51 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

You would be surprised at what meds people take here without ever being properly diagnosed with a condition by a Specialist Consultant.  Self medication is rife here, hence so many people using a forum to ask questions about possible medical conditions that clearly need investigation by a doctor, in hospital.  I don't know if it's some twisted thinking to avoid medical bills, or some people just being as dumb as a brick, but it happens a lot.   

In general Pharmacists just won’t sell you anything and everything just by telling them your symptoms, if they think you have a serious condition they will advise you to consult a doctor.

4 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

In general Pharmacists just won’t sell you anything and everything just by telling them your symptoms, if they think you have a serious condition they will advise you to consult a doctor.

Unless you are talking about a country other than Thailand that has not been my experience - if it is in stock and not a controlled drug they will sell it.  If you go with an explained condition they will likely advise you to use what other customers are using.  In fact many pharmacies do not even have a pharmacist working.

20 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

In general Pharmacists just won’t sell you anything and everything just by telling them your symptoms, if they think you have a serious condition they will advise you to consult a doctor.

Have you ever been to a Pattaya Pharmacy?

 

I ran out of prescription meds so googled it, took a screen shot to show at counter and was sold it immediately without any questions or even discussion

 

I've also Google doctored my own symptoms and got meds same way with no questions

 

18 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Have you ever been to a Pattaya Pharmacy?

 

I ran out of prescription meds so googled it, took a screen shot to show at counter and was sold it immediately without any questions or even discussion

 

I've also Google doctored my own symptoms and got meds same way with no questions

 

What is a prescription drug in one country doesn’t mean to say it’s a prescription drug in other countries.

3 hours ago, Jumbo1968 said:

In general Pharmacists just won’t sell you anything and everything just by telling them your symptoms, if they think you have a serious condition they will advise you to consult a doctor.

In Thailand, you can always, but always,  find a pharmacist who will sell you prescription meds over the counter, without a prescription. It has always been thus here. 

3 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Unless you are talking about a country other than Thailand that has not been my experience - if it is in stock and not a controlled drug they will sell it.  If you go with an explained condition they will likely advise you to use what other customers are using.  In fact many pharmacies do not even have a pharmacist working.

Like many Vets, many rural so called 'doctors' and many 'dentists', too many of them are barely trained and often not fully qualified. Check the certificates displayed on the walls.  Often they are merely  'Attendance'  at courses, not formal degree  qualifications. 

1 hour ago, Doctor Tom said:

In Thailand, you can always, but always,  find a pharmacist who will sell you prescription meds over the counter, without a prescription. It has always been thus here. 

We are going a bit off topic, my topic is about finding a pharmacy who can supply me with Alphagan P eyedrops, currently none available, they are imported and there isn’t a generic version as far as I am aware, Pharmacists are reluctant to give me an alternative, there many which hasn’t been recommended by my doctor. What does surprise me is very few hold stocks of eyedrops for glaucoma, they have to order from a supplier usually from Bangkok.

i have been trying to see/contact my doctor but you can’t call him nor speak with his secretary, everything is by email. He has already recommended 2 neither of which are available, I have a consultation on Thursday to discuss an alternative medication.

53 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

i have been trying to see/contact my doctor but you can’t call him nor speak with his secretary, everything is by email. He has already recommended 2 neither of which are available, I have a consultation on Thursday to discuss an alternative medication.

Bit confused at this.  If it's an International Hospital Consultant you are dealing with, I find it incomprehensible that the hospital cannot supply what you need.  They have processes to import meds that are maybe rare here, not unavailable locally, or generally in Thailand. Why do they offer you an alternative instead of sourcing the one you actually need?  I know that is the case for Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, for, example,  cancer drugs,  so I don't know why you are having such an issue.  I hope that you can sort it out quickly,  as reliable and regular meds for your condition are vital if you are to arrest the condition.  Good luck on Thursday 

52 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Bit confused at this.  If it's an International Hospital Consultant you are dealing with, I find it incomprehensible that the hospital cannot supply what you need.  They have processes to import meds that are maybe rare here, not unavailable locally, or generally in Thailand. Why do they offer you an alternative instead of sourcing the one you actually need?  I know that is the case for Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, for, example,  cancer drugs,  so I don't know why you are having such an issue.  I hope that you can sort it out quickly,  as reliable and regular meds for your condition are vital if you are to arrest the condition.  Good luck on Thursday 

I am dealing with Bangkok/Pattaya Jomtien Hospital, they don’t have alternatives in stock, the estimated delivery of Alphagan P is unknown. I was advised by the hospital pharmacy that the alternative eye drops would be available elsewhere, I tried numerous pharmacies local and online and they weren’t available.

The frustrating part is dealing with hospital which is via email and the persons receiving the emails have no idea what I am requesting.

Thanks for the good luck for Thursday, one thing for sure I will only be paying for the consultation not the usual add ons of BP, Temp check and nursing services etc.

 

18 hours ago, Jumbo1968 said:

We are going a bit off topic, my topic is about finding a pharmacy who can supply me with Alphagan P eyedrops, currently none available, they are imported and there isn’t a generic version as far as I am aware, Pharmacists are reluctant to give me an alternative, there many which hasn’t been recommended by my doctor. What does surprise me is very few hold stocks of eyedrops for glaucoma, they have to order from a supplier usually from Bangkok.

 

 There are generic versions as I advised previously.

 

Brim Mac

Brinidin

 

Whether you can find it is another matter.

 

If you can't get hold of your doctor at Jomtien, you might  try at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.

 

 

31 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 There are generic versions as I advised previously.

 

Brim Mac

Brinidin

 

Whether you can find it is another matter.

 

If you can't get hold of your doctor at Jomtien, you might  try at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.

 

 

Thanks Sheryl but neither are available in the local/hospital pharmacies nor online, I have searched high and low, I keep being directed towards ones with Timolol (beta blocker) but they reduced my BP and heart rate significantly over a period of a couple of months.

TBH most of the pharmacies haven’t been very helpful making no attempt to try and check what’s available and recommending I speak with my doctor.

There is one on Pattaya Klang who have been very helpful, they did suggest an alternative but it was 0.2% rather than Alphagan P which is 0.15%.

Medisafe has confirmed that the product will be in stock next week, assuring availability.

30 minutes ago, Adndrew said:

Medisafe has confirmed that the product will be in stock next week, assuring availability.

Thanks for the info, my Doctor  at Bangkok Jomtien told me last week due to problems at the Allergan Plant  in Asia Alphagan P won’t be available till April, maybe things have changed, i am now using Xalatan.