Prescription drugs

[zenobit]

We all know these small clinics where you usually go to get medical certificates for immigration or the Land Transport Department easily, quickly and cheaply.

In Pattaya, for example, there is such a mini clinic on Soi Nern Plub Wan.

 

Now my question: Are these types of clinics also allowed to issue prescriptions for prescription drugs, or do you have to go to a state or private hospital for this if necessary? ????

[lopburi3]

Not sure about need for med certificate for immigration and avoid small clinics like the plague -  but most medications are not subject to any prescription in Thailand, although some will require a registered pharmacist to dispense.  The few that are actually controlled would require dispensing by a hospital on doctors order.

[Sheryl]

As above, most drugs in Thailand do not require a prescription

 

The few that do (mostly narcotics, psychotropics and steroids) in some cases can only be gotten from a hospital. In other cases, a clinic can  dispense if they have the necessary licenses and maintain the required records.

[zenobit]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

As above, most drugs in Thailand do not require a prescription

Doesn't necessarily correspond to my experience, but I don't mean drugs like Paracetamol, Otrivin or Tiger Balm either.
One example: I suffer from chronic back pain, which I use Ibuprofen to treat when it gets too bad. On a few days, however, the pain is so severe that I have to resort to Tramadol.

 

Up until last year, I was able to get Tramadol in numerous pharmacies without any problems ... now all of a sudden they want to see a prescription for it. But since I don't want to spend half a day in a state hospital only for a prescription for the drug of my choice, nor do I want to pay large sums for an unnecessary conversation in a private hospital, I thought a small clinic would be an uncomplicated solution here. But it seems that I can probably forget that. ????

[Sheryl]

Tramadol does NOT require a prescription. However pharmacies have to keep records of all sales and some do not want to bother. In addition, they will often hesitate to sell it to anyone they well uneasy about for any reason (the drug is receationally abused in Thailand)

 

Usually easier to get tramadol + paracetemol combination (Ultracet)

 

Maybe indicate where in Thailand you are so people can suggest a pharmacy

[Farma]

In addition some pharmacies are being extra careful after checks were recently made by undercover CIB police to ensure pharmacies were following the rules. I believe 127 were caught out.

 

Some of the medicines requested by these police were tramadol, Viagra and postinor. 

[bkk6060]

14 minutes ago, Farma said:

In addition some pharmacies are being extra careful after checks were recently made by undercover CIB police to ensure pharmacies were following the rules. I believe 127 were caught out.

 

Some of the medicines requested by these police were tramadol, Viagra and postinor. 

From what I read it was because the Pharmacy did not have a qualified Pharmacist representing the place.  From my knowledge, it had nothing to do with the particular medicines being dispensed but the non certified person dispensing them.

[Farma]

21 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

From what I read it was because the Pharmacy did not have a qualified Pharmacist representing the place.  From my knowledge, it had nothing to do with the particular medicines being dispensed but the non certified person dispensing them.

Speaking to a pharmacist friend who was subject to these checks.

A pharmacist is not necessarily present all the time especially in smaller pharmacies.

First attempt was asking for Viagra, a prescription med, while the pharmacist was present. A further attempt was made asking for a pharmacist issued med when they knew the pharmacist was not present.

Other pharmacists reported similar checks.

[connda]

2 hours ago, zenobit said:

Doesn't necessarily correspond to my experience, but I don't mean drugs like Paracetamol, Otrivin or Tiger Balm either.
One example: I suffer from chronic back pain, which I use Ibuprofen to treat when it gets too bad. On a few days, however, the pain is so severe that I have to resort to Tramadol.

 

Up until last year, I was able to get Tramadol in numerous pharmacies without any problems ... now all of a sudden they want to see a prescription for it. But since I don't want to spend half a day in a state hospital only for a prescription for the drug of my choice, nor do I want to pay large sums for an unnecessary conversation in a private hospital, I thought a small clinic would be an uncomplicated solution here. But it seems that I can probably forget that. ????

You can find Orphenadrine over the counter as a muscle relaxer for back issue.  Ultracet (325mg Para/37.5 Tramadol) is widely available.  You just need to sign a form for it.  Easy to buy a couple of boxes without any drama.

[zenobit]

6 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Tramadol does NOT require a prescription. However pharmacies have to keep records of all sales and some do not want to bother. In addition, they will often hesitate to sell it to anyone they well uneasy about for any reason (the drug is receationally abused in Thailand)

 

Usually easier to get tramadol + paracetemol combination (Ultracet)

 

Maybe indicate where in Thailand you are so people can suggest a pharmacy

1. I can only say that I have tried my luck in eight pharmacies in Pattaya and have been told "prescription only" eight times. In three of these pharmacies I used to get Tramadol without a prescription without any problems.

 

2. Ultracet is the alternative that was offered to me. After a test no longer bought. The drug works for me in a similar way to ibuprofen, but not nearly as well as tramadol 50 mg.

 

3. I live in Pattaya (Darkside)

[zenobit]

6 hours ago, Farma said:

In addition some pharmacies are being extra careful after checks were recently made by undercover CIB police to ensure pharmacies were following the rules. I believe 127 were caught out.

 

Some of the medicines requested by these police were tramadol, Viagra and postinor. 

That would explain why I no longer get Tramadol 

[zenobit]

5 hours ago, connda said:

You can find Orphenadrine over the counter as a muscle relaxer for back issue.  Ultracet (325mg Para/37.5 Tramadol) is widely available.  You just need to sign a form for it.  Easy to buy a couple of boxes without any drama.

Thank you for the recommendation. I will test orphenadrine as soon as possible. 

Ultracet is not what I expected. It works for me not better than Ibuprofen.

[SheikYabodyline]

Like every crackdown that has ever happened in Thailand, give it a few weeks of people keeping their heads down and what you desire will become available again. If you require regular or repeat orders it's worth cultivating a pharmacist for the long term - a Chinese New Year gift to the head man might kick things off?

[Sheryl]

17 hours ago, Farma said:

Speaking to a pharmacist friend who was subject to these checks.

A pharmacist is not necessarily present all the time especially in smaller pharmacies.

First attempt was asking for Viagra, a prescription med, while the pharmacist was present. A further attempt was made asking for a pharmacist issued med when they knew the pharmacist was not present.

Other pharmacists reported similar checks.

 

I would go a step further and say that a qualified pharmacist is usually not present at many smaller pharmacies.

 

However by law all medications that are FDA class "D" -- which is almost everything behind the counter other than tiger balm and paracetemol etc - require that:

 

"A first grade pharmacist shall be on duty at the premises selling modern drugs, at all times, while the premises are open for operation. Daily purchase and sale record required."

 

If strictly applied across the board this would justify the closure of the majority of small (nin-chain) pharmacies across the country.

 

In practice, it is enforced selectively, for certain drugs which are of concern for one reason or another. Tramadol is one of these. 

 

Hence pharmacies which do not always have a first grade pharmacist on duty, as well as any pharmacies which don't want to deal with the required record keeping, have largely stopped selling Tramadol. Nothing to do with needing a prescription.

 

OP - In Pattaya try Fascino's, main branch.

 

 

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, zenobit said:

1. I can only say that I have tried my luck in eight pharmacies in Pattaya and have been told "prescription only" eight times. In three of these pharmacies I used to get Tramadol without a prescription without any problems.

 

2. Ultracet is the alternative that was offered to me. After a test no longer bought. The drug works for me in a similar way to ibuprofen, but not nearly as well as tramadol 50 mg.

 

3. I live in Pattaya (Darkside)

Ultracet contains  37.5 mg of tramadol plus 325 mg  paracetamol.

 

2 tablets of Ultracet should be as good or better than 50 mg plain Tramadol.

 

[PoodThaiMaiDai]

I found this site for a few of my USA prescriptions I receive.

 

BangkokDrugstore.com

 

This allows me to bring what I can from the USA but fill in the gaps without a subscription on some of these items.

[In Full Agreement]

18 minutes ago, PoodThaiMaiDai said:

I found this site for a few of my USA prescriptions I receive.

 

BangkokDrugstore.com

 

This allows me to bring what I can from the USA but fill in the gaps without a subscription on some of these items.

 

Just did a search on BangkokDrugstore.com and site say nothing found for Tramadol but good link nevertheless.

 

[PoodThaiMaiDai]

Just now, In Full Agreement said:

 

Just did a search on BangkokDrugstore.com and site say nothing found for Tramadol but good link nevertheless.

 

Yes, they do not have everything but I can get things cheaper than at a few of the pharmacists in Pattaya that take care of some of us.

 

Plus the shipping is very cheap.

 

Easy to transfer baht and it arrives in about 2-3 days.

[LosLobo]

20 minutes ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

Just did a search on BangkokDrugstore.com and site say nothing found for Tramadol but good link nevertheless.

 

Their website only shows a portion of what they have in stock.

What they don't have in stock they can usually order in.

You really need to phone them, their English is quite good.

[PoodThaiMaiDai]

10 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

Their website only shows a portion of what they have in stock.

What they don't have in stock they can usually order in.

You really need to phone them, their English is quite good.

Good to know.  Thanks

[zenobit]

On 2/2/2022 at 6:21 AM, Sheryl said:

OP - In Pattaya try Fascino's, main branch.

I did ... no Tramadol, only Ultracet.

[zenobit]

On 2/2/2022 at 6:23 AM, Sheryl said:

Ultracet contains  37.5 mg of tramadol plus 325 mg  paracetamol.

 

2 tablets of Ultracet should be as good or better than 50 mg plain Tramadol.

 

True, but I don't normally use Paracetamol, and I don't want to have to take it as a "bonus" when I'm take another pain reliever.