Medications in Udon Thani?

[thinkstopthink]

Hi,

I'm volunteering in Laos and the project has taken much longer than planned and I'm about to run out of two medications. I have to do a VISA run and was wondering about the best method to get two medications:

Buproprion SR 150mg (Wellbutrin)

Lexapro 10mg

Are both available over the counter? I could have sworn I bought them both in BKK over the counter in 2012, but can't really recall.

Bankok Hospital Udon says they have the Lexapro in stock, but I need to see a doctor. No problem with that. However, it will take them 3-4 days to get the Buproprion.

Any suggestions on how to get both in one trip to Udon?

I would have searched the forums more thoroughly, but my internet speed here is painfully slow!!

Thank you!

Jon

[thinkstopthink]

I think Wellbutrin is called Quomen in Thailand.

Thanks!

Jon

[thepool]

Quomem is the trade name for Bupropion in Thailand. ( there may be other Trade names available)

Likely only to be found in large pharmacies as special sales records have to be kept.

Similar restrictions apply to Lexapro.

[thinkstopthink]

Ok, I just wanted to verify that they are both available over the counter. I have the original prescription bottles from my doctor.

Can you recommend a specific pharmacy that would have both?

Thanks!

Jon

[lopburi3]

Have you tried Nong Khai? Remember years ago there were large pharmacies there with good stock for sale to Laos customers.

[thinkstopthink]

Hi,

No, I don't know of anything in Nong Khai, but I'll research. Any ideas on the name of the pharmacy?

Thank you very much,

Jon

[kimbathewhitelion]

These are anti-anxiety/anti-depressants. Lexapro easy, Wellbutrin, well you'll get the closest thing, but both can easily be obtained at an International Hospital once your meds are explained. True of not, they don't care. Clinics & Thai Gov hospitals & certain pharmacies are good as long as you have a good Thai (resident) contact.

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[thinkstopthink]

Yes, I know what they are for. I'm taking them. I only said Wellbutrin, as most people won't know Bupropion.

Bangkok Hospital Udon has Lexapro in stock and is going to try to get the other for me in time for my arrival. I don't have a Thai contact and they haven't asked for one.

Thank you oz893,

Jon

[Sheryl]

Yes, both drugs are OTC. However, hospital pharmacies do not sell to the public, only fill scripts from doctors at that hospital. You can't even buy paracetemol directly from a hospital pharmacy.

What you need is a large private stand-alone pharmacy.

I can't guarnatee which pharmacy(s) will have these two drugs, however. You can try:

Nong Khai:

Kriang Sak Phesat Pharmacy tel 042-411 685

Nong Khai Pharmacy Shop tel 042-411 148

Udon Thani:

Muang Thong pharmacy in Udon (near the market)

There are others, these are just the ones I know of. If you google you can find maps showing pharmacy locations in both towns.

You could also contact the distributors of these meds in Thailand and ask them for the names of pharmacies in Nong Khai and Ubon to which they have supplied these drugs:

Zuellig (Wellbutrin) Tel: 0 2656 9800 Fax: 0 2656 9801 Email: [email protected]

BL Hua (Lexapro) Tel: 0 2437 0154-5, 0 2437 9169 Fax: 0 2437 5655

Quite a lot of pharmacies in Vientiane, have you already tried all of them?

[TerryLH]

"Clinics & Thai Gov hospitals & certain pharmacies are good as long as you have a good Thai (resident) contact."

Why is that needed?

[thepool]

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"Clinics & Thai Gov hospitals & certain pharmacies are good as long as you have a good Thai (resident) contact."

Why is that needed?

I think that what is meant is that a non Thia reader/speaker would need assistance in navigating the bureaucracy

[thinkstopthink]

Thank you everyone for all the information!

Would it be safe to assume that a stand-alone pharmacy would be cheaper than the hospital? The pharmacist at Bangkok Udon said I don't need an appointment as long as I have my passport and medicine bottles. Unless I'm mis-understanding her, but her English is quite good.

Jon

[kimbathewhitelion]

Yes & better a smaller Thai, non-English speaking outlet. You can also try going to a hospital & have a doctor write you a prescription. I was getting meds from an international Hosp in BK, explained to the doctor that the cost was very high & if he could write a script for me to take outside the hospital. He did, just be quiet about it.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Sheryl]

Cheaper both in drug price and because you will not need to first pay for a consultation with a doctor. I have never known a hospital pharmacy to sell drugs which were not first prescribed by a doctor on staff at that hospital.