Asthma Inhalers - Hua Hin

[LizzieB]

Does anyone know where I can buy the following asthma inhalers in Hua Hin:

Symbicort 100/6 Turbohaler

Bricanyl Terbutaline Turbohaler.

Many thanks.

[Gonsalviz]

I think the best you can do is Ventolin. Thailand has outlawed a bunch of them.

I had Primatene mist here and ran out so I took it to the pharmacy to show them what I wanted. I thought the girl was going to have a heart attack. Shae asked me where I got it and I siad I brought it with me but it is finished now. And then she told me it was illegal in Thailand.

Even doctors will only give you a nebulizer at the office but pharmacies have Ventolin. That's all I have seen.

[SantiSuk]

I don't have the local knowledge specific to Hua Hin but I have found in several Thai towns that almost any large (typically Chinese-Thai run) pharmacy stocks Symbicort 160/4.5 in either or both 60 or 120 dose canisters. I have never found 160/6 in Thailand and one pharmacist told me that he thought it was not available in Thailand. Don't stop looking if that's what you want (it does work out slightly cheaper at the higher concentration of 6 - maybe you have to contact Astra Zeneca via an internet search.

Large pharmacies usually congregate around the large government hospitals. Hospital pharmacies will also stock Symbicort, but a private hospital will cost more - eg private hospital pharmacy in my local regional Isaan city 1,700; large independent pharmacy in the same city 1,650; large Sukhumvit pharmacy in Bangkok (50 metres west of the gas station on the junction of Sukhumvit and Sukhumvit soi 4 (Nana)) 1,450 [all prices are for the 160/4.5 x 120 doses]. Not surprisingly I stock up when in Bangkok!

I was first prescribed in Thailand so I took 2 inhalations twice daily of the 160/4.5 as instructed. My English consultant then prescribed 160/6 (as this is the strength normally available in the UK) and suggested 1 inhalation twice daily should be enough. I then returned back to Thailand and to 2 inhalations of 160/4.5. I did not notice any effect from switching between the different strengths but a local chest specialist would give you a correct dose of 160/4.5 for your own condition. A 300 baht consultation at a private hospital should put you on the right track for what's available in Thailand. Don't let them start to test you though or you'll rack up (typically cheap) unnecessary X-Ray bills.

Sorry but I don't use the other (or any other) inhaler. I was given one to use if I felt I needed a short term fix when first diagnosed but have not felt the need to use it.

If you have empties don't feel shy in taking them into any largish looking independent pharmacy - they are used to farang showing up with odd medications and the ones you describe will not be odd to them! Don't bother with supermarket pharmacies, Boots or Watsons - in my experience they don't stock.