Is Viagra Legally Prescription Only In Thailand?

[Digitalbanana]

Are the legally available ED drugs Viagra and the Thai generic equivalent (Elonza) only available by prescription in Thailand?

Apologies for the un original question but searches usually end up with references to cheaper black market products.

Edited October 9, 2010 by Digitalbanana

[Sheryl]

Yes. Prescription only.

[britmaveric]

^no you do not need a prescription.

[jsflynn603]

I'm surprised that there are not more posts here so I'll add one, as to a good portion of the population, this subject is often a uh, hard one to discuss...

The problem with Viagra, Levitra and Cialis is that concurrent use with nitrates, such as nitroglycerin tabs which are used under the tongue to alleviate angina pain, or which can be used by medical personnel during a heart attack can cause deadly low blood pressure. I'm not sure about the status of amyl nitrate compounds that used to be sold by names as "tape head cleaner," or "deoderizer" or "locker room; they used to be legal for use, but may be illegal in some countries now, but again combined use of one of these nitrate sniffers and the ED (Erectile Dysfunction meds) can lead to fatally low blood pressure.

Additionally, while quite rare, all three meds can cause priapism which is an erection that will not soften.

These are good reasons to require a discussion with a medical practitioner, and a prescription.

Priapism is also known also as Hulseyism, is a potentially harmful and painful medical condition in which the erectile member of either sex does not return to its flaccid state, despite the absence of both physical and psychological stimulation, within four hours. Beyond that the situation becomes a medical emergency and one should seek assistance immediately.

Oftentimes ED is not talked about though it is common. A rule of thumb is this: Take a person's age in decades, and multiply that by 10 and you have the % of people who suffer from ED in that age group at least occasionally. Thus if a person is age 50-59, about 50% will, on occasion, suffer from ED which can substantially reduce the quality of life for that person and his partner. In the age group 30-39, about 30% will, at least occasionally suffer from ED.

If one experiences ED it is good to ask your medical practitioner for a sample (if available and if appropriate for you) of each and then try them to see which works best.

Viagra was the first ED oral medication. I tend to think of it as though it uses a "shotgun" approach and I do not think highly of it. I call it the "three-step-med." (Yet it works fine for some.) The three steps are not what you think. 1) Take an acid reducer for the heartburn you are likely to experience. 2) Take something for the headache you are likely to experience. 3) Take the Viagra.

Levitra is a chemical very similar to Viagra, and in my estimation, it also is far too broad acting, with too many adverse effects, and like Viagra is too short acting (both last ~4 hours) often causing intimacy and performance anxiety.

Cialis is the third generation med and its action is far more specific, if Viagra and Levitra use a shotgun approach, Cialis uses a rifle. Thus while one might experience heartburn or headache, they are both less likely to, and if the adverse effects occur they are apt to be milder and/or of shorter duration. Cialis like the other two's onset of action is about 30 minutes. Cialis effect lasts for 20-36 hours which can do a lot to increase intimacy and reduce "time pressure." If a person is offered only one as a sample, I would suggest Cialis.

No medical practitioner, be it a MD, a Nurse Practitioner, or Physicians Assistant thinks twice about discussing ED meds and if you sense that they do, find another.

All three are probably the most frequently counterfeit meds on earth and oddly, even the counterfeit (fake) ones seem to cost about the same as the real ones as the counterfeiters prey on people's embarrassment about the condition. Worse, counterfeiters, in an effort to cause an "action" frequently use harmful or potentially harmful herbs. The generics are just as good as the branded ones as long as they are obtained through a reliable pharmacological source.

One common misunderstanding is that they cause arousal. In fact, none of them cause "arousal" in the slightest, not a bit. Notwithstanding the cartoons that one sees, in the absence of stimulation one does not get an erection--regardless of the quantity. Also if let's say 5mg will work for you, 20mg will not necessarily work better--it's more likely that they will simply increase adverse effects, and people with splitting headaches or severe heartburn lose interest in sexual relations regardless of ability. More is not necessarily better, often less is better.

Many wise physicians or practitioners give a sample, let's say of 20mg Cialis to a patient with the suggestion to cut it into quarters and try one (now about 5mg) to start. (Some meds must NOT be cut, always check with your physician) If 1/4 or 5mg works fine, as is often the case, this works against the evil Pharmaking practice (at least in America) of pricing the 5mg, the 10mg and the 20mg tablets at the same price. (In fact, the 5mg tabs are usually more expensive than the 20 for some reason) Thus if Cialis in America is $10US/tab, and 5mg works for you, a same priced 20mg cut into quarters will drop the per use price by 3/4. $2.50 is much better than $10 and if 1/8 of a tab might work for you as can sometimes be the case $1.25 is much, much better than $10. Cialis is a tear-drop shaped tablet which makes it difficult to cut into four pieces--I wonder if that was intended? (Says the Pharmaking: max the profit boys...max the profits!)

Caveat: I am not a medical practitioner but simply a person sharing what I know. When it comes to medication always check with your medical practitioner. Every one of us is a sexual being and if you have issues, life is short, don't ignore it.

To admin: Feel free to edit this if you find something that might be construed as disrespectful or unlawful in Thailand.

[FBN]

To find out what the Thai FDA classification of any drug is, access Thailand MIMS from the pinned topics on this forum. You will need to register but its free..

Find the drug through the search option and click on the drug name which will open a summary of the info for the drug. The last item on the table is the "Thailand FDA Category"; click on that and it explains all the categories.

Elonza is listed as "S" (Special Drug) and clearly states that a prescription is required.

[Digitalbanana]

Thanks guys for replies. Particularly liked the MIMS link. To register one cannot choose "Other" as profession on that site btw or nothing happens.

[kimamey]

I have a query regarding ED medication (Cialis in my case)

I have a problem with ED which after discussion with my doctor in the UK is probably due to medication for high blood pressure / hypertension. Last year I was prescribed Viagra but it didn't seem to work so this year it's Cialis. It's a bit worrying to read that it shouldn't be used in conjunction with hypertension meds but I assume my doctors know what they're talking about.

The problem is that with me in the UK and my gf in Thailand I can't really try it out and then go back for more or an alternative. I'm going out for 3 weeks at the end of December. He asked how many I needed which is where it's a problem. If I have four and they work I'll need more. If I have 8 and they don't work then they're wasted. Of course it also depends on whether I need half a tablet or a whole one. The ideal situation would be if I had 2 prescriptions for 4 each. That way I could get more if it was successful. So my question is could I get Cialis using my UK prescription in Thailand?

This is of course a private prescription which I have to pay for.

[Sheryl]

No, you will need a prescription from a Thai physician. That will not be at all hard to get (no pun intended!) and consultations aren't costly. However the drug itself will cost you more here than back home since it is imported from Europe to begin with.

You can bring in up to a 30 supply of Cialis with you as long as clearly labeled in a prescription bottle with your name and doc's name on it.

However in your case I think you might be better served by a change of BP meds. That will often resolve the problem, and your concerns about mixing ED drugs with anti-hypertensives are apt ones.

As for your doctors knowing what they are doing, no doubt they do in terms of controlling your hypertension, but doctors do vary in how responsive they are to a patient's concerns about side effects that are not dangerous but affect their quality of life. If they have not at least tried a switch of medications to deal with your ED then you may not have been optimally served.

I don't know which class of drugs you are currently on for your BP. Beta blockers and diuretics are especially likely to cause ED. These are also common first line drugs and the least expensive ones, thus often favored by national health services, HMOs and the like. Sometimes there are internal regulations, aimed at cost containment, that restrict physicians from prescribing more costly types of medication like the angiotensisn II inhibitors, which are much less likely to cause ED and even appear to have a favorable effect on it in hypertensive patients.

see http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/439675_3

Among the anghiotensin II inhbitors, losartan is available in an inexpensive local generic in Thailand, brand name Loranta.

Of course you should first check with your doctor as to whether there are any medical reasons why you should not switch to this class of antihypertensive. And, you should monitor your BP after any adjustment or change in medication.

[kimamey]

Thanks for your reply Sheryl. I was on beta blockers to start with but they cased problems so I think I'm on alpha blockers now. I'm on Angiotensin II inhibitor in the form of Candesarten.