Millions of UK travellers heading overseas this holiday season may be tempted to buy medications without a prescription, including drugs that would normally require medical approval in the UK. Thailand is among several countries where some prescription-only medicines, including weight loss injections, antibiotics and corticosteroids, can be obtained more easily, raising concerns among medical experts about the risks of self-prescribing.

Get today's headlines by email

Research cited by Travel Weekly suggests more than half of Britons are likely to take at least one trip abroad. While lower prices and easier access may make foreign medicines attractive, doctors warn that buying prescription-only treatments without proper medical supervision can lead to serious health complications.

Weight loss injections containing semaglutide, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are available without prescription in parts of Thailand and some other countries. Experts say incorrect dosing can trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration, while more severe complications may include pancreatitis and gallbladder disease. NHS GP Dr Amel Imam said medical supervision is needed to ensure patients begin with low doses and increase gradually.

Thailand is also among countries where tretinoin, a vitamin A derivative used to treat acne and skin ageing, can be purchased without a prescription. Consultant dermatologist Dr Tina Tian warned that incorrect use can damage the skin, causing redness, peeling, inflammation and increased sensitivity to sunlight. The treatment should also not be used during pregnancy due to the risk of birth defects.

Corticosteroids such as prednisolone and dexamethasone are widely available without prescription in parts of South-East Asia, including Thailand. Pharmacist Ana Carolina Goncalves warned that prolonged misuse can weaken bones, raise blood sugar levels and suppress the immune system. Abruptly stopping long-term use may trigger a potentially life-threatening adrenal crisis.

Experts also highlighted concerns over antibiotics sold without prescriptions in many countries. Dr Ilan Lieberman said misuse contributes to antibiotic resistance, a growing global health threat. Taking the wrong antibiotic, dose or treatment duration may allow infections to worsen and increase the risk of severe complications.

Other medications discussed include melatonin supplements commonly sold over the counter in the United States, oral diclofenac tablets available in some countries despite cardiovascular risks, and metamizole, a painkiller banned in the UK but still available in parts of Eastern Europe due to concerns over potentially fatal immune system collapse.

The Daily Mall reported that Dr Naveed Asif of The London General Practice said many symptoms can overlap between different illnesses, increasing the risk that travellers choose inappropriate medications. Experts advise holidaymakers to seek qualified medical advice before using prescription-only drugs obtained abroad.

Picture courtesy of The Daily Mall

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailymail 24 June 2026

View full article

Post breaking forum rules removed.

@GreasyFingers rule 17.News articles are collected from recognised sources and may be consolidated or rewritten with AI assistance. Respectful discussion of the article content is welcome. Disrespectful comments about the articles, the use of AI, or the news team (e.g. “clickbait,” “slow news day,” mocking grammar, or AI taunts) are not permitted. Posts breaching this rule will be removed, and posting suspension or account closure may result

Don't even mention Xanax, Valium and Codein....

if you abuse any drug or use it wrong its your fault.

i like cheap meds.

you can buy morphine and ketamine otc in cambodia. obviously that attracts a certain western crowd

1 hour ago, GreasyFingers said:

The people complaining are the ones losing money on drugs they like to control.

Misuse of any drug, prescription or not, will harm the body.

yes indeed its all about control

I'm from the US not the UK and I have bought medications that I have a prescription for (in the US) over the counter in Thailand. I am under a doctor's care and my health is being monitored, it's just sometimes cheaper in Thailand, but not always.

13 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Don't even mention Xanax, Valium and Codein....

Reality is in the UK many basic medications cannot be bought, I think IIRC I could only buy a small number of Paracetamol and couldn't find aspirin. The more liberal situation in Thailand was a better arrangement.

I find that the Thai "Mom and Pop" pharmacies are more likely to sell medications without a prescription than pharmacies located within Thai national stores such as Boots and Watsons that require prescriptions for medications that carry notices of significant or dangerous side effects and miss use.

16 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Millions of UK travellers heading overseas this holiday season may be tempted to buy medications without a prescription, including drugs that would normally require medical approval in the UK. Thailand is among several countries where some prescription-only medicines, including weight loss injections, antibiotics and corticosteroids, can be obtained more easily, raising concerns among medical experts about the risks of self-prescribing.

Get today's headlines by email

Research cited by Travel Weekly suggests more than half of Britons are likely to take at least one trip abroad. While lower prices and easier access may make foreign medicines attractive, doctors warn that buying prescription-only treatments without proper medical supervision can lead to serious health complications.

Weight loss injections containing semaglutide, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are available without prescription in parts of Thailand and some other countries. Experts say incorrect dosing can trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration, while more severe complications may include pancreatitis and gallbladder disease. NHS GP Dr Amel Imam said medical supervision is needed to ensure patients begin with low doses and increase gradually.

Thailand is also among countries where tretinoin, a vitamin A derivative used to treat acne and skin ageing, can be purchased without a prescription. Consultant dermatologist Dr Tina Tian warned that incorrect use can damage the skin, causing redness, peeling, inflammation and increased sensitivity to sunlight. The treatment should also not be used during pregnancy due to the risk of birth defects.

Corticosteroids such as prednisolone and dexamethasone are widely available without prescription in parts of South-East Asia, including Thailand. Pharmacist Ana Carolina Goncalves warned that prolonged misuse can weaken bones, raise blood sugar levels and suppress the immune system. Abruptly stopping long-term use may trigger a potentially life-threatening adrenal crisis.

Experts also highlighted concerns over antibiotics sold without prescriptions in many countries. Dr Ilan Lieberman said misuse contributes to antibiotic resistance, a growing global health threat. Taking the wrong antibiotic, dose or treatment duration may allow infections to worsen and increase the risk of severe complications.

Other medications discussed include melatonin supplements commonly sold over the counter in the United States, oral diclofenac tablets available in some countries despite cardiovascular risks, and metamizole, a painkiller banned in the UK but still available in parts of Eastern Europe due to concerns over potentially fatal immune system collapse.

The Daily Mall reported that Dr Naveed Asif of The London General Practice said many symptoms can overlap between different illnesses, increasing the risk that travellers choose inappropriate medications. Experts advise holidaymakers to seek qualified medical advice before using prescription-only drugs obtained abroad.

Picture courtesy of The Daily Mall

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailymail 24 June 2026

View full artic

And why Brits mentioned only?

Are they all junkies, high on drugs?

Are other nationalities more sensible, rational and sane??

11 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

And why Brits mentioned only?

Are they all junkies, high on drugs?

Are other nationalities more sensible, rational and sane??

Perhaps because the article origin was the Dailymail?

36 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Reality is in the UK many basic medications cannot be bought, I think IIRC I could only buy a small number of Paracetamol and couldn't find aspirin. The more liberal situation in Thailand was a better arrangement.

On the other hand you have to pay a small fortune for Ibuprofen in Thailand while in the USA a large bottle of the stuff is cheap as chalk.

You are unable to source nothing but the most basic over the counter medication back in the U.K. Apart from interestingly Viagra or it’s generic 🙂.

Anything else of course involves a consultation with your NHS GP. Good luck with that.!! Up to 3 weeks or so.

My local Thai pharmacist is incredibly knowledgeable, sorts me out there and then. I know what I prefer.

7 minutes ago, Front Row said:

On the other hand you have to pay a small fortune for Ibuprofen in Thailand while in the USA a large bottle of the stuff is cheap as chalk.

If you come from Switzerland, it's cheap as chips in Thailand (20 pills 400er are at least 400 Baht in Switzerland). And you can get it in much higher strength. I buy several meds that are not otc back home and bring them back with me.

1 hour ago, technoronin said:

I'm from the US not the UK and I have bought medications that I have a prescription for (in the US) over the counter in Thailand. I am under a doctor's care and my health is being monitored, it's just sometimes cheaper in Thailand, but not always.

I’m also from the US but now living the retired life in Thailand. I’m able to buy my blood pressure medicine along with my eyedrops for glaucoma cheaper here than in the US even with the insurance I had while I was working.

I still periodically see the doctor to make sure everything is still good

I find the system here most beneficial. I have 2 recurring medical conditions, which in Canada require prescription medications, which means an appointmentto see the doctor ( 3 day wait or more if it's a weekend, or a lengthyvisit to emergencyat the hospital ) In Thailand I just riun to the pharmacy, pick up my meds , start treatment , thus reducing damage caused by flare ups.

For those that abuse the system or choose to over medicate, well , it's hard to stop this no matter what country they are in .

35 minutes ago, Cenovis said:

If you come from Switzerland, it's cheap as chips in Thailand (20 pills 400er are at least 400 Baht in Switzerland). And you can get it in much higher strength. I buy several meds that are not otc back home and bring them back with me.

Ibuprofen is one of the good examples of how the government regulators view the dangers of certain drugs. One country makes it prescription only, another as OTC, and a third treats it like candy.

Personally I’d like my drugs to all be inexpensive. 😉 I don’t care much if a prescription is required.

I quite like how the Thai government treat us as adults and it is up to us to decide which meds are harmful.

I can get most of my prescription drugs here without prescription but in most cases they’re cheaper in Australia!

I'm from the US not the UK and I have bought medications that I have a prescription for (in the US) over the counter in Thailand. I am under a doctor's care and my health is being monitored, it's just sometimes cheaper in Thailand, but not always.

I think the big advantage of Thailand is that I don't have to pay $150 for a 5 minute consult with my doctor to get a script for that $10 refill.

17 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Don't even mention Xanax, Valium and Codein....

Those all all completely restricted to hospitals with a prescription from that hospital's doctor.

2 hours ago, Front Row said:

Ibuprofen is one of the good examples of how the government regulators view the dangers of certain drugs. One country makes it prescription only, another as OTC, and a third treats it like candy.

Personally I’d like my drugs to all be inexpensive. 😉 I don’t care much if a prescription is required.

Here, amazingly, it's aspirin which is hard to get!

I always bring 2 months worth of my UK prescription-only heart, BP and cholesterol meds with me to Thailand. I also bring the prescription.

They're free in UK due to my age.

Earlier this year I took a list and asked a pharmacist if I could buy them OTC. (In case I ever run out) Prescription never even mentioned

No problem - had them all in stock

Personally, I see nothing wrong with that - as an adult, I should have the choice, but in the UK "Nanny" says I mustn't 😡

All the people who want more rules & restrictions should remember we all use Dr Google. Most health information, including medications, dosage & side effects are readily available.

I miss the good old days when my pharmacy sold a litre of Ketamine for 500 baht!

14 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

All the people who want more rules & restrictions should remember we all use Dr Google. Most health information, including medications, dosage & side effects are readily available.

I miss the good old days when my pharmacy sold a litre of Ketamine for 500 baht!

You could knock a horse out with that.

40 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Those all all completely restricted to hospitals with a prescription from that hospital's doctor.

I buy Valium form a little pharmacy in my Soi, they wont sell xanax though... My doc prescribes that and I get it at the hospital phramacy.

I understand the concern, but I also see the convenience.

If I develop a bacterial infection in Thailand, I can walk into a pharmacy, explain my symptoms and usually get what I need. In the UK, I'd likely wait days, perhaps a week, just to see a GP. I actually take antibiotics from Thailand when I visit the UK.

A recent eye problem is a good example. I self diagnosed and and the pharmacy had the steroid drops I wanted. A little more research reminded me that if I'd misdiagnosed it, steroids could make certain infections much worse, so I saw an ophthalmologist within the hour.

The diagnosis matched my own, and I bought the same medication from a pharmacy for a fraction of the hospital price.

I like having the option to self-medicate, but I also know when not to. That's the balance - thats also the problem that some will self medicate without the 'balance' and take chances.

4 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

And why Brits mentioned only?

Are they all junkies, high on drugs?

Are other nationalities more sensible, rational and sane?

No - thats just your interpretation of the article which simply feeds any negative Brit-Bias you may carry.

This story covers the British, because its lifted from the Daily Mail - A British Tabloid.

In fact, much of Thailand's English-language news isn't generated locally. It often republishes or rewrites stories from UK tabloids, media outlets and English langaiuge based social media.

That naturally creates a British centric news feeds.

Some people then mistake that media bias for reality, using the volume of British stories to reinforce their own preconceptions. In many cases, it's simply a reflection of where the article came from, not evidence that Brits are uniquely worse than everyone else.

I don't think it's really worth traveling to Thailand to take advantage of cheaper medication. Medication is generally more expensive here than in the West. Certainly, if you consider that in our countries, many medications are covered by social security. The only advantage is that many prescription medications aren't required here.

But seriously, if I'm sick in my own country, I prefer to be treated by a doctor who will prescribe the necessary medication. In Thailand, the advantage is that in an emergency, if you know what you need, you can get it at the pharmacy without a prescription. I'm thinking, for example, of antibiotics. In case of gonorrhea, for instance, this can be very useful—I'm obviously talking about a friend.

Besides, I don't understand why this article specifically targets the British, since those of us from Western countries are all affected.

In conclusion, this article doesn't make much sense.

35 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

No - thats just your interpretation of the article which simply feeds any negative Brit-Bias you may carry.

This story covers the British, because its lifted from the Daily Mail - A British Tabloid.

In fact, much of Thailand's English-language news isn't generated locally. It often republishes or rewrites stories from UK tabloids, media outlets and English langaiuge based social media.

That naturally creates a British centric news feeds.

Some people then mistake that media bias for reality, using the volume of British stories to reinforce their own preconceptions. In many cases, it's simply a reflection of where the article came from, not evidence that Brits are uniquely worse than everyone else.

Total nonsense, the Thai news stories are mostly produced from Thai media sources. A few articles, including this one, are taken from Uk sources, mostly these are follow ups.

The source of each article is always stated in each article and most are from Thai language media sources.

That is the reality and fact. How do I know, well because I write them all every day.

3 hours ago, impulse said:

I think the big advantage of Thailand is that I don't have to pay $150 for a 5 minute consult with my doctor to get a script for that $10 refill.

In my country the doctor can prescribe several drugs and much more than one treatment in one visit .

^{Most of my prescriptions last for almost one year medication. It cost me ONE visit of 10€ since the doctor's fee is mainly reimbursed by the social security .}

^{CONCLUSION: as I said before it is not worth to travel to Thailand only for that purpose}