Medicine From Europe By Mail

[philipinphuket]

Is anyone familiar with this scenario ...?

Every day I need to take a 'Zyloric' pill (to control a build up of uric acid), the pharmacies in Phuket including Boots & Watsons say they have run out, have not had deliveries for a long time and cannot offer an alternative.

Unbelievable.

Ok, solution simple ... I ask my daughter to buy in Spain (only costs 5 euro for a 90 day supply) and mail to me.

Two times she has done this but I have not received the pills here.

I read somewhere that customs intercept such packages and confiscates (maybe thinking it is Viagra or something prohibited), could this be true, or am I just unlucky with the postal system?

[jrtmedic]

Try asking for "Allopurinol". which is the generic name for "Zyloric"

Zyloric is just one of many generic versions of the original "Zyloprim".

I am sure you will be able to find satisfactory alternative.

It is sometimes helpful if you write the drug name on a piece of paper and give this to the pharmacist

[lopburi3]

As said just ask for allopurinol and your pocket book will be very happy you did. Zyloric was a very, very high priced name brand but had a virtual monopoly status at drug stores here for several decades. But they can get you allopuinol but will obviously be at a loss in there profits. Same thing and works fine. If those western chains do not have visit a normal Thai drug store. Actually it may be cheaper from hospital than under brand name Zyloric (I pay 630 baht for 90 day supply at mid-high level facility in Bangkok).

[philipinphuket]

Thank you Jrtmedic and Lopburi, going to a pharmacy in a mo' (I ran out 6 weeks ago) but I wonder why none of the 5/6 branches Boots / Watsons I visited told me what you have, thank you ..!.

Still curious as to an answer to the 2nd part of my question ...

I ask my daughter to buy in Spain (only costs 5 euro for a 90 day supply) and mail to me.

Two times she has done this but I have not received the pills here.

I read somewhere that customs intercept such packages and confiscates (maybe thinking it is Viagra or something prohibited), could this be true, or am I just unlucky with the postal system?

[orchis]

It may be intercepted. Still, regular mail is the better option, Fedex and the like will ask you to appoint a broker "to import medicine in Thailand".