Buying antibiotics without prescription

[topswijaya]

Dear all,

 

Can I buy amoxicillin or streptomycin ( generic or non generic) without prescription?

 

Thanks

[transam]

Where I am, yes....

[ThailandRyan]

Any Pharmacy can provide you with Amoxicillin and such antibiotics.  Just need to walk in and ask.  I just refilled my medical container today by picking up some more Amoxcil, Relpax (for migraines) Augmentin, Zithromax and Voltaren (NSAID) along with all my Diabetic meds....all over the counter. 

[Ohyesuare]

Yes, many pharmacists will give you a baggie of a ton of them just when you have a cold even though antibiotics are only good for bacteria and not viruses.

[cyril sneer]

all pharmacies sell them, both a good and bad thing

 

avoid the quinolones 

[KhunBENQ]

43 minutes ago, transam said:

Where I am, yes....

About everywhere.

31 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

avoid the quinolones 

Agree. But even these put on the counter without hesitation.

[CharlieH]

MOVED To Health & Medicine

[FritsSikkink]

Yes, bought 2 different brands of Amoxicillin 500 mg. at a local pharmacy this month. 

First brand 20 pills for 80 thb, second one 20 pills for 50 thb. 

[BritManToo]

Why stop with the older more common drugs?

I buy Cipro 500 all the time, 100bht for 10 tabs.

And my latest find Norfloxacin 400, 80bht for 10 tabs (banned in the UK as too dangerous).

I like the Quinolones, cheap and very effective.

 

Generally if you name it, a Thai pharmacist will probably sell it to you.

Edited May 30, 2022 by BritManToo

[Sheryl]

Amoxicillin and other oral antibiotics, yes.

 

Streptomycin (an injectable reserved for use to a few serious conditions of public health importance e.g. plague and sometimes TB) no.

 

Why would you be wanting Streptomycin?  There is no situation I can think of where it would be at all safe or advisable to self prescribe this.

[internationalism]

I use to be able to buy streptomycin 5g, vancomycin 500mg in vials, also rifampicyn 300 and 600mg in pills. Since covid time no more. 
Anybody knows where they are still available, any form and potency?

sometimes i have friends from europe asking for them. They dont inject, but take this powders orally or make from them cream for skin problems or wounds. That's because in their countries they are not available in those forms. 
Are they available in neighbouring countries?

Edited June 1, 2022 by internationalism

[Sheryl]

57 minutes ago, internationalism said:

I use to be able to buy streptomycin 5g, vancomycin 500mg in vials, also rifampicyn 300 and 600mg in pills. Since covid time no more. 
Anybody knows where they are still available, any form and potency?

sometimes i have friends from europe asking for them. They dont inject, but take this powders orally or make from them cream for skin problems or wounds. That's because in their countries they are not available in those forms. 
Are they available in neighbouring countries?

 

AFAIK not over the counter. Especially not rifampacin and streptomycin due to  use in TB and concerns abut TB resistance.

 

Possibly you might find a distributor in Phnom Penh willing to sell vanco, but no guaranatee.

 

[lopburi3]

On 5/30/2022 at 3:41 PM, BritManToo said:

I like the Quinolones, cheap and very effective.

And also very dangerous for many people - the reason they are considered emergency use last resort medication (like biological war) in most countries.  Should not be used because cheap. 

[Lorry]

On 6/2/2022 at 8:21 AM, lopburi3 said:

And also very dangerous for many people - the reason they are considered emergency use last resort medication (like biological war) in most countries.  Should not be used because cheap. 

No, they are not used as last resort.

On the contrary,  they used to be first line antibiotics for many conditions.  But that has changed a bit because of resistances and side effects.

 

Old people (i.e. most TV posters) experience more side effects from quinolones.

[ChaiyaTH]

You can get anything you want, worst case just pay a doctor for whatever even.

[The Hammer2021]

On 5/30/2022 at 1:02 PM, ThailandRyan said:

Any Pharmacy can provide you with Amoxicillin and such antibiotics.  Just need to walk in and ask.  I just refilled my medical container today by picking up some more Amoxcil, Relpax (for migraines) Augmentin, Zithromax and Voltaren (NSAID) along with all my Diabetic meds....all over the counter. 

Wow!

[The Hammer2021]

On 6/1/2022 at 5:10 PM, internationalism said:

I use to be able to buy streptomycin 5g, vancomycin 500mg in vials, also rifampicyn 300 and 600mg in pills. Since covid time no more. 
Anybody knows where they are still available, any form and potency?

sometimes i have friends from europe asking for them. They dont inject, but take this powders orally or make from them cream for skin problems or wounds. That's because in their countries they are not available in those forms. 
Are they available in neighbouring countries?

Go to a doctor for appropriate medcine! Buy real antibiotic cream or powder!

[lopburi3]

9 hours ago, Lorry said:

But that has changed a bit because of resistances and side effects.

Yes, it has changed a lot - they are not normally used unless required today.  This is due to both side effects (admittedly unlikely but can be very serious) and more important overuse and bacteria becoming resistant (as these are the last ditch drugs for treatment).  In no case should anyone be taking on there own as it appears some of us may be doing.

 

And yes I am old - but it is the only drug I have ever had serious reaction from.  As Cipro can cause a lifetime of hurt would not be taking as first choice at any age when it is not required.  There are safer drugs for most things.

[Lorry]

13 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

these are the last ditch drugs for treatment

As I said,  they are not

 

13 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Cipro can cause a lifetime of hurt

Yes.

[dddave]

There are a number of local copies of Squibbs very popular AUGMENTIN, basically amoxicillin with clavulanic acid. 

While Augmentin usually costs B2000+ for 10 1000mg tablets (5 day course), local brands with the same formulation: CLAVAMOX, AMOXILAV, AMK and several more are B250+ for the same quantity.  There is also a 600mg version available.

[BritManToo]

On 6/3/2022 at 11:09 PM, Lorry said:

Old people (i.e. most TV posters) experience more side effects from quinolones.

I'm 66, tried 3 different Quinolones in the recent past, so far no negative effects.

(barring slightly achy Achilles tendons, fixed by not exercising while taking the drugs)

[Lorry]

9 hours ago, dddave said:

There are a number of local copies of Squibbs very popular AUGMENTIN, basically amoxicillin with clavulanic acid. 

While Augmentin usually costs B2000+ for 10 1000mg tablets (5 day course), local brands with the same formulation: CLAVAMOX, AMOXILAV, AMK and several more are B250+ for the same quantity.  There is also a 600mg version available.

AMK at GPO (eg at CW) 1000mg 140B

 

Beware: this is NOT interchangeable with Ciprofloxacin or other quinolones. Different indications. Not all antibiotics are the same 

[connda]

On 5/30/2022 at 3:41 PM, BritManToo said:

Why stop with the older more common drugs?

I buy Cipro 500 all the time, 100bht for 10 tabs.

And my latest find Norfloxacin 400, 80bht for 10 tabs (banned in the UK as too dangerous).

I like the Quinolones, cheap and very effective.

 

Generally if you name it, a Thai pharmacist will probably sell it to you.

How's your knees, joints, and tendons?

[BritManToo]

Just now, connda said:

How's your knees, joints, and tendons?

All great, a little arthritis in my knuckles, but I've had that since my mid-40s.

Walked 8Km yesterday, and painted the 2nd story exterior of the back of my house.

Maybe too tired today for the second coat.

[redwood1]

Any drug your looking for in Pattaya, your first stop should be Fascino

branch North Pattaya.....That place is the mother load, for finding medication..They know their stuff....

 

#2 In my opinion would be a pharmacy right on the corner of Soi Bukow and Soi Pot hole......Very well stocked pharmacy.....

Edited June 5, 2022 by redwood1

[KhunLA]

Yes, Amoxy & Cipro, as mentioned, are readily available, and other stronger ones if needed.   Do try to let your immune system do its job for a few days, as the antibiotics will also kill the good bacteria in your digestive system.   Which you can restore with probiotics supplements or diet, if eating the right things, though takes a bit longer.

 

Also if it's viral, no antibiotic will help.  May want to simply treat the symptoms the first few days.

 

Thai generics are much cheaper than any name brand.  Both amoxy & cipro should be <฿100 for 10 tab bubble pack.  Even in the ฿30-40-50 range, depending where purchased from.

 

Larger Lotus's have a small pharmacy in them.  Also Boots & Watson's will have pharmacies in them.   May be a little more expensive than 'Thai' neighborhood ma/pa pharmacy, but way better than getting Farang priced at expat / tourist catering rip off places.

Edited June 5, 2022 by KhunLA

[internationalism]

On 6/3/2022 at 11:31 PM, The Hammer2021 said:

Go to a doctor for appropriate medcine! Buy real antibiotic cream or powder!

I have explained, they are not for me, but for friends in europe. They are not available there in any form. That's why they are making creams by themselves. 
Getting prescription in europe is problematic, waiting time for a specialist appointment, need for tests, check ups as well as limited supply on prescription, pushes many to make shortcuts. Especially, if they had already an earlier prescription which has worked well for them

[The Hammer2021]

2 hours ago, internationalism said:

I have explained, they are not for me, but for friends in europe. They are not available there in any form. That's why they are making creams by themselves. 
Getting prescription in europe is problematic, waiting time for a specialist appointment, need for tests, check ups as well as limited supply on prescription, pushes many to make shortcuts. Especially, if they had already an earlier prescription which has worked well for them

What you call 'problematic' is correct  legal, medical procedure when dealing with potentially  dangerous  drugs!

Are you  suggesting exporting/importing these  controlled  drugs,?

Although  there can be  delays  in getting appointments in 'Europe' you can get an immediate  appointment by going private or possible  AnE .

What you are proposing sounds illegal, dangerous and unhygienic.

Something doesn't ring true:

buying drugs in Thailand to export, possibly illegally, to Europe,  to reconstitute the drugs into a form for which the  were not dedigned! To apply them to the body in way they were not designed  for! Instead of going to a doctor in Europe to get an examination and receive the appropriate medicine. What you are proposing is illegal. 

Hhhhmmm!

Edited June 5, 2022 by The Hammer2021

[internationalism]

Get over it, pal, stop using patronising tone and stop using explanation marks in discussion. Vent your anger at muay thai or whatever. Your level of discussion is on a hammer level, not that sophisticated tool. And derailed topic, on top of it. 
Not many in europe have private insurance. Going private, that includes also tests, is expensive. Both options are beyond means of the majority. That's why people in europe do import privately medicines from thailand and asia. 
Don't bother replying

 

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, internationalism said:

Get over it, pal, stop using patronising tone and stop using explanation marks in discussion. Vent your anger at muay thai or whatever. Your level of discussion is on a hammer level, not that sophisticated tool. And derailed topic, on top of it. 
Not many in europe have private insurance. Going private, that includes also tests, is expensive. Both options are beyond means of the majority. That's why people in europe do import privately medicines from thailand and asia. 
Don't bother replying

You may want to suggest your friends shop online, instead of you dealing controlled substance across borders.   A bit illegal, and actually isn't supposed to be discussed on the forum.

 

Might want to download & start now, a 'go fund me' for bail & legal fees.  Always good to get a headstart on these things.