Ibs And Lomotil

[phetaroi]

First, thanks to our moderator for a private email interchange which helped me understand why I am having a bit of a problem with this situation.

I have suffered from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrom) all my life. In 1988 during my second trip to Thailand I discovered Lomotil during a terrible bout of food poisoning. When I got back to the States I asked my doctor what about using Lomotil for the IBS, and he said that it was actually one of the drugs of choice, and so I have taken it "as needed" since then. For me it works perfectly and is completely predictable. And, BTW, when I say I take it "as needed", I do not mean daily, and I on days when I do need it I take far less than what my doctor prescribed (for example, I could take up to 12 per day, but never took more than 4 per day, and 95% of the time not more than 2 per day).

Ironically, though I discovered it here in Thailand it has now become a "N3 - Narcotic Drug Schedule 3". Now that I'm living here I can't find it.

What do posters think I should do?

Begin experimenting again with other legal drugs that are more available?

Go to a Thai doctor, explain the situation, and see if I can get a prescription? (So far I have gone to Bumrungrad for anything medical, but I am open to other possibilities).

Or???

Any advice greatly appreciated.

V

[Sheryl]

I think it depends on whether or not, before getting stabilized on lomotil, you had tried other drugs without success.

Excluding preparations containing anti-infective agents, charcoal or kaolin, the most widely used/available OTC preparation in Thailand is loperamide (immodium, but available in multiple brands including a very inexpensive GPO generic) . Since it is widely available and inexpensive, if you have never tried it you could do so. But if you tried it in the past without success then I wouldn't "rock the boat" with another trial but rather see a doctor and get a script for lomotil....unless you can find a pharmacy selling it. As mentioned in my PM, category N3 drugs do not actually require a prescription, they require a special license for the pharmacy and reporting on sales. However most pharmacies seem not to want to go through the hoops of getting the necessary license and others just react to the categorization as if it were prescription-only, even though it is not. If you haven't yet, might be worth contacting Fascino's as they are more likely to have an accurate understanding of the classification and also more likely to have the requisite license to sell N3 drugs.

The present Thai FDA drug classification system is confusing and has multiple categories, plans have been underway for some time to simplify into only 3 categories: sale to general public by anyone (home remedies), sale to general public by licensed pharmacists, and prescription-only. Remains to be seen when that will go into effect and which category lomotil will at that point fall into.

[newtronbom]

I too suffer IBS and Lomotil works best for me as well. My hospital doctor prescribes no prob but it costs me a small fortune. If you do find a pharmacy that "can legally" sell it, I would like to know. Thank you.

[newtronbom]

Hi. Glad to help. Her name is Naruemon Jintapatthanakit and she works at Chaopraya hospital in Pinklao - I think her section in Thai is called Pittawhet or Kittawhet -LOL some thing sounds like that - just say it fast when making an appointment. Best price I have to date, was 20 baht per strip, but that was a pharmacy in Hua Hin who gave it to me(4 months ago) when I asked for it. Good luck. I know what you are going through!