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best pain killer over the counter

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18 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

This isn't OTC and it's not exactly found in just any drugstore and they might not even sell to you even if they had it

 

It's a full blown narcotic

Rubbish. I buy a blister of Tramadol, 50 mg, 10 tablets, about once every 5-6 weeks OTC from a nearby pharmacy in Chiang Rai.

 

It is classed as a Schedule IV narcotic by the US DEA, which means there is less risk of addiction than opioids such as oxycodone or morphine, which are Schedule II.

 

Heroin is Schedule I.

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On 7/16/2025 at 2:04 PM, BritManToo said:

Tramadol, but you might only be able to find it in a mix with paracetamol.

I get straight Tramadol in Chiang Rai.

 

We are all wired differently. Morphine and cannabis do absolutely nothing for me. OTOH, I am as happy as a clam on oxycodone.

 

I have only had Demerol once. That's the highest I have ever been, pick me off the ceiling time.

18 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

 

It's a full blown narcotic

 

And goes great with Yaeger bombs!

Back in the 1990s I exploded 2 lumbar discs doing excessive deadlifts. 

I no longer used medicine as most negatively affect the liver. 

If needed, which is rarely, my go to drug is the generic 

 Celecoxib, brand name Celebrex. It helps and doesn't upset the stomach as much as other NSAIDs as it is a COX-2 (enzyme) inhibitor which spares COX-1, which helps spare the stomach and kidneys. It, like other NSAIDs, comes with a host of warnings especially cardiovascular so do your homework if you have ASCVD.

I have learned to manage the pain through exercise and knowing how to move. 

Occasionally I take a strong Indica before bed and it's light out. 

To avoid taking drugs internally I can recommend starting with a topical like Voltaren gel (Diclofenac) or Elmetacin spray. They may be all you need for short term relief.

49 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

The gel works for me, although I seldom have the need for it.   I have given some to two of my friends that also say the same thing.  They like it. 

 

The gel doesn't do much for me. Just sayin..

12 minutes ago, zombie nights said:

Where to buy  Tramadol over the counter in BKK without a subscription?

Thank u.

 

Asks Zombie Nights 🙄🙄🙄

 

Another Pattaya drug addict

On 7/16/2025 at 2:04 PM, madone said:

Tramadol is an opiate, not an over-the-counter drug. 

Better tell my pharmacy assistant that bit of news  :shock1:

On 7/16/2025 at 2:04 PM, madone said:

Tramadol is an opiate, not an over-the-counter drug. 

What are you on about. It´s available in all forms, final! How long have you been in Thailand?

10 minutes ago, RayOday said:

Back in the 1990s I exploded 2 lumbar discs doing excessive deadlifts. 

I no longer used medicine as most negatively affect the liver. 

If needed, which is rarely, my go to drug is the generic 

 Celecoxib, brand name Celebrex. It helps and doesn't upset the stomach as much as other NSAIDs as it is a COX-2 (enzyme) inhibitor which spares COX-1, which helps spare the stomach and kidneys. It, like other NSAIDs, comes with a host of warnings especially cardiovascular so do your homework if you have ASCVD.

I have learned to manage the pain through exercise and knowing how to move. 

Occasionally I take a strong Indica before bed and it's light out. 

To avoid taking drugs internally I can recommend starting with a topical like Voltaren gel (Diclofenac) or Elmetacin spray. They may be all you need for short term relief.

Try Difelene, same as Voltaren, but half the price

32 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Rubbish. I buy a blister of Tramadol, 50 mg, 10 tablets, about once every 5-6 weeks OTC from a nearby pharmacy in Chiang Rai.

 

It is classed as a Schedule IV narcotic by the US DEA, which means there is less risk of addiction than opioids such as oxycodone or morphine, which are Schedule II.

 

Heroin is Schedule I.

 

What is the pharma composition? I believe it's codeine and paracetamol is it not?

 

All the same drug addict sh it. Yeah, maybe in Chaing Rai ... Walk into the only pharmacy in town and ... 🤣

2 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

Try Difelene, same as Voltaren, but half the price

 

I bought a tube of generic Diclofenac a week or two ago for b50. At that price it's worth trying

 

I have a feeling the OPI is interested in narcotics and not a solution to his pain

4 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

Try Difelene, same as Voltaren, but half the price

Yes, good option. Another one available in 100 mg is Subcyde CR

On 7/16/2025 at 2:29 PM, scubascuba3 said:

I know someone who may be addicted to tramodol, face has turned grey 

Gray face is ok - - diabetes legs not good... 

 

what if you have diabetes, no symptoms and beautiful legs like me? 

I found that "Gofen" works for me when arthritis flares up occasionally. Have Tramadol given for lower back pain if I get a pinch but it does not seem to really help me.

10 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

 

What is the pharma composition? I believe it's codeine and paracetamol is it not?

 

All the same drug addict sh it. Yeah, maybe in Chaing Rai ... Walk into the only pharmacy in town and ... 🤣

Codeine and paracetamol have brand names like panadeine, tylex and paracodal.

 

Tramadol has brand names such as Madola and Tradolgesic.

 

It sounds like you are on the booze early today.

On 7/16/2025 at 3:07 PM, Will B Good said:

 

Do.....I was blown away.

Naproxen isn’t a painkiller, but an antibiotic 

not saying it doesn’t work, because it does, but treat it the same way you would any AB to ensure its long term effectiveness 

Celebrex is a very good anti inflammatory and pin killer… 

2 hours ago, atpeace said:

Diclofenac and tried them all!  If this is one off, agree with Britmantoo if it is going to be very rare that you use it as in a couple times a year.  Told my brother in America to give diclofenac (pill not the silly gel )  a try. He is a competitive pickle ball player. Actually a thing in America and he makes a little money at tournaments.  Enough about my bro-555.  He called me yesterday and can't believe how he feels after 2 days of taking it. Told me it is as if he 15 years old.  

 

Diclofenac has got some bad publicity but the studies are flawed like most studies.  Have to take them with a large grain of salt.  If you are healthy, the health risks are extremely minimal and the added benefit it allows many to have life again which includes moving!  The health benefits of simply moving every day vs doing nothing IMO FAR outweigh the risk.

 

Don't take the gel because it rarely does anything.  Actually for me the gel has never helped me in the slightest the 5-10 times I tried it the last 25 years.

 

Huge diclofenac fanboy 🙂

AS far as diclofenac Gel YMMV.

Read several posters here have had good results, me included.

18 minutes ago, Free the 115 said:

Naproxen isn’t a painkiller, but an antibiotic 

not saying it doesn’t work, because it does, but treat it the same way you would any AB to ensure its long term effectiveness 

 

It's neither.......it's a NSAID......it works by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, reducing the production of prostaglandins that cause inflammation, pain, and fever.

On 7/16/2025 at 2:29 PM, scubascuba3 said:

I know someone who may be addicted to tramodol, face has turned grey 

I was on 400mg of tramadol sr a day for around  20 years, while it did work it also caused a lot of  problems so I tried to stop taking it, took several months, finally got down to 1 x 50mg at night but couldnt get past it till a friend said I needed to try "cookies" to help relax my body so I could sleep, it worked. Will never touch it again, very addictive, thai hospital prescribed them for pain a few years back and I refused to take them, I now use mobic when the pain gets bad & celebrex when mobic doesnt ease the pain at all, I rarely take them and must be in a bad way before I do use them, celebrex is good for pain but not to take constantly, mobic is a muscle relaxant and again not constantly, you need to eat with both before taking them

On 7/16/2025 at 2:44 PM, proton said:

 

That's weak, Ultracet tramadol/ paracetamol or better 50 mg pure tramadol if they will sell

In Udon Thani can only get Ultracet tramadol/ paracetamol in the hospitals (cha ching). I've tried the pharmacies. Found most of the tramadol from the pharmacies to be fake. That's been my experience.

54 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

Try Difelene, same as Voltaren, but half the price

Both are diclofenac which IMO is a miracle drug.

Diclofenic crram works wonders but read the instructions like i didnt do

I was not putting enough on you squeese out 75 to 100 mil of paste rub in till gone it works for me in minutes lasts hrs 

16 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

AS far as diclofenac Gel YMMV.

Read several posters here have had good results, me included.

I don't doubt it and happy it worked for you.  It has done nothing for me and not from lack of trying over 20 years 🙂

54 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

What are you on about. It´s available in all forms, final! How long have you been in Thailand?


Been here 30 years, what is your point?

Tramadol is classified as a pharmacist-only (restricted) medicine by the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand (Thai FDA).  Because of concern about its abuse, in September 2013 the Thai FDA announced a policy to control the distribution of tramadol in community pharmacies.

That doesn't mean it isn't available illegally, many things are, but it is not a simple OTC drug. 

1 hour ago, Grumpy one said:

Better tell my pharmacy assistant that bit of news  :shock1:

been controlled since 2013, doesn't mean it's not available.

1 hour ago, Grumpy one said:

Better tell my pharmacy assistant that bit of news  :shock1:

yeah in my soi (East Pattaya) 2 of the 3 pharmacies sell it OTC without issue.

On 7/16/2025 at 2:02 PM, anotherexpat4444 said:

what is a best painkiller over the counter to buy in thailand  for knee pain

A word of warning- 

 

Class tramadol with heroin and cocaine, says Northern Ireland medical expert.

 

But i was prescribed Tramadol by my GP for a spine injury and became addicted. I woke up every morning deeply depressed craving a Tramadol fix. Took me 6 months to get it out of my system. 

Depends on your pain.  I really learned that lesson over the past 7 years.  If you've an inflammation you'll need to be using an NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) like ibuprofen, Celebrex or Lyrica, which may be available in a much cheaper generic brand.  You need to treat the inflammation, but you might also need to treat the pain over and above what the NSAID can provide.

 

Joint pain/ back pain? In my opinion you'll need both.  I wish you good success in treating your problem.  You should start by seeing a Doctor to determine the cause.

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