that converstation is a non-starter.

The real issue here isn't sedatives. The article really seems to focus on relatively easy access to weight loss drugs such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic, often over the counter or after only minimal assessment, for people wanting to lose weight.

In principle, I have no objection to intelligent, well-informed adults making that choice. But your AI comment highlights that "well-informed" is a highly subjective standard. Blindly accepting whatever AI tells you isn't being informed, it's outsourcing your judgement.

Shortcuts are being taken and, without proper medical oversight, the benefits don't always outweigh the risks. That, as I read it, is the crux of the article.

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I'm exactly the same. I thoroughly research a condition before seeing a doctor, and have done so for years.

I always make it clear that I've done some homework and apologise in advance for any "Google knowledge", but it's usually apparent quite quickly that I've developed more than a superficial understanding of the subject.

In my experience, good doctors appreciate informed discussion and sensible questions. I've had some fascinating conversations with GPs, surgeons and specialists in both the UK and Thailand about treatment options, surgical techniques and long-term management plans.

As for age, I generally prefer doctors in their mid-30s to around 50. They tend to have enough experience while still embracing new techniques, technology and current research.

A good example was my ligament reconstruction a few years ago. Before surgery I shared peer-reviewed research highlighting shortcomings in the standard bracing protocol and discussed alternative approaches. The surgeon, one of the best in Thailand in his field, was extremely receptive and even adapted part of his post-operative protocol.

Others have described him as arrogant, but I never saw that. I saw confidence, expertise and a willingness to engage in an informed discussion. I suspect the difference often lies in the quality of the questions being asked.

And I print it out for them.

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Unfortunately, the above comment highlights that some people range from remarkably foolish to outrageously dumb.

If you accept everything AI tells you without applying an ounce of critical thought, you're doing an excellent job of proving the point.

Medicines are not risk-free simply because they're available over the counter. Many can interact with prescription drugs, worsen existing medical conditions, or reduce the effectiveness of other treatments.

That's precisely why many countries maintain centralised medical records, allowing healthcare professionals to see a patient's medical history, allergies, and current medications before prescribing or recommending additional treatment.

I'm generally in favour of being able to buy medication without unnecessary bureaucracy. However, yesterday was a good example of why a little humility matters. I could easily have bought treating medication (corticosteroid eyedrops) that could have made a condition worse - without proper assessment by an ophthalmologist I could not be sure and took the safer option - my initial assessment and choice of medication was correct - however, I have not spend x years at medical school.

So yes, antibiotics for a confirmed bacterial infection, absolutely - make it easy - but that still requires some medical understanding.... And... if someone is taking antibiotics for a cold, which is most likely viral, they're taking medication that won't treat the illness, while unnecessarily contributing to antibiotic resistance and exposing themselves to avoidable side effects.

Buying Xanax? No. It's heavily controlled in Thailand anyway so that converstation is a non-starter.

The real issue here isn't sedatives. The article really seems to focus on relatively easy access to weight loss drugs such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic, often over the counter or after only minimal assessment, for people wanting to lose weight.

In principle, I have no objection to intelligent, well-informed adults making that choice. But your AI comment highlights that "well-informed" is a highly subjective standard. Blindly accepting whatever AI tells you isn't being informed, it's outsourcing your judgement.

Shortcuts are being taken and, without proper medical oversight, the benefits don't always outweigh the risks. That, as I read it, is the crux of the article.

Pharmacists are trained in drugs so really no need for a gp but people can go if they want or see a specialist.

Give people the choice if over 18.

I've learnt nothing from GPs. I educated an ignorant GP years ago on why zinc boosts your immune system as he had no idea.

Lucky we know have honest doctors on Youtube talking about fasting and creatine as most GPs are useless.

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

8 hours ago, Keeenok Powell said:

I quite like how the Thai government treat us as adults and it is up to us to decide which meds are harmful.

Bugger all to do with treating you as an adult. They want your money and don't care if you get sick or croak (as long as you have insurance).

I'd argue none of that.

The reality is that many medicines which should technically be prescription-only are readily available over the counter, simply because enforcement is inconsistent, and even non-existent - its just businesses selling stuff they can sell.

Curiously, medications containing codeine and the benzodiazepines seem to be far more tightly controlled. It's almost as though some restricted medicines are viewed as "that's fine", while others are an absolute "no chance"...

...Such is the wonderfully illogical dichotomy and enigma that is Thailand. Trying to find consistency in the reasoning is an exercise in futility.

Personally, I rather like it the way it is. I'm certainly happier buying many medications myself than paying hospital pharmacy prices, which can be several times higher. Even at major hospitals, I'll often tell the doctor I already have the medication at home, or simply say, quite honestly, that the hospital pharmacy is a rip-off and I'll buy it elsewhere - they always agree !

But I also understand why this might raise eyebrows from a medical perspective.

3 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

I find Aspirin 81mg available very easily but they do like to limit the amount they will sell, with pharmacies as numerous as 7/11’s its not a problem .

I buy cardiprin (100mg ) without any restrictions.

10 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

And I print it out for them.

To be fair, a couple of the physicians I've dealt with following some fairly serious medical incidents have been exceptional. They were familiar with the medical literature I'd read, happy to discuss it, and willing to explain their reasoning. Had they not been, or if I hadn't felt confident in their judgement, I'd have sought a second opinion without hesitation.

In the past - I have walked out (or rather) had myself wheeled out 'mid-consultation' after recognising the physician to be lazy or simply disagreeable.

Around ten years ago when my young son became seriously unwell. The first paediatrician we saw was, frankly, poor. The questions being asked suggested not just inexperience, but a lack of logical clinical reasoning. I stopped the consultation and requested a more senior paediatrician. My priority was my son, not courtesy.

The difference was extraordinary. The senior Paediatrician was an outstanding clinicians. We discussed treatment options, debated the pros and cons, considered contingency plans and decision trees. Her knowledge, critical thinking and genuine care were obvious. I'm only a layman, but I could immediately recognise brilliance. A decade later, I still remember her name.

My advice to anyone is simple: trust your doctor, but don't surrender your judgement. If you have some understanding, ask sensible questions. If something doesn't feel right, seek a second opinion. Good doctors welcome informed patients.

This does drift away from the original discussion about buying medication, i.e. Wegovy over the counter, but it illustrates a broader point. In Thailand, patients often need to take a more active role in understanding their treatment. The standard of care can range from average to exceptional, and being informed enough to ask good questions is rarely a disadvantage.

It's no different in my own profession. I enjoy it when junior colleagues challenge me. Some questions are naïve, some are excellent, but the best ones expose something I hadn't considered. That's how all professionals improve. None of us knows everything.

As for medication, I remain cautious about taking more than is genuinely necessary. Thailand has a reputation for prescribing generously, and on one occasion I was given a substantial amount of codeine-based pain relief. I used very little of it because I didn't feel I needed it. I managed my pain in other ways where 'I felt' appropriate rather than relying solely on opioid medication. i.e. booze, marijuana and Krathom - all effective at pain relief - all with their own risks too.

That was my personal decision, but it also reflects why I think patients should understand both the benefits and the risks of any treatment they're given and also what medications they are purchasing over counter.