Ivermectin - rules about mailing it?

[HermesHermes]

I am not asking the rules about the country where it would be sent, only what the rules are about the country where it would be posted from...

 

A friend has asked me to post him some for personal use. He intends to use it for a prostate tumour. I question the prudence of his action, but he is a big boy and it is his body. To be completely frank, I think he is being irresponsible to his partner to not take any conventional treatments in favour of an experimental drug. But, that is not my business. As a loyal friend, I told him I would do so if it does not break and Thai Post rules or any government of Thailand laws. BTW, I was not asked for a prescription at any of the three pharmacies where I enquired, so I presume it is an OTC drug in Thailand. It's not a cheap tablet: THB80-110 per 6 mg, depending on manufacturer and which retail pharmacy is selling it. Curiously, it was not available in 12 mg. I told him to wait until I go to India or even Vietnam, but he would like something now to start. 

 

Obviously I would have to send it dotting all my 'i's and crossing all my 't's, because the last times I have used Thai Post I had to present it for even the smallest package (at what point does a letter become a parcel?). The country of his address requires one of those international post green Customs declarations. 

[KhunLA]

Not on the 'list of controlled narcotics', although I don't know how inclusive that is. along with 3+ years old.

[Sheryl]

It requires an FDA license to bring pharmaceutical in by mail. I have not found anywhere the law on doing the reverse but good bet it likewise requires a license.

 

Plenty of online sources of this and other drugs, suggest you let your friend use these instead.

[HermesHermes]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

It requires an FDA license to bring pharmaceutical in by mail. I have not found anywhere the law on doing the reverse but good bet it likewise requires a license.

 

Plenty of online sources of this and other drugs, suggest you let your friend use these instead.

Thanks Sheryl for your prompt and informed reply. You have the reputation as being the most reliable and helpful moderators and information sources on ASEAN Now. I must research further to see what is the Thai law and what is the Thai Post Office practice (not the same thing).  Right now I am more looking for anecdotal evidence.

 

I presume by FDA you mean USA. But what about for Canada, Australia, UK etc? I expect that being sovereign countries they do not all have the same rule as USA. And what of all those (licensed?) pharmaceutical companies in India selling drugs by mail?  Then there is the Canadian companies with sellers in India who sell to the USA. It all becomes very complicated, no? I presume that these are medical supply house businessmen not gangsters.

 

Of course, you cannot know about every single drug in every country. I presume this rule requiring licensing is for three reasons - 1) to protect the R&D investment costs of drug companies, 2) to protect designated markets different pricing structures, and 3) for safety reasons. Otherwise everyone would just order from the world's kid in a candy(drug)store  - India. I like India because it does not have the reputation for fakes, although my doctor in Kolkata tells me that this can happen, just not on the scale as in PRC.

 

My experience from travelling in India (where, as I understand it, patenting rules cover the process not the chemical makeup) is that drugs there are a fraction of (like 1/20th) the price of in USA, and 1/10th the price of in Canada. Indonesia and Vietnam are also low. Philippines curiously is high. China, I forget. So, whenever I travel there I always go shopping and bring home a stash of whatever I think I, my friends, neighbours and the family down the block might need. I have never had any serious difficulties at Canada Customs, although if I am ever asked, in writing or verbally, I would declare what I have - it is always personal amounts (sometimes borderline). The rule seems to be discretionary according to the person doing the checking. Actually, I might be mistaken,  I think only goods under X dollars are even enquired about. Are medications some special category of products? I do not know. Maybe I am asked about cannabis (prohibited entry even though legal within the country - go figure), alcohol and tobacco (both are legal within the country but over certain amounts prohibited entry or taxable, even inter-provincially). I think that I am never asked specifically about prescription or OTC drugs. I think retail amounts are impossible to control and what they are on the lookout for is people lying about what they are bringing into the country or those doing it on a wholesale bulk level. More of a problem is passing through third countries like Japan. It is quite strict. Singapore once did a spot test of one of my bottles of essential oils (since I was travelling with dozens). All very polite and quick.

 

A lot of the rules and especially enforcement seems to be spotty, discretionary and interpretive. Who can know all the rules? I have had strange experiences and surprises. Once I brought in a class of supplement called amino acids when I was into life extension [detour: a scam?] , I do not remember which one what was it. CBSA did a test and said it was amphetamines! They did not arrest me but did hold the unmarked pills (I always repackage because drugstore containers are inefficient packaging). Wasn't worth returning to the airport to pick it up when a secondary test proved it to be a false positive. Another time I imported from Switzerland a long-lasting testosterone injection called 'Nabolene' [detour: I do NOT recommend this drug, neither did the European doctor who wrote the script for a friend there - a whole other subject. In brief: very effective but not without side effects]. My Canadian doctor at a Men's Health Clinic administered it  [detour #2: The hospital clinic treating such things as low-T got closed. Women's Health Clinics get lots of funding, men's health not so much. Can't imagine why...]. Yet despite being not available in Canada and technically in some sort of grey area, Canada Customs was a breeze. I had to go pick it up at the airport. My Canadian doctor was amazed it got through. There was no subterfuge. Everything was above board, no duty or taxes. Maybe a Customs fee?

 

I suppose one could write a whole book on this subject of the international trade and private importing and exporting of pharmaceuticals. All I care about is helping my friends. I think I read somewhere in the news ten plus years ago about an entrepreneur in this field actually being criminally charged for buying and selling a legal drug. Go figure. 

 

But who wants to pay high prices. We do not for vegetables (we import from Mexico, USA and China where costs are lower). So why would medicines be any different? I suggest to you because the downside is so serious (though I would rather have the freedom to take that informed risk). I find these rules rather esoteric and confusing. And of course, ignorance of the law is no excuse - though I suspect innocence of purpose may affect enforcement and penalties.

[Sheryl]

10 minutes ago, HermesHermes said:

 

Thanks Sheryl for your prompt and informed reply. You have the reputation as being the most reliable and helpful moderators and information sources on ASEAN Now. I must research further to see what is the Thai law and what is the Thai Post Office practice (not the same thing).  Right now I am more looking for anecdotal evidence.

 

I presume by FDA you mean USA. 

 

No  I meant the Thai FDA since the question concerned Thsi lae.

 

It requires a license ftom the Thai FDA to import pharmaceuticals by mail (and some reports duggest an increase in enforcing that). 

 

I strongly suspect  same is required to export by mail. 

[300sd]

Perhaps you could ask at the post office. I didn't ask!

[JustThisOnePostOnly]

On 12/14/2024 at 8:14 AM, Sheryl said:

Plenty of online sources of this and other drugs, suggest you let your friend use these instead.

 

Can you share a link to ivermectin I can buy here in Thailand?

[BKKKevin]

10 minutes ago, JustThisOnePostOnly said:

 

Can you share a link to ivermectin I can buy here in Thailand?

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ivermectin-tablets-deworming-veterinals-for-animals-pets-pigs-cattle-sheep-in-vivo-vitro-deworming-for-cats-and-dogs-fleas-mites-nematodes-50-tablets-bottle-makeup-bags-organizers-makeup-bags-organizers-i5484707454-s23272945813.html?from_gmc=1&fl_tag=1&exlaz=d_1:mm_150050845_51350205_2010350205::12:21979326471!!!!!c!!23272945813!5505956619&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADxEOca4FnbhSNXTONUnYFphPyjkk&gclid=CjwKCAiAmfq6BhAsEiwAX1jsZ8nFw_iy1Yr8LJKVZNmf2nh92gC4AV358UfKiNL1W7iDimvCc5REhRoC30YQAvD_BwE

[stubuzz]

Posting liquids will be a problem.

[JustThisOnePostOnly]

19 minutes ago, BKKKevin said:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ivermectin-tablets-deworming-veterinals-for-animals-pets-pigs-cattle-sheep-in-vivo-vitro-deworming-for-cats-and-dogs-fleas-mites-nematodes-50-tablets-bottle-makeup-bags-organizers-makeup-bags-organizers-i5484707454-s23272945813.html?from_gmc=1&fl_tag=1&exlaz=d_1:mm_150050845_51350205_2010350205::12:21979326471!!!!!c!!23272945813!5505956619&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADxEOca4FnbhSNXTONUnYFphPyjkk&gclid=CjwKCAiAmfq6BhAsEiwAX1jsZ8nFw_iy1Yr8LJKVZNmf2nh92gC4AV358UfKiNL1W7iDimvCc5REhRoC30YQAvD_BwE

 

For animals, and from China.

 

Can that really be our only choice?