Finding Opioids In Laos Or Northern Thailand

[pariahdog]

About 6 months ago I developed chronic daily migraine headaches. I was planning to move to Vientiane, but now I'm not sure I can do it. I take lots of preventative drugs that reduce my bad headaches to only 3-4 days per week instead of all 7, but I do need some kind of opiate for those days. I realize this can make expat life very difficult indeed. I have been to both Thailand and Laos, but I was never really looking for prescription pain killers. I wasn't living there or anything I was just visiting as a tourist. And I never even went to a pharmacy in Laos. Can anyone fill me on on the situation as far as the availability of real prescription pain killers like codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine etc? I would also ask about illicit derivitives of the papaver somniferum, but that would be against the forum rules. And, anyway, I'd really prefer not to break any laws in a place like Laos. I am guessing that I would have to go down to Nong Kai or Udon Thani and visit a pharmacy there, probably with a Thai doctor's prescription in hand, to get even something as weak as a Tylenol with Codeine. Tramadol doesn't count. It's a joke. I have to take borderline toxic amounts to get even a tiny bit of pain relief from it.

[girlx]

i think if you were looking for pain pills for a legitimate problem, you would not be asking for them on thai visa. there are plenty of professional hospitals here that can help you out. take a bus to bangkok and visit one of them.

[siam4ever]

Narcotics Anonymous is active in Thailand with many meetings throughout. See website; good luck!

[twschw]

i think if you were looking for pain pills for a legitimate problem, you would not be asking for them on thai visa. there are plenty of professional hospitals here that can help you out. take a bus to bangkok and visit one of them.

I believe the OP was asking about availability in Loas not Thailand.

[Beardog]

Your going to be pretty dead in the water looking for any medium range opiates. They were all aced a while back. Morphine or fentanyl patch are available for 1000 baht + if you are in dire need. Tramadol is the best (weak sauce) pain killer over the counter- more of a space out than an actual painkiller to me.

here is a post I saved from a while back.

I had the same problem trying to refill a hydrocodone prescription at Bumrungrad.

The doctor explained to me that it and other "mid level" painkillers are not available in Thailand.

I was shocked and saddened to think of the millions suffering with chronic pain in Thailand.

After much discussion, and insisting on a painkiller that would actually help me cope with my pain, he suggested a "fentanyl patch".

An opiate, and addictive (as is oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxycontin) it helped tremendously.

The patch is placed on your arm or shoulder and lasts 3 days. It comes in different strengths....I believe I was comfortable with 50 mcg.

The heat in Thailand can cause you to sweat and loosen the patch...I found 3 or four fabric bandages (Band Aids) to hold it on worked well.

It is very expensive...at least at Bumrungrad.....but helped me immensely.

Just be aware of it's addictive properties....but if you suffer from chronic pain and are gonna be taking drugs constantly anyway........why not be happy?

Cheers Beardog........probably best to bring over as much as you can in the original prescription bottle & be safe.

[Sheryl]

You cannot legally get opiates at a pharmacy, even low dose codeine needs to come from a doctor in a hospital and you will find them very hesitant to prescribe them on a chronic basis.

There are however a number of migraine specialists in Thailand who might be able to help in terms of other state of the art drugs for this (non-opiate).

[mommysboy]

You cannot legally get opiates at a pharmacy, even low dose codeine needs to come from a doctor in a hospital and you will find them very hesitant to prescribe them on a chronic basis.

There are however a number of migraine specialists in Thailand who might be able to help in terms of other state of the art drugs for this (non-opiate).

Trouble is paracetemol. aspirin, etc, just don't help. Short of hitting the bottle, what is one to do? There are a myriad of 'minor ailments' that really can cause distress. It's not implausible for a dying cancer patient to not have pain at all, while somebody with 'just a bad back' can be in perpetual agony.

My sympathies to all concerned, but I fear access to opiates is not the answer.

Anybody got any answers on pain control as it's a very serious subject.

[technocracy]

About 6 months ago I developed chronic daily migraine headaches. I was planning to move to Vientiane, but now I'm not sure I can do it. I take lots of preventative drugs that reduce my bad headaches to only 3-4 days per week instead of all 7, but I do need some kind of opiate for those days. I realize this can make expat life very difficult indeed. I have been to both Thailand and Laos, but I was never really looking for prescription pain killers. I wasn't living there or anything I was just visiting as a tourist. And I never even went to a pharmacy in Laos. Can anyone fill me on on the situation as far as the availability of real prescription pain killers like codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine etc? I would also ask about illicit derivitives of the papaver somniferum, but that would be against the forum rules. And, anyway, I'd really prefer not to break any laws in a place like Laos. I am guessing that I would have to go down to Nong Kai or Udon Thani and visit a pharmacy there, probably with a Thai doctor's prescription in hand, to get even something as weak as a Tylenol with Codeine. Tramadol doesn't count. It's a joke. I have to take borderline toxic amounts to get even a tiny bit of pain relief from it.

Pariahdog - just out of interest have you investigated the underlying reason for the migraines? Most migraines are in some way related to food allergies (MSG etc) or eye related (have you had your vision checked?). My wife developed really long never ending migraines and they turn out to be sight related - although can't remember the exact problem - she had some glasses and they subsided and she hasn't had any since.

But anyway let me give you the low down on 'prescription' medicines in Laos - opposed to all the Thai one thus far on the thread. I say 'prescription' because here there isn't such a thing, you can roll up to any pharmacy and ask for whatever you want and if they've got it they'll sell it you. The only drawback is they don't have a huge variety and you wouldn't get some of the more obscure drugs that the big hospitals in Thailand would have.

However I am pretty sure that you would get codeine and quite possibly morphine - what I'd suggest is if you make a visit to Vientiane and visit a pharmacy and ask. The best one in town is just off from the main mekong road - if you follow the mekong towards the Don Chan Palace Hotel (away from the centre) past the hospital on the left to the junction where there is a guest house on the corner of the road just a few shops in that street is the pharmacy.

I can assure you that the pharmacies in Nong Khai or Udon have absolutely nothing that they don't have in Vientiane.

Failing that take a trip up to Vang Vieng and buy a lump of Opium .. . . . . . Only joking.

[Kerryd]

Pariahdog - just out of interest have you investigated the underlying reason for the migraines? Most migraines are in some way related to food allergies (MSG etc) or eye related (have you had your vision checked?). My wife developed really long never ending migraines and they turn out to be sight related - although can't remember the exact problem - she had some glasses and they subsided and she hasn't had any since.

I had that problem. Never realised how bad my eyes were getting, but I was getting monster migraines far too frequently.

I had to have an eye exam for an unrelated reason, and during the exam I found out how bad my vision had deteriorated. Ended up with glasses and it was about 3 months later it suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't had a migraine in all that time.

Ever since then, no problems. Every year or so I get another check-up and if need be, new glasses & contact lenses.

Migraine free for 22 years now !

[robee]

i think if you were looking for pain pills for a legitimate problem, you would not be asking for them on thai visa. there are plenty of professional hospitals here that can help you out. take a bus to bangkok and visit one of them.

yup yup. have had migraines from a car crash. accupuncture, advil, ice, and so on... any others??? i'll pass on the dope

[robee]

You cannot legally get opiates at a pharmacy, even low dose codeine needs to come from a doctor in a hospital and you will find them very hesitant to prescribe them on a chronic basis.

There are however a number of migraine specialists in Thailand who might be able to help in terms of other state of the art drugs for this (non-opiate).

Trouble is paracetemol. aspirin, etc, just don't help. Short of hitting the bottle, what is one to do? There are a myriad of 'minor ailments' that really can cause distress. It's not implausible for a dying cancer patient to not have pain at all, while somebody with 'just a bad back' can be in perpetual agony.

My sympathies to all concerned, but I fear access to opiates is not the answer.

Anybody got any answers on pain control as it's a very serious subject.

for me i know they are not the answer. always looking for pain control via nonnarcotics

[toybits]

Shouldn't the OP worry about getting addicted to these opioids? Codeine is a restricted drug because it was abused by people. Medical professionals are right in restricting the use of opiates because they could become habit forming.

Dr. House should know.

[pariahdog]

Just want to thank technocracy for the very informative answer. Sounds like it *may* not be a problem. I am really happy about that because I am very determined to live in Laos. It is definitely one of my favorite countries in the world. [i'm not really a fan of Thailand though. And it looks like I won't be too impressed with the Thai expat crowd either if girlx is any indication.]

And morphine isn't really necessary (although certainly appreciated). Tylenol with codeine works if I take enough of them. Although Tylenol 1s and 2s may not work. Now I really wish I had checked the pharmacies while I was there. Of course I didn't have this problem then so it wasn't such a concern. I just assumed that hospitals would have something at least by IV if something serious happened. Thanks for the hint about Vang Vieng. I'll keep that in mind as well before ruling out Laos as a place of residence for this reason alone.

As far as "addiction", it seems like I'm pretty immune to it at least as far as codeine is concerned. I was taking around 10 tylenol #3s (30/300) a day in Colombia for 3 to 4 weeks (for postsurgical pain) and then I just stopped. Bang. No weaning at all. I don't remember experiencing any withdrawal symptoms. Strangely enough my pharmacist insisted that withdrawal isn't a problem with codeine. Haha! Maybe it was the placebo effect! Although it wasn't like I really believed him. And the pills were available OTC so it wasn't like it was forced by the end of a prescription or anything. I just decided to stop and that was that.

And for those of you who have experienced migraines and have not been tempted by opiates good for you! Seriously. Opiates are definitely not good for you. If you prefer to be in pain, more power to you. I hate being in pain however. And I especially hate being in pain constantly for many hours or days. So as long as you allow me to have my opiates for my breakthrough headaches then we can all be happy.

And I do appreciate the suggestions to get my eyes checked. The pain seems to radiate from my eye sockets. So at first I thought of Glaucoma or just intraocular hypertension, but it turns out that neither of those cause pain. And neither my primary care doc, nor my neurologist seems to think it has much chance of being an eye problem. Apparently migraines often seem to radiate from the eyes. I am switching to a new medication today that I am hoping well reduce the number of breakthrough headaches.

Lastly I am NOT a recreational drug user and strongly resent the implication. I don't even drink. Not even beer or wine. Not even for special occasions. And I have never smoked a cigarette either of tobacco or marijuana in my life. Never ever even tried either of them. So I wonder who is more "pure". Me or girlx. I probably should have just PMed technocracy instead of posting my question openly. Seems like there aren't too many others here who know much about Laos anyway.

[sabaijai]

That's why it's called ThaiVisa.com ... and not LaoVisa.com Glad you found your answer though.