Combigan

[WHITESAND]

Can any one tell me where I can buy this at a reasonable cost. Rutnin hospital are very cheap to see a good doctor but make there money overpricing the meds.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Can any one tell me where I can buy this at a reasonable cost. Rutnin hospital are very cheap to see a good doctor but make there money overpricing the meds.

I've been going to Rutnin for glaucoma for about 15 years then figured out that TRUSOPT and TIMOPOL are commonly available at many to most Thai pharmacies, so have been buying on the street for 12+ years.

Try your local pharmacy, the one I've been going to in the Rangsit market is good.

Mac

[WHITESAND]

Can any one tell me where I can buy this at a reasonable cost. Rutnin hospital are very cheap to see a good doctor but make there money overpricing the meds.

I've been going to Rutnin for glaucoma for about 15 years then figured out that TRUSOPT and TIMOPOL are commonly available at many to most Thai pharmacies, so have been buying on the street for 12+ years.

Try your local pharmacy, the one I've been going to in the Rangsit market is good.

Mac

Yes everthing else I can get,but my local pharmacy have called back to say his supplier is only aloud to send under prescription from a doctor. I think he does not want to do it as it is not from his regular supplier, but thanks for the reply.

[Sheryl]

I looked it up and in fact, Combigan is for some strange reason a schedule "S" drug in Thailand, which means it can only be dispensed by a physician.

Why, I have no idea; what makes it odder still is that it is a combination of 2 drugs (brimonidine tartrate + timolol) which are both available without prescription.

Even if it were sold OTC, Combigan is still going to be quite costly as it is a patented import.

You might ask your doctor if you could use timolo and brimonidine spearately rather than the combiend preparation, as they are available in local generic form and OTC.

[WHITESAND]

I looked it up and in fact, Combigan is for some strange reason a schedule "S" drug in Thailand, which means it can only be dispensed by a physician.

Why, I have no idea; what makes it odder still is that it is a combination of 2 drugs (brimonidine tartrate + timolol) which are both available without prescription.

Even if it were sold OTC, Combigan is still going to be quite costly as it is a patented import.

You might ask your doctor if you could use timolo and brimonidine spearately rather than the combiend preparation, as they are available in local generic form and OTC.

Sheryl, does that mean If I get a prescription a friendly pharmacist can order it for me or can only be given by my doctor. I think I might ask the doctor if I can go back to just Timolol because I also take Azopt, Isopto Carpine and Travatan but my eyes are both holding steady at 16.

[Sheryl]

The prescription-only system in Thailand works differently than in the west, they do not use scripts as far as I can tell you have to get it from a hospital pharmacy. In any case as mentioned the savings would be very slight.

If your doctor feels that Timolol alone is not sufficient ask about using the two drugs (Timolol and Brimonidine) in separate preparations. Merely by having it in 2 bottles and using drops from each, you will save substantially over the cost of the Combigan and still get the same medication. But di get guidance from your doctor on dosage etc. There are locally made brands of both and they are sold OTC.

[WHITESAND]

Thanks Sheryl, I will discuss with the doctor.