Got on a Plane and Left my Medication on the Kitchen Counter!

[bhatmasterson]

Anyone have experience retrieving a prescription through fax or email and having it filled in the US? I need my eye drops for glaucoma. I'm being told to see a doctor here. One price quote was $175 just for the exam. Don't know how much for the medication.

[Upnotover]

If you know what medication you need go to a pharmacy and see if they have it.  No doctor needed.

[bhatmasterson]

Went to Walgreens showed empty bottle and they referred me to an eye doctor. $125 for exam.  

[2ndhomepattaya]

Ridiculous quote, I have ongoing treatment for glaucoma and the BHP and I don't pay more than 2-3k and that includes all tests before seeing the specialist for a detailed exam on progress and evaluation.

Worth every penny.

You can get Glaucoma meds without a prescription but I prefer to have it checked twice a year.

[rumak]

The thing about glaucoma meds is that they still do NOT improve the reading comprehension of people.

a. op got on a plane

b. op got off plane... IN USA  (which requires prescriptions for the glaucoma meds)  ...

    ( for our own safety, of course .... SARCASM .... )

c. obviously OP  gets the glaucoma med here in Thailand ..   and yes, don't need a prescription .......

d .   ???  got it 

[Ralf001]

19 minutes ago, bhatmasterson said:

Went to Walgreens showed empty bottle and they referred me to an eye doctor. $125 for exam.  

 

Walgreens as in Boots ?

 

You OP says $175... but now you say $125.

 

Suprises me th eye doc qouted in $$$$.

 

Send message to sheryl showing her the empty bottle.. she will know if is OTC or not and if not most likely will know a Doc to go visit.

 

[steve187]

6 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Walgreens as in Boots ?

 

You OP says $175... but now you say $125.

 

Suprises me th eye doc qouted in $$$$.

 

Send message to sheryl showing her the empty bottle.. she will know if is OTC or not and if not most likely will know a Doc to go visit.

 

I think the op is in USA, Walgreens i believe is in USA

[Ralf001]

Just now, steve187 said:

I think the op is in USA

 

ok that makes sense.... I should read the OP better, maybe I need eye meds too !

[Sheryl]

15 hours ago, steve187 said:

I think the op is in USA, Walgreens i believe is in USA

As above.

 

@bhatmasterson  a Thai prescription hss no validity in the US. You will need to get a prescription from a doctor  licensed in the US.  One of the telemedecine services is probably the most economicsl spproache (I've used Amwell in the past). Before you call,  have the pharmacy name, address and phone number handy to give the doctor so they can call the prescription in.  And of course the name, strength and dose of the medication.

 

Ask them to prescribe a generic, drug prices in US are sky high. 

[GammaGlobulin]

Sorry to hear about this, actually.

 

Also, for sure....

I will never be returning to the USA until everything involving medicine and medical care there becomes completely socialized.

 

Why can't you just have someone FEDEX the medication to you by OVERNIGHT courier?

Much cheaper than a doctor's visit in the USA.

 

At least, that is what my first choice might be, in similar circumstances.

 

 

[bhatmasterson]

6 hours ago, rumak said:

The thing about glaucoma meds is that they still do NOT improve the reading comprehension of people.

a. op got on a plane

b. op got off plane... IN USA  (which requires prescriptions for the glaucoma meds)  ...

    ( for our own safety, of course .... SARCASM .... )

c. obviously OP  gets the glaucoma med here in Thailand ..   and yes, don't need a prescription .......

d .   ???  got it 

Exactly my situation.

[bhatmasterson]

6 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Walgreens as in Boots ?

 

You OP says $175... but now you say $125.

 

Suprises me th eye doc qouted in $$$$.

 

Send message to sheryl showing her the empty bottle.. she will know if is OTC or not and if not most likely will know a Doc to go visit.

 

In the US Walgreens is a major pharmacy. Walgreens quote $125. Eye clinic quote $175.

[pomchop]

35 minutes ago, bhatmasterson said:

In the US Walgreens is a major pharmacy. Walgreens quote $125. Eye clinic quote $175.

I have always found walgreens to be among the higest prices in USA for scripts as well as everyday merchandise.  Never really understood why people go there except i guess lot of locations.

Do you have the Good RX app?  It's free and can show u where the best deal is for your particular drug...

[bhatmasterson]

7 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Sorry to hear about this, actually.

 

Also, for sure....

I will never be returning to the USA until everything involving medicine and medical care there becomes completely socialized.

 

Why can't you just have someone FEDEX the medication to you by OVERNIGHT courier?

Much cheaper than a doctor's visit in the USA.

 

At least, that is what my first choice might be, in similar circumstances.

 

 

My next step is to find out if FedEx will ship medications. I know the US post office doesn't allow it.

[GammaGlobulin]

1 minute ago, bhatmasterson said:

My next step is to find out if FedEx will ship medications. I know the US post office doesn't allow it.

 

Good Luck.

FedEx ships just about everything else, including racehorses, I think.

 

[Sheryl]

9 hours ago, bhatmasterson said:

In the US Walgreens is a major pharmacy. Walgreens quote $125. Eye clinic quote $175.

Look into cost of telemedicine as suggested in my prior post.

[Sheryl]

On 5/27/2024 at 2:49 AM, pomchop said:

I have always found walgreens to be among the higest prices in USA for scripts as well as everyday merchandise.  Never really understood why people go there except i guess lot of locations.

Do you have the Good RX app?  It's free and can show u where the best deal is for your particular drug...

I think he is talking about the cost of seeing a doctor to get a prescription.

 

But indeed, should look at GoodRx to reduce cost of the med itself. 

[2baht]

17 hours ago, bhatmasterson said:

One price quote was $175 just for the exam.

How much do you value your eyes?

[jas007]

I’m afraid you may have to pay the cost of the exam.  They hold you hostage before you get a prescription.  Are you near, Mexico by any chance?  You might be able to get the medicine there without a prescription.

[Sheryl]

11 hours ago, jas007 said:

I’m afraid you may have to pay the cost of the exam.  They hold you hostage before you get a prescription.  

 

He has to pay for some sort of doctor consultation to get the script, yes. But it can be about half what he was quoted if he uses telemedicine. That would not work if he needed a diagnosis, but for a routine med refill for an already diagnosed chronic condition should be possible.

 

Will be important for him to make the situation clear when he enters initial info e.g. "Traveller to US forgot medication at hime. Need prescription for ongoing glaucoma eye drops. Already diagnosed and on ths medication long term"  not "glaucoma treatment". 

[newbee2022]

On 5/26/2024 at 5:57 PM, bhatmasterson said:

Anyone have experience retrieving a prescription through fax or email and having it filled in the US? I need my eye drops for glaucoma. I'm being told to see a doctor here. One price quote was $175 just for the exam. Don't know how much for the medication.

It's cheaper than to fly back. Btw I doubt you have to pay 5000 Baht for an eye exam concerning glaucoma only. 

Did you try to buy your eye drops in a pharmacy already?🙏

[ignore it]

This lament sponsored by he American Medical Association, Big Pharma, Obamacare and the Food and Drug administration.

[BusyB]

On 5/26/2024 at 2:30 PM, rumak said:

The thing about glaucoma meds is that they still do NOT improve the reading comprehension of people.

a. op got on a plane

b. op got off plane... IN USA  (which requires prescriptions for the glaucoma meds)  ...

    ( for our own safety, of course .... SARCASM .... )

c. obviously OP  gets the glaucoma med here in Thailand ..   and yes, don't need a prescription .......

d .   ???  got it 

 

Neither comprehension nor compassion are in high supply on AN threads.

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

It's cheaper than to fly back. Btw I doubt you have to pay 5000 Baht for an eye exam concerning glaucoma only. 

Did you try to buy your eye drops in a pharmacy already?🙏

This requires a doctor prescription in the US  which is whete he us.

 

He does not need an eye exam. He just needs re-supply of an ongoing medication prescribed by his opthalmologist back home. Many GPs would be comfortable providing that. 

 

He has been given alternatives that would likely cost the equivalent of about 2,500 baht (for getting the script...med cost will be additional and  in US, often quite high.... This will prove to be an expensive oversight. )

[fredwiggy]

Might try the eye doctors inside the local Walmart where you are. I've been going there for exams for years and it's still at $100, so you'll save a tad. They can do everything all other eye doctors can regarding prescriptions. That price is for an eye exam for contacts, which is about the same as a normal eyeglass exam, although they might just be able to prescribe (refill) your prescription for much less.

[fittobethaied]

If someone has access to your home in Thailand, why don't you have them send you the meds by registered post. You should have it within 7-10 days, and I doubt if it would cost you more than 500 Baht. Just tell the post office it is vitamin tabs if they ask. 

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, fittobethaied said:

If someone has access to your home in Thailand, why don't you have them send you the meds by registered post. You should have it within 7-10 days, and I doubt if it would cost you more than 500 Baht. Just tell the post office it is vitamin tabs if they ask. 

Registered post might  expose the drops to high temperatures. Most need to be kept cool.

 

Should use a courier able to assure air conditioned  storage throughout....but that will cost much more. 

 

Also if he is totally without medication a 7-10 day wait is inadvisable. 

[rumak]

Most common glaucoma med (drops)  are latanaprost (xalatan brand name) ...

and heat sensitivity is an issue .There are other types of drops as well .   i would not recommend sending any.  

 

The Walmart suggestion is good.  Even a general doctor visit is costly .... to say the least.   

Always amuses me when people say the cost of living here in Thailand is getting close to Western countries (US being the main culrprit ...) 

My glaucoma meds if bought at pharmacy cost me 650 baht for one,  130 baht for another .    No script needed.    Once in a while i go to govt hospital to check my eyes, and eye pressure (every 6 months) ....  total cost 150 baht ,  and they smile at me .  

[bhatmasterson]

Thanks to everyone who made  suggestions. Going to a doctor here in the US.