Uk prescription only medicines (Trt) in Thailand

[rwill]

Prescriptions are not used in Thailand.  Controlled medicines you have to get at a hospital and pay to see the doctor.  They don't have refills.  When your medicine runs out you have to see the doctor again.  Lots of drugs you can get at local pharmacies just by walking in and asking for it.  You may be able to find pharmacies that do sell controlled items, as others have mentioned.

[polpott]

Just now, 4MyEgo said:

Yes I recently had to find alternatives for my prescription meds that I would bring over from overseas, usually a years supply at a time, not allowed, rule is no more than 30 days at a time,

I have never heard of that rule being enforced. I exceed that limit routinely, have done for a number of years. Never a problem.

[Dazinoz]

I was on an antidepressant in Australia. The doctor when first prescribed needed to contact a government department to get an authorisation number to prescribe. That was about 10 years ago so not sure if same.

 

When I came here i saw a doctor at RAM hospital  who prescribed it for me. This medicine was supplied by the hospital Pharmacy at 2800 baht for 1 month supply. I then shopped around and found I could buy direct from most pharmacies for around 1400. I found 1 at 1100 baht. The first place I went to to buy over counter without prescription just said you obviously know what you want and asked if I used before and received my tablets.

[Chongalulu]

On 4/6/2021 at 4:40 PM, polpott said:

I get a repeat prescription every 8 weeks from my GP in the UK. It gets sent to a designated pharmacy where a friend picks it up for me, parcels it up and posts it to me in Thailand. Been doing that for several years without a problem.

Interesting- I’ve thought of doing that although I can obtain my hypertension tablets easily over the counter here so benefits would be purely financial . My daughter has already stockpiled 3 months supply in uk. What is the cost of a small parcel to Thailand and how long does it take to arrive...and does it always arrive ?

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, polpott said:

I have never heard of that rule being enforced. I exceed that limit routinely, have done for a number of years. Never a problem.

 

Never been stopped entering so no enforcement, then again, wouldn't want to try and please explain, they are for me, yeh, 30 days only, pay taxes on additional amounts for sure.

 

As we are a family of 6, the kids have some in their bags, so does mum and myself, so they are evened out.

[unblocktheplanet]

On 4/6/2021 at 4:51 PM, steve187 said:

what method of posting, and what is written on any customs forms, please

Unfortunately, I'm prescribed meds by a Canadian doc which are not dispensed in Thailand. My daughter sends these by normal airmail. Customs declaration reads, "Prescriprion medication by doctor" with an amount less than $50. So far, either Customs has not wanted the hassle or has missed them. Maybe I've just been lucky. The key factor is to make it look inconspicuous, no big round, rattly pill bottles. Discretion goes a long way in this country. Of course, NEVER use couriers hut I think such a parcel with tracking would get through.

[eezergood]

16 hours ago, LeeUklondon said:

Yes. Trt is all he does, so he has a lot of experience. Most nhs doctors have no clue about trt. 

 

And most of the private clinics rip tou iff on medication as it’s a controlled substance they know you can only get it from them. He gives you the meds at cost, makes his money on consultation only

Most Drs in general have no idea about TRT

[Fairynuff]

On 4/6/2021 at 7:26 PM, polpott said:

Use Post Office "track and trace". Well parceled with destination address (no need to use any Thai) senders address and parcel clearly labelled "prescription medicines". In all the years I've been doing it I've never had a problem with customs and never even had a parcel opened. They're allegedly x-rayed but mine includes packs containing needles and syringes and still no problems.

In other similar threads people have said never put any form of medication as parcel contents. I’m not saying you’re wrong but surprised that it seems to be ok.

[scorecard]

On 4/6/2021 at 7:40 PM, polpott said:

I get a repeat prescription every 8 weeks from my GP in the UK. It gets sent to a designated pharmacy where a friend picks it up for me, parcels it up and posts it to me in Thailand. Been doing that for several years without a problem.

And the reality is that for a vast number of medicines you can walk into pharmacies all over Thailand, name your medicine, pay the bill and walk out, no other discussion. 

[chilly07]

Finding a doctor in Thailand is easy  but you will have to get your first prescription from the hospital they work in after which you can get repeat meds from a pharmacy such as Fascino thus saving money

[polpott]

1 hour ago, nchuckle said:

Interesting- I’ve thought of doing that although I can obtain my hypertension tablets easily over the counter here so benefits would be purely financial . My daughter has already stockpiled 3 months supply in uk. What is the cost of a small parcel to Thailand and how long does it take to arrive...and does it always arrive ?

I receive a shoebox sized parcel containing 6 different medications. Its convenient for me to send 2 prescriptions at a time, 16 weeks supply. Cost iro £20. In normal times it arrives in a week. Since Covid it has arrived between times of 5 days and one month. Currently around 2 weeks. It has never failed to arrive.

[polpott]

43 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

In other similar threads people have said never put any form of medication as parcel contents. I’m not saying you’re wrong but surprised that it seems to be ok.

Most of what you read on TV is boIIocks. My posts aren't. (Well not the ones on this thread at any rate 555).

 

 

Edited April 14, 2021 by polpott

[LeeUklondon]

5 hours ago, eezergood said:

Most Drs in general have no idea about TRT

I was very surprised. I thought our legendary nhs would be chocfull of knowledgeable doctors. A the nhs it is very difficult to get trt and B if you do get it it is a <deleted> protocol that most likely will not work. They give you anti depressants instead. 

 

No no wonder many people self medicate or go private.

Edited April 14, 2021 by LeeUklondon

[natway09]

90% of medications you get a script for in the UK can be purchesed across the counter from big pharmacies (or a derivitive of).

Obviously they are not free but are reasonably priced in particular the Thai derivitives.

EG; Plavix. 900 Bht for 10  , Apo;ets 600 Bht for 30 (actually made in Canada)

[Fairynuff]

3 hours ago, polpott said:

Most of what you read on TV is boIIocks. My posts aren't. (Well not the ones on this thread at any rate 555).

 

 

Ok, so in future anything I want to know about anything, I’ll just ask you directly.

[polpott]

Just now, Fairynuff said:

Ok, so in future anything I want to know about anything, I’ll just ask you directly.

it would be the smart thing to do rather than listening to some TV no-mark.

 

 

Edited April 14, 2021 by polpott

[BenDeCosta]

It seems that in Thailand, each pharmacy applies the rules in a different way. I've been refused dimenhydrinate in a pharmacy before and told to go to a doctor, it's a non-narcotic simple antihistamine used for travel sickness, but I find it helps me sleep. And then you can cross the road and go to another pharmacy that'll sell you anabolic steroids, diazepam, sleeping pills, tramadol, you name it. There is no consistency. Once I was feeling extremely rough in Khao San Road and went into a pharmacy in Soi Rambuttri, and the person who I assumed was a pharmacist was a rotund Indian-looking guy who offered to sell me buprenorphine for a headache, which is something used in the UK for heroin withdrawal. The mind boggles sometimes.

[eezergood]

2 hours ago, LeeUklondon said:

I was very surprised. I thought our legendary nhs would be chocfull of knowledgeable doctors. A the nhs it is very difficult to get trt and B if you do get it it is a <deleted> protocol that most likely will not work. They give you anti depressants instead. 

 

No no wonder many people self medicate or go private.

Its just not part of their remit, nor is it really taught. 

 

Band-aid solutions, not looking at the core of the problem. 

[LeeUklondon]

No, I understand completely. When I went to my gp with a frozen shoulder years ago. He told me to do all the same tests the physio did. I remember thinking how goes this guy now about this, and heart drugs, and antidepressants, and sinusitis......and hrt and trt. It is just too much for one person to know. 

 

Mind you the specialists (endos) don’t seem to know either.....

[Andycoops]

A friend of mine, took his UK prescription to a local hospital along with a letter from his doctor which they accepted and he continued to receive his meds from them without any problems.

He of course had to pay.

[eezergood]

3 hours ago, Andycoops said:

A friend of mine, took his UK prescription to a local hospital along with a letter from his doctor which they accepted and he continued to receive his meds from them without any problems.

He of course had to pay.

He could have taken a deck or cards, as long as he paid he would continue to get them. 

[Sheryl]

Having a prescription from home country greatly increases the chance of getting a prescription here., especially for things Thai doctors do not very readily dispense and TRT falls into that category.

[eezergood]

On 4/15/2021 at 12:30 PM, Sheryl said:

Having a prescription from home country greatly increases the chance of getting a prescription here., especially for things Thai doctors do not very readily dispense and TRT falls into that category.

I can buy Testosterone from a variety of chemists without prescription.

 

This guys case is (no unheard of I agree) but reasonably unique in his requirement. 

 

not trying to start an argument also, but TRT normally only requires testosterone