Gabapentine (Neurontin): Prescription needed or Over-the-counter

[connda]

Just wondering if anyone knows if Gabapentine (Neurontin) is a prescription drug or an over-the-counter drug that you can buy in a pharmacy here in Thailand.

Thanks.

[lopburi3]

D = Dangerous Drug (ยาอันตราย)

A first grade pharmacist shall be on duty at the premises selling modern drugs, at all times, while the premises are open for operation. Daily purchase and sale record required.

http://www.mims.com/Thailand/drug/info/Gabapentin%20GPO/#ATC

[connda]

D = Dangerous Drug (ยาอันตราย)

A first grade pharmacist shall be on duty at the premises selling modern drugs, at all times, while the premises are open for operation. Daily purchase and sale record required.

http://www.mims.com/Thailand/drug/info/Gabapentin%20GPO/#ATC

Thanks for the info. I checked MIMS. Out of 8 categories for medicines taken internally, this ranks number 7. Number 8 is "Non-Dangerous".

Interestingly enough, I looked up Ibuprofen, and it's considered a "D" dangerous drug too. I'm thinking virtually anything that can be overdosed on is classified as "D". Hydrogen Peroxide: "D". Except for Paracetamol which will destroy your liver if you take too much and is classified as "NDD" or 'Safe'. So basically if the primary pharmacist on duty it's probably available.

I included the MIMS Thai FDA classification below for educational purposes for anyone who may be interested. I found it interesting!

P2 = Psychotropic Substance Schedule 2(วัตถุออกฤทธิ์ ในประเภท 2)

Sale restricted to Psychotropic Substance Schedule 2. Only hospitals can purchase directly from FDA - Ministry of Public Health.

ห้ามมิให้ผู้ใด ผลิต ขาย นำเข้า หรือส่งออก ซึ่งวัตถุออกฤทธิ์ในประเภท 2 ยกเว้นกระทรวงสาธารณสุข หรือผู้ซึ่งได้รับมอบหมายจากกระทรวงสาธารณสุข ทั้งนี้ ไม่ใช้บังคับกับผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม หรือผู้ประกอบโรคศิลปะแผนปัจจุบันชั้นหนึ่ง สาขาทันตกรรมที่ขายให้แก่คนไข้ของตน หรือผู้ประกอบการบำบัดโรคสัตว์ชั้นหนึ่งที่ขายเฉพาะสำหรับใช้กับสัตว์ที่ตน บำบัด หรือป้องกันโรค หรือขายโดย กระทรวง ทบวง กรม สภากาชาดไทย

P3 = Psychotropic Substance Schedule 3 (วัตถุออกฤทธิ์ ในประเภท 3) Sale restricted to Psychotropic Substance Schedule 3 licence Holder. A first grade pharmacist should be on duty. Supply to the public is on prescription only. Monthly and yearly purchase and sale report should be submitted to FDA - Ministry of Public Health.

ห้ามมิให้บุคคลใด ผลิต ขาย นำเข้า หรือส่งออก ซึ่งวัตถุออกฤทธิ์ในประเภท 3 หรือนำผ่าน วัตถุออกฤทธิ์ทุกประเภท เว้นแต่ได้รับอนุญาต ทั้งนี้ ไม่ใช้บังคับกับผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม หรือผู้ประกอบโรคศิลปะแผนปัจจุบันชั้นหนึ่ง สาขาทันตกรรม ที่ขายให้แก่คนไข้ของตน หรือผู้ประกอบการบำบัดโรคสัตว์ชั้นหนึ่งที่ขายเฉพาะสำหรับใช้กับสัตว์ที่ตน บำบัด หรือป้องกันโรค และไม่ใช้บังคับในการผลิต ขาย นำเข้า หรือส่งออก โดยกระทรวง ทบวง กรม สภากาชาดไทย องค์การเภสัชกรรม

P4 = Psychotropic Substance Schedule 4 (วัตถุออกฤทธิ์ ในประเภท 4)

Sale restricted to Psychotropic Substance Schedule 4 licence Holder. A first grade pharmacist should be on duty. Supply to the public is on prescription only. Monthly and yearly purchase and sale report should be submitted to FDA - Ministry of Public Health.

ห้ามมิให้บุคคลใด ผลิต ขาย นำเข้า หรือส่งออก ซึ่งวัตถุออกฤทธิ์ในประเภท 4 หรือนำผ่าน วัตถุออกฤทธิ์ทุกประเภท เว้นแต่ได้รับอนุญาต ทั้งนี้ ไม่ใช้บังคับกับผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม หรือผู้ประกอบโรคศิลปะแผนปัจจุบันชั้นหนึ่ง สาขาทันตกรรม ที่ขายให้แก่คนไข้ของตน หรือผู้ประกอบการบำบัดโรคสัตว์ชั้นหนึ่งที่ขายเฉพาะสำหรับใช้กับสัตว์ที่ตน บำบัด หรือป้องกันโรค และไม่ใช้บังคับในการผลิต ขาย นำเข้า หรือส่งออก โดยกระทรวง ทบวง กรม สภากาชาดไทย องค์การเภสัชกรรม

N2 = Narcotic Drug Schedule 2 (ยาเสพติดให้โทษประเภท 2)

Production and Import restricted to Narcotic Drug Schedule 2. Both holder and sales need to get permitted licence.

ห้ามมิให้ผู้ใดผลิต นำเข้า หรือส่งออกยาเสพติดให้โทษในประเภท 2 ในกรณีที่มีไว้จำหน่าย หรือมีไว้ในครอบครองต้องได้รับอนุญาต

N3 = Narcotic Drug Schedule 3 (ยาเสพติดให้โทษประเภท 3)

Sale restricted to Narcotic Drug Schedule 3 licence holder. A first grade pharmacist should be on duty. Monthly and yearly purchase and sale report should be submitted to FDA - Ministry of Public Health

ห้ามมิให้ผู้ใดผลิต จำหน่าย นำเข้า หรือส่งออกซึ่งยาเสพติดให้โทษ ในประเภท 3 เว้นแต่ได้รับอนุญาต ทั้งนี้ ไม่ใช้บังคับกับผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม หรือผู้ประกอบการโรคศิลปะแผนปัจจุบันชั้นหนึ่ง สาขาทันตกรรม จำหน่ายให้แก่คนไข้ของตน หรือผู้ประกอบการบำบัดโรคสัตว์ชั้นหนึ่ง จำหน่ายใช้กับสัตว์ที่ตนบำบัดหรือป้องกันโรค

S = Special Controlled Drug (ยาควบคุมพิเศษ)

A first grade pharmacist shall be on duty at the premises selling modern drugs. Sale to public is on prescription only. Daily purchase and sale record required.

ผู้รับอนุญาตขายยาแผนปัจจุบันจัดทำบัญชียาควบคุมพิเศษแต่ละอย่างทุกครั้ง โดยแสดงเลขที่หรืออักษรของครั้งที่ผลิต ชื่อ และปริมาณยา ตลอดจนวันเดือนปีที่ขาย

เภสัชกรชั้นหนึ่งควบคุมให้ขายยาควบคุมพิเศษเฉพาะแก่ผู้รับอนุญาตขายยาแผน ปัจจุบัน ผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม ผู้ประกอบโรคศิลปะแผนปัจจุบันชั้นหนึ่งในสาขาทันตกรรม ผู้ประกอบการบำบัดโรคสัตว์ชั้นหนึ่ง หรือเฉพาะตามใบสั่งยาของผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม ผู้ประกอบโรคศิลปะแผนปัจจุบันชั้นหนึ่งในสาขาทันตกรรม ผู้ประกอบการบำบัดโรคสัตว์ชั้นหนึ่ง

D = Dangerous Drug (ยาอันตราย)

A first grade pharmacist shall be on duty at the premises selling modern drugs, at all times, while the premises are open for operation. Daily purchase and sale record required.

ผู้รับอนุญาตขายยาแผนปัจจุบันทำบัญชียาอันตรายแต่ละอย่างทุกครั้ง โดยแสดงเลขที่หรืออักษรของครั้งที่ผลิต ชื่อและปริมาณยา ตลอดจนวันเดือนปีที่ขาย

เภสัชกรชั้นหนึ่งให้คำแนะนำตามสมควรเกี่ยวกับการใช้ยาอันตรายให้ปลอดภัยตาม หลักวิชา และตามมารยาทแห่งวิชาชีพ

NDD = Non Dangerous Drug (ยาทั่วไปไม่ได้อยู่ในกลุ่มวัตถุออกฤทธิ์ ยาเสพติด ยาควบคุมพิเศษหรืออันตราย)

A first grade pharmacist, second grade pharmacist, person engaging in the medical profession or person engaging in the modern medical practice in the branches of dentistry, obstetrics or nursing shall be on duty at the premises selling modern non dangerous drug

เภสัชกรชั้นหนึ่ง เภสัชกรชั้นสอง ผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม หรือผู้ประกอบโรคศิลปะแผนปัจจุบันขั้นหนึ่งในสาขาทันตกรรม การผดุงครรภ์หรือการพยาบาล ควบคุมการขายยาให้ปลอดภัยตามหลักวิชา และตามมารยาทแห่งวิชาชีพ

E-D = External Use-Dangerous Drug (ยาอันตราย ชนิดสำหรับใช้ภายนอก)

A first grade pharmacist shall be on duty at the premises selling modern drugs, at all times, while the premises are open for operation. Daily purchase and sale record required.

ผู้รับอนุญาตขายยาแผนปัจจุบันทำบัญชียาอันตรายแต่ละอย่างทุกครั้ง โดยแสดงเลขที่หรืออักษรของครั้งที่ผลิต ชื่อและปริมาณยา ตลอดจนวันเดือนปีที่ขาย

เภสัชกรชั้นหนึ่งให้คำแนะนำตามสมควรเกี่ยวกับการใช้ยาอันตรายให้ปลอดภัยตามหลักวิชา และตามมารยาทแห่งวิชาชีพ

E = External Use-Non Dangerous Drug (ยาทั่วไป ชนิดสำหรับใช้ภายนอก ไม่ได้อยู่ในกลุ่มวัตถุออกฤทธิ์ ยาเสพติด ยาควบคุมพิเศษหรืออันตราย)

A first grade pharmacist, second grade pharmacist, person engaging in the medical profession or person engaging in the modern medical practice in the branches of dentistry, obstetrics or nursing shall be on duty at the premises selling modern non dangerous drugs.

เภสัชกรชั้นหนึ่ง เภสัชกรชั้นสอง ผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม หรือผู้ประกอบโรคศิลปะแผนปัจจุบันขั้นหนึ่งในสาขาทันตกรรม การผดุงครรภ์หรือการพยาบาล ควบคุมการขายยาให้ปลอดภัยตามหลักวิชา และตามมารยาทแห่งวิชาชีพ

T = Traditional Drug (ยาแผนโบราณ)

Intended to be used in indigenous or traditional medical care. The control and registration of drugs in this group are less stringent than those for modern drugs.

เป็นยาที่อาศัยความรู้จากตำราหรือเรียนสืบต่อกันมา อันมิไช่การศึกษาตามหลักวิทยาศาสตร์ และยาแผนโบราณที่ยอมรับของกฎหมายจะต้องปรากฏในตำรายาที่รัฐมนตรีประกาศหรือ รับขึ้นทะเบียนเท่านั้น ห้ามมิให้ผู้รับอนุญาตผลิตยา ขาย หรือนำเข้ายาแผนโบราณ นอกสถานที่ที่ได้กำหนดไว้ในใบอนุญาต เว้นแต่เป็นการขายส่งตรงต่อผู้รับอนุญาตขายยาแผนโบราณ

Edited October 9, 2015 by connda

[Sheryl]

Gabapentin is OTC and there are locally made brands that will cost less than Neurontin (though still not cheap).

The overwhelming majority of drugs in Thailand are category "D". Ctaegory "NDD" are the things that can be sold in a 7 eleven and so forth. Category D is restricted to pharmacies and in theory there should be a first grade pharmacist aleways on duty, in practice often is not; in theory they should record all sales, in practice usually do not and by and large unenforced but for certain drugs in this category (e.g. tramadol) they have started to enforce those two requirements.

[inbangkok]

I have bought it in bigger pharmacies near hospitals, the smaller ones generally wont carry it. The brand name one is very expensive. There are generics available in 100mg and 300mg.

[connda]

I have bought it in bigger pharmacies near hospitals, the smaller ones generally wont carry it. The brand name one is very expensive. There are generics available in 100mg and 300mg.

I'm headed to Chiang Mai next week and will check my local pharmacies. If they don't carry it, I'll head over to the 'big' pharmacies near Maharaj Hospital on Sutep Road.

Thanks!

[connda]

Gabapentin is OTC and there are locally made brands that will cost less than Neurontin (though still not cheap).

The overwhelming majority of drugs in Thailand are category "D". Ctaegory "NDD" are the things that can be sold in a 7 eleven and so forth. Category D is restricted to pharmacies and in theory there should be a first grade pharmacist aleways on duty, in practice often is not; in theory they should record all sales, in practice usually do not and by and large unenforced but for certain drugs in this category (e.g. tramadol) they have started to enforce those two requirements.

Thanks for the info Sheryl.

[Pinot]

It's over the counter. I'm paying 1000baht for a box of 100. I've seen it 25-30% higher.

It's important to get the dosage right. Doctors everywhere know little or nothing about this highly effective pain medication.

I've written about this here:

http://www.kamalala.com/gaba-is-the-drug-for-chronic-pain/

[vwiriya]

It is OTC. You can buy it at any drug store. The pharmacist may give you a local drug which is cheaper instead.

[colinneil]

It's over the counter. I'm paying 1000baht for a box of 100. I've seen it 25-30% higher.

It's important to get the dosage right. Doctors everywhere know little or nothing about this highly effective pain medication.

I've written about this here:

http://www.kamalala.com/gaba-is-the-drug-for-chronic-pain/

1000 baht for 100 is very cheap.

When i run out of them , my wife pays 400 baht for 10 in local pharmacy.

[connda]

It's over the counter. I'm paying 1000baht for a box of 100. I've seen it 25-30% higher.

It's important to get the dosage right. Doctors everywhere know little or nothing about this highly effective pain medication.

I've written about this here:

http://www.kamalala.com/gaba-is-the-drug-for-chronic-pain/

Thanks. I've looked at it pretty extensively. It actually has quite a few 'off-label' applications. I'm using 300mg a couple of hours before heading to bed as an adjunct to my withdrawal from diazepam which I am slowly taper off of. One of the off-label apps is its use in complementing the withdrawal from opiates and benzodiazapines. I've got to admit, it works wonders. I have felt like crap for a few months since I hit the top of the amount of benzos that I'll allow myself to take as my body has developed a tolerance to the drug. At that point it stops working for insomnia. The only reason I continued to take it was to stave off withdrawals because they are no fun (I cycle benzos for insomnia and I've done this before). I have to be in the right mind-set to start my taper. I started my slow taper withdrawal about three weeks ago. Even with a taper I detox and have w/d symptoms which for me are insomnia, neuralgia, fatigue, and just plain not feeling well. I read about gabapentine awhile ago, but didn't start really researching it until last week. Talked to one of my local provincial doctors about it, but they only gave me 100 mg tabs. I took 300mg Thursday night and had a full 8 hours of sleep and woke up feeling like I normally did when I was younger. The research I did indicated that 300mg once a day prior to bed is pretty much an optimal dosage for what I'm using it for. Nothing against doctors, but most are specialist or generalists. Specialist I've talked with in the past tend to have a very specific point of view, and tend not to be open to treatment suggestions by mere patients, and general practitioner have to know a lot about a lot. However, I've found the GPs to be more open to discussing treatment. The provincial doctor we go to is a really great guy, intelligent, and open to discussing options to treatment - how non-Thai for a Thai doctor. So I expect when I talk to him on our next visit, he'll have no problem with the approach I'm using and I should be able to get the 300mg from the hospital's pharmacy. But in the meantime, I bought two strips of 300mg tabs at a Lamphun pharmacy yesterday without any problems, well, other than I paid 100 THB per strip. Lol. Obviously I paid too much. Not a problem. Live and learn. But they do work. My quality of sleep is magnitudes better than it has been in years, and I wake up feeling like a normal human being. You can't beat that.

[oncearugge]

Gabapentin is a powerful medication with many potential side effects

Despite being available OTC it is not a medication which should , IMHO, be experimented with or self prescribed.

[connda]

It's over the counter. I'm paying 1000baht for a box of 100. I've seen it 25-30% higher.

It's important to get the dosage right. Doctors everywhere know little or nothing about this highly effective pain medication.

I've written about this here:

http://www.kamalala.com/gaba-is-the-drug-for-chronic-pain/

1000 baht for 100 is very cheap.

When i run out of them , my wife pays 400 baht for 10 in local pharmacy.

Wow. Maybe my 100 THB for 10 was inexpensive after all. My guess is that they will be really cheap at the provincial hospital. My normal hospital visit is usually 300 THB or less including a bag full of drugs. Boy! This ain't the US.

[Sheryl]

Gabapentin is a powerful medication with many potential side effects

Despite being available OTC it is not a medication which should , IMHO, be experimented with or self prescribed.

Agree. And certainly should not be used solely for insomnia. Risks outweigh benefits....plus, like all medications, you will develop a tolerance to its sleep effects over time.

[connda]

Gabapentin is a powerful medication with many potential side effects

Despite being available OTC it is not a medication which should , IMHO, be experimented with or self prescribed.

Agree. And certainly should not be used solely for insomnia. Risks outweigh benefits....plus, like all medications, you will develop a tolerance to its sleep effects over time.

Completely understood.

[fforest1]

It's over the counter. I'm paying 1000baht for a box of 100. I've seen it 25-30% higher.

It's important to get the dosage right. Doctors everywhere know little or nothing about this highly effective pain medication.

I've written about this here:

http://www.kamalala.com/gaba-is-the-drug-for-chronic-pain/

Pinot this was a super article you wrote about Gabapentine...

Gabapentine is just a fantastic drug for muscle stiffness.

For some one like me who does not have a heavy

duty problem one dose of 200mg is plenty to knock out the stiffness...

I worry some day it might be taken off the market.

WHY? Because Gabapentine is just too good..

[BKKdreaming]

Gabapentin is a powerful medication with many potential side effects

Despite being available OTC it is not a medication which should , IMHO, be experimented with or self prescribed.

I agree , too many times Dr Google is thought to be all knowing ,

Edited October 13, 2015 by BKKdreaming

[Pinot]

It's over the counter. I'm paying 1000baht for a box of 100. I've seen it 25-30% higher.

It's important to get the dosage right. Doctors everywhere know little or nothing about this highly effective pain medication.

I've written about this here:

http://www.kamalala.com/gaba-is-the-drug-for-chronic-pain/

Pinot this was a super article you wrote about Gabapentine...

Gabapentine is just a fantastic drug for muscle stiffness.

For some one like me who does not have a heavy

duty problem one dose of 200mg is plenty to knock out the stiffness...

I worry some day it might be taken off the market.

WHY? Because Gabapentine is just too good..

Ibroprofin would be what to take for stiffness not Gaba. It doesn't work like that. First of all it takes a week or longer to kick in. A week that you'll endure the initial symptoms of lightheadedness that soon go away. It doesn't start working on neurological pain for a couple of weeks. Then you have to continue taking it.

Gaba works on certain kinds of pain very well IMO. Things like arthritis and sciatica, long term pain issues. I take it for degenerative discs in my neck that causes pain like a knife stab in my shoulder blade. Cortisone doesn't touch it. The alternative is opiates. Opiates are addictive. Gaba isn't and doesn't get you high. For some reason (scientist don't know what the mechanism is) it stops pain. It's postulated that it stops those neurotransmitters that are relaying pain signals to the brain.

I don't see how the occasional use of Gaba will do anything for you except make you dizzy.

I see that it can be used for insomnia, something like 300mg a night may have an effect in a few weeks. I recommend it for on-going chronic pain in a dosage of 900 mg a day. That can be doubled and even tripled.

Drs. that know much about Gaba are few and far between. And I would be surprised to find any Thai Dr. who knew about it and how to prescribe it. It's a shame that in the West Drs will prescibe opiates even things like Oxycontin before trying Gaba.

I think Gaba is safe to take and the only alternative to opiates for long term pain. I'm glad I stumbled across it. A Thai doctor prescribed it in a dosage that would never have worked and I started researching it from there.

Good luck.

[Sheryl]

Actually, Thai neurologists and orthopedists are very familiar with the drug and commonly prescribe it. For epilepsy obviously, but also for neurogenic pain of any type.

And Thai palliative care specialists (the few of them that there are) also use either it or Lyrica as an adjunct for pain control.

[fforest1]

It's over the counter. I'm paying 1000baht for a box of 100. I've seen it 25-30% higher.

It's important to get the dosage right. Doctors everywhere know little or nothing about this highly effective pain medication.

I've written about this here:

http://www.kamalala.com/gaba-is-the-drug-for-chronic-pain/

Pinot this was a super article you wrote about Gabapentine...

Gabapentine is just a fantastic drug for muscle stiffness.

For some one like me who does not have a heavy

duty problem one dose of 200mg is plenty to knock out the stiffness...

I worry some day it might be taken off the market.

WHY? Because Gabapentine is just too good..

Ibroprofin would be what to take for stiffness not Gaba. It doesn't work like that. First of all it takes a week or longer to kick in. A week that you'll endure the initial symptoms of lightheadedness that soon go away. It doesn't start working on neurological pain for a couple of weeks. Then you have to continue taking it.

Gaba works on certain kinds of pain very well IMO. Things like arthritis and sciatica, long term pain issues. I take it for degenerative discs in my neck that causes pain like a knife stab in my shoulder blade. Cortisone doesn't touch it. The alternative is opiates. Opiates are addictive. Gaba isn't and doesn't get you high. For some reason (scientist don't know what the mechanism is) it stops pain. It's postulated that it stops those neurotransmitters that are relaying pain signals to the brain.

I don't see how the occasional use of Gaba will do anything for you except make you dizzy.

I see that it can be used for insomnia, something like 300mg a night may have an effect in a few weeks. I recommend it for on-going chronic pain in a dosage of 900 mg a day. That can be doubled and even tripled.

Drs. that know much about Gaba are few and far between. And I would be surprised to find any Thai Dr. who knew about it and how to prescribe it. It's a shame that in the West Drs will prescibe opiates even things like Oxycontin before trying Gaba.

I think Gaba is safe to take and the only alternative to opiates for long term pain. I'm glad I stumbled across it. A Thai doctor prescribed it in a dosage that would never have worked and I started researching it from there.

Good luck.

Well say what you will.

But Ibrophrofin did not work for my muscle stiffness

not at all not even a little. Gabapentine worked like a charm..

I have put Gabapentine to the test at least 25-30 times on myself and the Gabapentine worked very

well on my muscle stiffness every time...

One single 200-300mg dose is all it took..

Gabapentine should not be underestimated what

it can do......

Edited October 14, 2015 by fforest1

[Sheryl]

.......

Gabapentine should not be underestimated what

it can do......

Indeed not and that includes it's adverse/undesirable effects.

It is a very serious medication with some extremely serious potential adverse effects.

[TravelerEastWest]

.......

Gabapentine should not be underestimated what

it can do......

Indeed not and that includes it's adverse/undesirable effects.

It is a very serious medication with some extremely serious potential adverse effects.

Agreed, also it stops working after a while if used daily...

[uptheos]

.......

Gabapentine should not be underestimated what

it can do......

Indeed not and that includes it's adverse/undesirable effects.

It is a very serious medication with some extremely serious potential adverse effects.

Agreed, also it stops working after a while if used daily...

What were you using it for that made it stop working, what was the dose?

For Peripheral Neuropathy you can go up to 3,600 mg daily. Are you saying you've reached the maximum dose?

If you have then Lyrica (very expensive) or Duloxotine can be tried. Failing that you need referral to a pain clinic.

What were you using it for, that made it stop working, what was the dose..

[Jingthing]

What are the local BRAND names for the cheaper versions of this med?

[richsilver]

I pay only 800 baht for 100 tabs, 300 mg at S & C Pharmacy in Bangkok. It is the GPO brand made by the government.

[Hammock]

OTC, you can buy it in almost each pharmacy.

[Sheryl]

What are the local BRAND names for the cheaper versions of this med?

Gabapentin GPO

Gabapentin Teva

Gabutin

G-pentin

Rontin

Vultin

[richsilver]

GPO