Four illegally run pharmacies raided in Bangkok - caught dispensing "Tramadol" cocktail to youth

[webfact]

Daily News Thai Caption:  Fake Pharma!

 

Daily News reported that four pharmacies in the Bangkok area had been raided after complaints of illegal activity from the Food and Drug Administration.

 

The pharmacies were dispensing the powerful pain killer Tramadol along with cough syrup, anti-allergy meds and other pain killers.

 

These are used by young people especially to create a powerful and dangerous "high".

 

Tramadol - a yellow and green capsule - is usually restricted in quantity though it is an over the counter med, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Police from the Consumer Protection Division seized thousands of bottles and strips of the medicines worth 200,000 baht.

 

Pharmacists in Lat Krabang, Bangkapi, Chatuchak and Bang Khen were charged with not having licences and dispensing dangerous drugs without a qualified pharmacist being present. 

 

The media said the drugs were mixed with narcotics on a "4x100" basis. 

 

Senior police and FDA officials announced the busts at a press conference at the Crime Suppression Division HQ in the Thai capital yesterday. 

 

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[JayClay]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Tramadol - a yellow and green capsule - is usually restricted in quantity though it is an over the counter med, notes ASEAN NOW

When did that happen?

[lujanit]

I suffer with sciatica, Tramadol is the only OTC medication that helps.  So it does have a legitimate place.  There appears to be some surgery that can ‘fix’ it.  My MIL had it and she ended up in more pain than before the surgery.  Back to hospital to remove the insert.  The hospital even charged her although it was their mistake.

[wombat]

3 hours ago, JayClay said:

When did that happen?

always has been

[ukrules]

My mother got some Tramadol once for an issue with her back, something to do with inflammation between two discs.

 

After a few days she threw it away and vowed never to take it again, she said she was 'all over the place' with it - it messed with her mind and she would rather have the pain than continue to take it.

 

A bit extreme I thought - surely there would be a lower dose to try instead of rejecting it outright but she was adamant and to this day has never touched it again even though she still has back pain issues.

 

[Nip]

3 hours ago, lujanit said:

I suffer with sciatica, Tramadol is the only OTC medication that helps.  So it does have a legitimate place.  There appears to be some surgery that can ‘fix’ it.  My MIL had it and she ended up in more pain than before the surgery.  Back to hospital to remove the insert.  The hospital even charged her although it was their mistake.

I too suffer with sciatica and was on Tramadol for 3 years. It supposedly has c up to 11 % of heroin. I became addicted and depressed when I tried to stop taking it. Took me 4 months to come down. It reduces the pain but the addiction is life changing. 

[JayClay]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

always has been

I was under the impression it was a controlled drug. I've certainly been refused it in the past without a prescription. Not often, of course, TIT, but I was definitely told by pharmacists at the times that I either had to go to a hospital, or do without.

[Aussieroaming]

Tramadol is too strong for OTC I think, based on my experience with it. 

 

I liked the old days when you could get panadeine Forte OTC, much better for general pain relief. 

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Pharmacists in Lat Krabang, Bangkapi, Chatuchak and Bang Khen were charged with not having licences and dispensing dangerous drugs without a qualified pharmacist being present

Not having licenses?

How in gods name do these places open up for business without attracting the attention of local officials?

Rhetorical.

[MrJ2U]

Over the counter synthetic Opiods?

 

That's going to be a bigger problem than Yaba if this continues without restriction.

[proton]

1 minute ago, MrJ2U said:

Over the counter synthetic Opiods?

 

That's going to be a bigger problem than Yaba if this continues without restriction.

Nonsense, Tramadol is nothing like Yaba been taking it sporadically for years, helps with the pain of going shopping with the mrs! Seems impossible to get in Bkk except with paracetamol. It's a good painkiller and mood enhancer.

[MrJ2U]

1 hour ago, proton said:

Nonsense, Tramadol is nothing like Yaba been taking it sporadically for years, helps with the pain of going shopping with the mrs! Seems impossible to get in Bkk except with paracetamol. It's a good painkiller and mood enhancer.

Opiates over the counter isn't a good idea. 

 

Self medicating is an early sign of addiction.

 

Get some help. 

 

Denial is your worst enemy. 

 

"Tramadol Addiction And Abuse"

 

https://www.addictioncenter.com/opiates/tramadol/

 

"Tramadol is a pain medication that carries a risk of misuse and addiction. However, it is generally safer than many other controlled substances."

 

https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/prescription/what-is-tramadol

 

 

[Neeranam]

On 12/24/2022 at 10:10 AM, JayClay said:

When did that happen?

Over 10 years ago. Tramadol should NOT be taken for more than 10 days, it's highly addictive. 

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, proton said:

Nonsense, Tramadol is nothing like Yaba been taking it sporadically for years, helps with the pain of going shopping with the mrs! Seems impossible to get in Bkk except with paracetamol. It's a good painkiller and mood enhancer.

Have you tried coming off it? I have and it is similar to coming off heroin. 

[Neeranam]

21 hours ago, ukrules said:

My mother got some Tramadol once for an issue with her back, something to do with inflammation between two discs.

 

After a few days she threw it away and vowed never to take it again, she said she was 'all over the place' with it - it messed with her mind and she would rather have the pain than continue to take it.

 

A bit extreme I thought - surely there would be a lower dose to try instead of rejecting it outright but she was adamant and to this day has never touched it again even though she still has back pain issues.

 

Similar to me when I took it for a broken rib. 

[proton]

10 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Have you tried coming off it? I have and it is similar to coming off heroin. 

Not for me, only some people get addicted. Took valium in the 70's for 2 years just stopped. Was on prozac 17 years ago just stoped overnight, never any withdrawal symptoms for anything. Heroin I have no experience of.

[KannikaP]

15 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Have you tried coming off it? I have and it is similar to coming off heroin. 

Have you been on heroin then?

[proton]

18 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

Opiates over the counter isn't a good idea. 

 

Self medicating is an early sign of addiction.

 

Get some help. 

 

Denial is your worst enemy. 

 

"Tramadol Addiction And Abuse"

 

https://www.addictioncenter.com/opiates/tramadol/

 

"Tramadol is a pain medication that carries a risk of misuse and addiction. However, it is generally safer than many other controlled substances."

 

https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/prescription/what-is-tramadol

 

 

Get some help for what, I take it when I feel like it and have no addiction to it, OTC antibiotics do far more damage here, that should be stopped. Tramadol is not addictive in my experience, fact not denial.

[Neeranam]

9 minutes ago, proton said:

Not for me, only some people get addicted. Took valium in the 70's for 2 years just stopped. Was on prozac 17 years ago just stoped overnight, never any withdrawal symptoms for anything. Heroin I have no experience of.

I disagree, if you take Tramadol daily for 2 weeks, you will get withdrawals. 

[Neeranam]

10 minutes ago, proton said:

Took valium in the 70's for 2 years just stopped.

Did you take it daily? How many mg?

 

I had a terrible time coming off it. Worse than ALL other drugs bar methadone. 

[proton]

5 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Did you take it daily? How many mg?

 

I had a terrible time coming off it. Worse than ALL other drugs bar methadone. 

5-10 mg daily, my mate took years to get off valium, he said worse than heroin

[proton]

8 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I disagree, if you take Tramadol daily for 2 weeks, you will get withdrawals. 

never taken it daily, don't see the point as the benefit wears off if you do that

[Neeranam]

Just now, proton said:

5-10 mg daily, my mate took years to get off valium, he said worse than heroin

Indeed, took me 4 -5 years tapering. 

[Neeranam]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

never taken it daily, don't see the point as the benefit wears off if you do that

Fair enough, but also heroin is not addictive if you take it sporadically. 

[Don Chance]

I took a seat in the park one time and looked down and see used strip of tramadol on the ground in front of me. I'm thinking, hmm that is not smart. I look around and behind me are some teenagers, a few of them passed out on the bench. Then i notice some undercover cop eyeing them. Then he looks at me and smiles. Not sure what he did, probably sent them.

 

Needless to say a bad idea to experiment with drugs. You have to ask yourself what is wrong in someone life that they need to take drugs. Why do you augment reality so you can accept it?

You see this with alcohol, most people get drunk then have causal sex or meet someone. If causal sex is so great then why do you need to be drunk to get into it? It because it is not causal and your subconscious is giving you warning signs. 

 

Teenagers need to find out what makes them happy in life. If they take drugs, then they might just stop at that level and never progress to what is real.

[connda]

On 12/24/2022 at 8:53 AM, webfact said:

These are used by young people especially to create a powerful and dangerous "high".

It's used by old people to control the pain of things like Rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic pain like knee, joint and muscle damage.  Unlike NSAID and other OTC 'pain killers' they don't destroy your kidneys or your liver.  Yes.  You need to control the minimum effective dose and be willing to quit using Tramadol occasionally (which means going through mild withdrawals) as opposed to keep upping the dose (stupid in the long run).
It's effective and useful, especially for those of us in the "elderly" category.

They should worry more about "young peoples" methamphetamine usage as meth is now plentiful and cheaper than dirt throughout Thailand. 

[connda]

1 hour ago, MrJ2U said:

Opiates over the counter isn't a good idea. 

 

Self medicating is an early sign of addiction.

 

Get some help. 

 

Denial is your worst enemy. 

 

"Tramadol Addiction And Abuse"

 

https://www.addictioncenter.com/opiates/tramadol/

 

"Tramadol is a pain medication that carries a risk of misuse and addiction. However, it is generally safer than many other controlled substances."

 

https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/prescription/what-is-tramadol

 

 

I used it for three year for a rotatory cuff tear that I refused to have surgery.

My minimum effective dose was 50mg/day.  Over time and based on the pain I'd go to 150mg/day.
But my average dose pretty much stayed at 50mg.  Over a three year period of time and daily stretching?  It healed. 

I cut the dosage to 50mg a day, prepared mentally for a few uncomfortable days, and quit cold turkey.
No need to list a bunch of links about withdrawal horror stories.  I understand the withdrawal symptoms as I first used it for long-haul Dengue Fever which was just nasty and lasted close to two years.  So I've withdrawn before.  It takes awhile for your brain to reset itself.  I used it; I didn't abuse it. 

Don't abuse it and it is useful.  Abuse it?  Well, then you deserve the hell of sever withdrawals that you'll eventually face.  No sympathy from me.

[grain]

Years ago I was given Tramadol by a dentist after a tooth extraction, lovely stuff, back home I curled up in a warm fuzzy ball, scratching away. Then after I used what the dentist gave me I happened to spot a box of Tram on a pharmacy shelf, so got some more. Fast forward a few years and I was an addict. I did 2 detoxes in Australian drug & alcohol centers. Anyway, I've been off it for years now, over 10 years. The withdrawals were terrible, horrible muscle spasms in my legs. Glad to be finished with that.

[MrJ2U]

4 hours ago, Don Chance said:

Then he looks at me and smiles.

Perhaps he fancied you. 

[billd766]

On 12/24/2022 at 10:45 AM, lujanit said:

I suffer with sciatica, Tramadol is the only OTC medication that helps.  So it does have a legitimate place.  There appears to be some surgery that can ‘fix’ it.  My MIL had it and she ended up in more pain than before the surgery.  Back to hospital to remove the insert.  The hospital even charged her although it was their mistake.

At 78 I have fallen over 3 times this year.

 

The first time I was given Tramadol was as a pain killer after my first visit to the hospital, and it worked very well. But the side effects I felt were not so good. I would fall asleep at anytime and anywhere.

 

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-4398-5239/tramadol-oral/tramadol-oral/details

 

See also Warning section.

Nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or headache may occur. Some of these side effects may decrease after you have been using this medication for a while. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To prevent constipation, eat dietary fiber, drink enough water, and exercise. You may also need to take a laxative. Ask your pharmacist which type of laxative is right for you.

To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

 

 

Although I didn't suffer from the first 3, the last 3 got to me. Now when I am asked if I have any allergies the first is Tramadol and the second is penicillin but I can take streptomycin.