Pharmacies In Thailand

[GPage]

Are the pharmacies or drug stores in Thailand stocked with well known western sundries? Are these types of items available in supermarkets, or are they only sold in pharmacies. (i.e. cold capsules, nasal spray, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.)

How are the prices? Are there any western name brands or are they mostly Thai?

Thanks

[BambinA]

Are the pharmacies or drug stores in Thailand stocked with well known western sundries? 

yes we have .. we use same drug as farang use (from gerneric name ..but some u can find in diff. common name)

pharmacists here are well done ..(i mean a pharma who was graduated from Univ.)

Are these types of items available in supermarkets, or are they only sold in pharmacies.  (i.e. cold capsules, nasal spray, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.)

u can find both in supermarket and drug stores

How are the prices? 

depends on drug..seem cheaper than farang land

Are there any western name brands or are they mostly Thai?

we use english as the medicine 's name(98%)

if u re worried..u'd ask them for generic name ,instead brand name

example

.. u ask for ciprofloxacin instead cipro /ciproflox

..u ask for amoxycillin instead ibiamox

etc

ps..even u ask them for brand name i still think its no prob, they will get it

[Montanut]

Gpage,

Boots the Chemist are all over the place in Bangkok and other tourist towns. Most pharmacists in the tourist areas speak English very well. Galxo welcome etc You can also get simple medicines from supermarkets.

Hope this helps.

[cathyy]

I can give you a most enlightening example of medication prices in the US vs Thailand.

I use an inhaler for my asthma. Without insurance here in the US it costs $180 for a 200 dose inhaler. I ran out while in Thailand and bought a replacement. Same brand name, same manufacturer. It cost me $15 for a 100 dose inhaler. Fortunately I have excellent insurance, and I pay only a $10 co-pay here per medication. But you get an idea of the difference? Drug prices in the US are unregulated, unlike most other countries, so the drug companies go for all the profit they can.

[tutsiwarrior]

watch out if you are diabetic...glucose meter test strips and insulin can be hard to come by away from big cities...

[sonnyJ]

I would go to Boots or Watson's or similar to get medicine that is 100% sure not to be fake, though costs a little more.

For the presgription usually needed stuff in a hurry, go to a so called "local thai pharmacy".

[toptuan]

For the presgription usually needed stuff in a hurry, go to a so called "local thai pharmacy".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...and when you need a diagnosis! Definitely full service.

Our local Thai pharmacist keeps his flashlight handy so he can peer up your nose or down your throat. Inspection, diagnosis, prescription and cure all come for one low price!

[astral]

I would go to Boots or Watson's or similar to get medicine that is 100% sure not to be fake, though costs a little more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would avoid these shops.

They will want to see the prescription, where as the local pharmacy will sell you

what you need, if he has it on the shelves.

[ahernsv]

I am aware that Viagra is available over the counter in Thailand, would you know if this is the case with Befar, a alprostadil (erection) cream ?

[ratcatcher]

I am aware that Viagra is available over the counter in Thailand, would you know if this is the case with Befar, a alprostadil (erection) cream ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Alprostadil: The Recent Development

But that may now all change with the concept of an alprostadil cream named Befar®, (it may also be released later in some countries under the trade names of Alprox® and Topiglan®). This is the first topical cream in the world for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Currently, only commercially available in Asia, Befar® has shown a clinical efficacy of up to 83% in patients with varying degrees of ED. (6) The cream has a onset action of 10-15 minutes and can last 4 hours, and is nearly as effective as the injectable alprostadil. (3, 19)

Due to Befar’s direct application method ( Befar’s actions are limited to the area of its application), the cream's side effects have been limited to transient warm and burning sensations.

So instead of using an injectable or intra-urethral pellet, Befar® cream rapidly and effectively promotes the permeation of alprostadil into the penis.

In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial conducted in China (5), 157 ED patients aged 26 to 75 with various etiologies (psychogenic, organic, and a combination of both), had an average ED history of 5 years. They all received treatment of Befar® or a placebo for 4 weeks. After the 4-week period, the Befar® patients improved their ability to have and maintain their erections by 68%. The same patients also improved the frequency and strength of their erections by 75%.

Another trial conducted in a 303 patient phase II clinical study in the United States has shown an impressive efficacy rate of 83% (6) Other clinical trials support similar results. (7)

During these trials, the side effects noted have been mild urethral pain, a feeling of urethral burning, penile fullness and redness at the application site. Most of the adverse events were mild and transient and all naturally resolved in a short time, without requiring any medical treatment.

Surprisingly, Befar® may also be suitable for women too! One study, suggested that its data supported further investigation for topical alprostadil in the treatment of Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (20). For while ED is now a recognized disorder, clitoral stimulation by vasodilatation is beginning to be seen as an important aid to sexual satisfaction for women.

If there is a disadvantage to Befar®, it may be the fact that it is very temperature sensitive. It is strongly recommend that Befar® (and for that matter all alprostadil creams), remain refrigerated at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. The manufacturer claims that Befar® may be kept at up to 25 degrees Celsius for up to 14-days (8), but it is clear that any temperature in excess of that can damage the active ingredient within hours, perhaps even minutes. It would appear that when temperature damage occurs that the product takes on a clear look, rather than its normal strong white creamy appearance. Once damaged by heat, Befar® has no active ingredient and hence no action.

So the shipment of Befar® to-and-from the patient and its compulsory storage conditions may be its weak-point. But from the pharmacological and medical viewpoint, Befar® is clearly a major improvement over its earlier rivals""

I would try any pharmacy in Bangkok where there are concentrations of farang males over 50. eg Sukumvit area. Get it out of the fridge and onto floppy dick ASAP.

[cathyy]

Get it out of the fridge and onto floppy dick ASAP.

[Thaiquila]

I would go to Boots or Watson's or similar to get medicine that is 100% sure not to be fake, though costs a little more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would avoid these shops.

They will want to see the prescription, where as the local pharmacy will sell you

what you need, if he has it on the shelves.

Boots is usually better stocked than Watsons.

Have never been asked for a scrip by ANY pharmacist in Thailand, including Boots and Watsons.

One thing that is troubling here are storage temperatures.

While Boots are air conditioned, I would imagine they turn it off overnight.

One tip that should help some people. If you are looking for a med in Thailand, don't expect to get exactly the same brand name. Write down the active ingredient, and ask to see the book of meds available in Thailand many pharmacists will lend you (or will look it up for you). Then you can find similar meds, quite often the exact same thing with a different brand name, or a generic.

Edited January 7, 2006 by Thaiquila

[Hurricane51]

Are there any "Well-stocked" pharmacies that anyone can recommend? I've been to 6 local pharmacies in the Sukhumvit area, and they at most have one of the 5 meds I need to find. Is there a "super-pharmacy"?

[popshirt]

Are there any "Well-stocked" pharmacies that anyone can recommend? I've been to 6 local pharmacies in the Sukhumvit area, and they at most have one of the 5 meds I need to find. Is there a "super-pharmacy"?

I have been told that the pharmacy at Chulalongkorn Univ. medical school has the best selection of drugs in Bkk., but I do not have personal experience with this.

[soic]

Hi Bina,

Just curious if you might happen to know... I have Hypo-thyroid, I talked to the Doctor in my village and she said that the pharmacies don't carry my medicine. I use Synthroid or Livoxcyl. I don't know if that only in the Isaan or not. Do you happen to know if they might carry it in BKK?

Thanks,

Chris

Are the pharmacies or drug stores in Thailand stocked with well known western sundries? 

yes we have .. we use same drug as farang use (from gerneric name ..but some u can find in diff. common name)

pharmacists here are well done ..(i mean a pharma who was graduated from Univ.)

Are these types of items available in supermarkets, or are they only sold in pharmacies.  (i.e. cold capsules, nasal spray, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.)

u can find both in supermarket and drug stores

How are the prices? 

depends on drug..seem cheaper than farang land

Are there any western name brands or are they mostly Thai?

we use english as the medicine 's name(98%)

if u re worried..u'd ask them for generic name ,instead brand name

example

.. u ask for ciprofloxacin instead cipro /ciproflox

..u ask for amoxycillin instead ibiamox

etc

ps..even u ask them for brand name i still think its no prob, they will get it

[jdinasia]

the chula pharmacy is across from MBK. Well worth visiting ... WITH your Rx

[jdinasia]

oh ..and to the OP.

Things like deoderant and toothpaste are here .. some western brands. However, the varieties are limited. If you have a favorite you might want to check if it is here and if not then bring it. I use mitchum Deoderant and have to import it.

[Beavis and Butthead]

over the counter meds are much cheaper in the USA

[backflip]

I have a similar situation as cathyy. I use Advair, with a retail price of almost $175 - an internet pharmacy sells it for $150. In Bangkok, I can buy Seretide - the exact same formulation, manufactured by the same company - for $23...less than my $30 copay with my former insurance company.