Hello.I am in planning process of retire to Thailand from USA.One of the issues i am having come up is my preferred meds not being available.I have tried EVERYTHING over the years for my rosacea and only thing that seems to work is 1 pill a day of Oracea 40mg ( Delayed release Doxycycline).My health insurance has recently stopped covering this drug so i am trying an alternative which is 2 times a day Doxycycline 20mg pills,which does seem be working also.I have a friend in Bangkok that checked many pharmacys and i have even asked at Bumrangrad pharmacy department and all say only thing available in Thaialnd is 100mg Doxycycline capsules..Any suggestions for where can i can find 20mg? Is there any online pharmacys that will ship to Thailand you would reccomend to look?  my only other option i guess is try get my doctor here in US to prescribe 1 year prescription that can be dispersed all at once,and come back annually to get refilled,which i am not sure i can do...THANKS for any help/suggestions!!

Sad to hear you are still following the "standard of care" model of health care where the medical practitioner/doctor prescribes treatment for the  symptom, not the root cause of your condition. Look on the internet, youtube, there are ways to avoid rosacea and perhaps eliminate its re-occurance forever. Try searching youtube with Dr. Berg, or Dr. Ekberg or Dr. William Davis, and rosacea.

 

I am not a medical doctor nor am I dispensing medical advice.

This is indeed unavailable in Thailand.

 

It is technically illegal to import medications by mail without an FDA license which is very difficult to get.  Some people do order from Indian pharmacies and in the past small quantities usually got through but I am seeing more reports of things stopped by customs these days.

 

Perhaps someone with very recent experience ordering online fom India could respond.

 

If it were me, I would just bring in a year's supply with me making sure adequate expiration date.  However be aware that rule is just  30 day supply. They do not ususlly count out the numbet of pills (indeed do not ususlly check luggage, period) but a small risk exists that supply in eccess of 30 days might be confiscated. I have heard of this happening only a few times  in some 20 years on this forum. 

 

Make sure the pills are clearly labelled so as not to be confused with a contolled substance. 

 

https://en.fda.moph.go.th/entrepreneurs-medicines/category/faqs-medicines/#:~:text=1) In the case of,(1967) and its amendments.

 

7 hours ago, caligula123 said:

only thing available in Thailand is 100mg Doxycycline capsules..Any suggestions

Just a thought.  If you can buy 100mg capsules you could pull them apart and dump out the contents.  Then using a knife cut the 100mg power into 5 equal piles of 20mg each.  Of course, this wouldn't be exact but should be reasonably close.  You could buy empty gelatin caps and make your own 20mg pills or wrap each 20 mg in some aluminum foil and dump it into your morning coffee or other drink. Just a suggestion.  

4 hours ago, how241 said:

Just a thought.  If you can buy 100mg capsules you could pull them apart and dump out the contents.  Then using a knife cut the 100mg power into 5 equal piles of 20mg each.  Of course, this wouldn't be exact but should be reasonably close.  You could buy empty gelatin caps and make your own 20mg pills or wrap each 20 mg in some aluminum foil and dump it into your morning coffee or other drink. Just a suggestion.  

 i actually was thinking about doing this also...would definitely be more convenient and cheaper than flying back to usa for refill   lol  .. thanks to all for your input and suggestions!

5 hours ago, Sheryl said:

This is indeed unavailable in Thailand.

No.

Doxycycline tablets (!) are available. !

 

You can buy TABLETS in Thailand.

Most come with 100mg Doxycycline.

So, buy a pill splitter and you get 5 x 20mg for example.

However, it's not a slow release.

But it will help (maybe you'll take 4 x 10mg?)

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

No.

Doxycycline tablets (!) are available. !

 

Of course  doxycycline is available but not in 20 mg dose which is what OP needs. 

 

Thay are capsules  not tablets. 

4 hours ago, caligula123 said:

 i actually was thinking about doing this also...would definitely be more convenient and cheaper than flying back to usa for refill   lol  .. thanks to all for your input and suggestions!

 

 

brah crush and snort , your redness will fade 

59 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Of course  doxycycline is available but not in 20 mg dose which is what OP needs. 

 

Thay are capsules  not tablets. 

I once got tablets,  iirc. Long time ago. 

Normally you get capsules.

 

OP could bring 100mg or 200mg tablets from the US (it wouldn't look like a year's supply if customs has a look) and use a pill cutter here.

10 hours ago, Sheryl said:

This is indeed unavailable in Thailand.

 

It is technically illegal to import medications by mail without an FDA license which is very difficult to get.  Some people do order from Indian pharmacies and in the past small quantities usually got through but I am seeing more reports of things stopped by customs these days.

 

Perhaps someone with very recent experience ordering online fom India could respond.

 

If it were me, I would just bring in a year's supply with me making sure adequate expiration date.  However be aware that rule is just  30 day supply. They do not ususlly count out the numbet of pills (indeed do not ususlly check luggage, period) but a small risk exists that supply in eccess of 30 days might be confiscated. I have heard of this happening only a few times  in some 20 years on this forum. 

 

Make sure the pills are clearly labelled so as not to be confused with a contolled substance. 

 

https://en.fda.moph.go.th/entrepreneurs-medicines/category/faqs-medicines/#:~:text=1) In the case of,(1967) and its amendments.

 

I just had someone send me a very innocent antibiotic (pivmecillinam, not avalable in Thailand) from Europe. It never arrived. 

7 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Of course  doxycycline is available but not in 20 mg dose which is what OP needs. 

 

Thay are capsules  not tablets. 

No, as I commented there are 100mg tablets! And with a pill splitter dividable 

11 hours ago, caligula123 said:

 i actually was thinking about doing this also...would definitely be more convenient and cheaper than flying back to usa for refill   lol  .. thanks to all for your input and suggestions!

Buy TABLETS. They are easy to cut with a pill splitter.

Ask the pharmacist explicit for tablets, not capsules. 

Available in my area at Pharmachoice 

I have the same problem with Rovista (Rosuvastatin). No 40s anywhere.

 

Have to take two 20s.

 

Every year I bring back 90 days worth of meds from the US. No one looks

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Buy TABLETS. They are easy to cut with a pill splitter.

Ask the pharmacist explicit for tablets, not capsules. 

Available in my area at Pharmachoice 

ahhh...great!  i do think that would be the way to go...i did not know that TABLETS were available!  ..that does help put my mind at ease..i dont have any problem if i need to  go doctor and get one,but can you buy the 100mg tablets at any pharmacy that has them with no prescription?  thanks again for the help.

4 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I have the same problem with Rovista (Rosuvastatin). No 40s anywhere.

 

Have to take two 20s.

 

Every year I bring back 90 days worth of meds from the US. No one looks

this was big reason i was hoping could find the Oracea...is 40mg pill delay release and only had take 1 a day instead of needing 2 a day  with the 20mg

1 minute ago, caligula123 said:

ahhh...great!  i do think that would be the way to go...i did not know that TABLETS were available!  ..that does help put my mind at ease..i dont have any problem if i need to  go doctor and get one,but can you buy the 100mg tablets at any pharmacy that has them with no prescription?  thanks again for the help.

In general you can buy most medicines without prescription. Sure, controlled drugs only with prescription. Some (few) are only available in hospitals.

So I reckon first contact a pharmacy. 

3 hours ago, caligula123 said:

ahhh...great!  i do think that would be the way to go...i did not know that TABLETS were available!  ..that does help put my mind at ease..i dont have any problem if i need to  go doctor and get one,but can you buy the 100mg tablets at any pharmacy that has them with no prescription?  thanks again for the help.

Doxycycline does not require a ptescription in Thailand. 

On 5/28/2025 at 11:45 AM, Sheryl said:

Doxycycline does not require a ptescription in Thailand. 

It depends on the pharmacy, but the highest percentage will sell them to you without a prescription. Some pharmacists will also print you a prescription and stick it on the bag they put the meds in. 

I was with my Thai niece when she tried to buy some at a pharmacy in the Tesco mall here, and they said she had to have a prescription. We just went to another pharmacy outside of the mall complex, and they sold them to her.

 

On 5/27/2025 at 7:19 PM, caligula123 said:

 i actually was thinking about doing this also...would definitely be more convenient and cheaper than flying back to usa for refill   lol  .. thanks to all for your input and suggestions!

Ask a visiting friend or family member to bring in the other years supply

3 hours ago, Lee4Life said:

 Some pharmacists will also print you a prescription and stick it on the bag they put the meds in. 

 

 

 That is not s prescription  it's a label.

 

By definition a prescription is a signed doctor order for a medication.

 

Neither doxycycline nor most other drugs require this in Thailand.  However,  drugs in their classification (Thai FDA Categiry D)  can only be sold by a Grade 1 pharmacist.  If there isn't one (either at all, or on duty at the time you go)  legally they can't dispense to you. Nothing to do with your having a  prescription  it is a pharmacy issue.