Anyone live near a pharmacy to do a price check on expensive meds?

[Konini]

I have to take a med daily to control pain from nerve damage which costs around 5,000 baht a month - I get it from my doctor in Aus at 950 baht and if I have to pay full price 1,900 baht. The difference in price actually covers the cost of our airfares if I can get a prescription for 12 months, but we aren't due to go back to Aus until later next year and I only have about 3 boxes left.

Obviously huge difference in price - I'm looking at AU$72 if I have to pay full price per box as opposed to AU$191 per box.

If it's worth our flying to Melbourne once a year, I'm thinking it may be worth flying to PP or Siem Riap, but can't find any way of finding out the price, so I need a very kind person to volunteer to ask at a pharmacy.

It's called Lyrica (pregabalin) either (or both) 150mg and 300mg and price per box would be very, very helpful (don't worry, it's not a naughty or restricted drug, it was originally for epilepsy and is now used for neurological pain).

I would be very grateful for any help, and will buy a drink for anyone who can help me if it is worth our while changing plans.

[gamini]

lyrica is the brand name of the drug and therefore costly Most people with your problem take GABAPENTIN which is very cheap in Thailand. Many say it is better than Lyrica and is almost identical in composition. I think preglabin is also available here and not expensive , but i am not sure. Doctors don't like prescribing cheap generic drugs because there is no money for them by way of commisions. Personally I found gabapentin just as effective as Lyrica which I stopped taking because it was expensive.

[mcfish]

lyrica is the brand name of the drug and therefore costly Most people with your problem take GABAPENTIN which is very cheap in Thailand. Many say it is better than Lyrica and is almost identical in composition. I think preglabin is also available here and not expensive , but i am not sure. Doctors don't like prescribing cheap generic drugs because there is no money for them by way of commisions. Personally I found gabapentin just as effective as Lyrica which I stopped taking because it was expensive.

Where is it cheap? I have looked all over bangkok and it's off the charts for both Lyrica and gaba. Pm me or preferably name a drug store right here where everyone can benefit [emoji1]

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

[jimmym40]

This response is for both posters 1 and 2 above. Found this post in "view new content" so do not know what location in Thailand. I wish to know exactly what "nerve" pain the medication is for you personally. I have (supposedly) been given norTrilen 10 mg for my cranial nerve pain. Just a month now and seems to be working. Just curiously what type of nerve pain you both are suffering.

I am willing to check prices. I live in Chiang Mai and don't know if that will help you because as I said, don't know where you are located.

You may PM me to keep this more personal if you wish.

Thanks.

[Konini]

Mine is a lot of damage to my sciatic nerve and quite possibly others prior to back surgery 15 years ago. I get burning hot electricity running down my front-facing and outer thighs almost to my knees (one leg much worse than the other), buzzing like there's no tomorrow. Lyrica is the only thing that has worked and prior to that (about 4 years ago) I tried dozens of different things from pain killers to muscle relaxants and I'm sure gabapentin is one of them, but I might see if I can get some and try again. Would I have to use more than Lyrica? I currently take 300mg/day split into 2 doses, sometimes I have to take an extra one (150mg) with my evening tablet.

Pzifer still hold the licence - they got it extended so there's a 3 years until generics will be legally available - 30 December 2018, although you can get generics in India apparently.

I don't mind if it's the branded drug, I just object to paying almost 3 times what I can get it in other countries - 4 times at the price in India, although I wouldn't know where to start or indeed if I could get it shipped (shouldn't be a problem with customs as it's over the counter here). It's something I've come to rely on and I doubt if I could go back to the constant pain - it was always there, sometimes better than others, but always buzzing, buzzing, buzzing. I have a friend in Vietnam who is checking the price there for me, if the same as full price in Australia the price difference in one month's supply would pay for Mr K and I to fly to Saigon and stay in an OK hotel for a couple of nights, taxis and food and a good slug of change left over.

[thaitero]

Pregabalin is sold in Thailand under brand name sandoz also

Not every pharmacy have..

About year ago in Pattaya you could get it

Pharmacy next to Foodmart (jomtien), Pharmacy Tanya, pattaya klang

But for example Fachino chain did not have it..I do not know what is situation now but do remember sandoz pregabalin was cheaper than lyrica. Sandoz had only 75 mg capsules.

Edited December 20, 2015 by thaitero

[Konini]

Pregabalin is sold in Thailand under brand name sandoz also

Not every pharmacy have..

About year ago in Pattaya you could get it

Pharmacy next to Foodmart (jomtien), Pharmacy Tanya, pattaya klang

But for example Fachino chain did not have it..I do not know what is situation now but do remember sandoz pregabalin was cheaper than lyrica. Sandoz had only 75 mg capsules.

Thank you for that, when I need to buy Lyrica they have to order it in for me along with a couple of other things - I'd need 2 tablets for every one (150mg) but it may still work out cheaper, so I'll ask them the price.

Still would be interested in the price in Cambodia though.

[Sheryl]

In general for a brand name import like this, price in Cambodia will be a slight bit above normal retail price in a western country(since that is whete they have imported it from). Less than in Thailand because Thailand levirs a tariff on imported pharmaceuticals.

[Brit_Doggie]

Get to know a few thais they will set you straight for 1 or 2 whiskey shots simple.

[Konini]

In general for a brand name import like this, price in Cambodia will be a slight bit above normal retail price in a western country(since that is whete they have imported it from). Less than in Thailand because Thailand levirs a tariff on imported pharmaceuticals.

Thanks Sheryl - I've noticed in the past when buying painkillers in Cambodia at some of the small street front pharmacies that they had a price sticker in Euro's on them, so I presumed that someone just goes into the local pharmacy, buys them up and fills their suitcase - not all of course, that would be a lot of suitcases full to satisfy the population of expats and drug tourists alone. I worked out the price that I'd paid and it wasn't really that much more, but I don't know how strong the Euro was against the $US at the time. Also noticed how much higher the cost of branded meds we've had to have and assumed it was because the Aus government had negotiated a better deal with the big pharmacy companies; I know in US meds cost a lot more than they do in countries where there is government subsidised prescriptions such as UK, Aus and Canada.

I'd say it would have to be worth a trip if I knew that I could definitely get them, but without being there on the ground I don't know if they are available. Codeine, Oxy, Benzo's Ketamine, anything you can abuse no worries, but something like Lyrica, who knows?

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

OP, this contact came from a thread on drug prices in Pattaya and Bangkok. Give them a call. The shop's on Rama 4, in the Silom district. I'd be surprised if they don't have it. You can get a price and see if it's worth flying to BKK for a resupply. This shop has great prices.

Below is eMail and Phone for S.C. Pharmacy in Bangkok (Mentioned above in post #3)
eMail is best, as not all staff speaks English. Payment can be made via bank transfer. EMS to Pattaya normally takes 1 or 2 days.
Contact: "MAI", her English is fairly good.

eMail: "S C. Drugstore" <[email protected]>
Phone: 022-330-223
.

[Konini]

OP, this contact came from a thread on drug prices in Pattaya and Bangkok. Give them a call. The shop's on Rama 4, in the Silom district. I'd be surprised if they don't have it. You can get a price and see if it's worth flying to BKK for a resupply. This shop has great prices.

Below is eMail and Phone for S.C. Pharmacy in Bangkok (Mentioned above in post #3)

eMail is best, as not all staff speaks English. Payment can be made via bank transfer. EMS to Pattaya normally takes 1 or 2 days.

Contact: "MAI", her English is fairly good.

eMail: "S C. Drugstore" <[email protected]>

Phone: 022-330-223

.

Thank you, I'll send them a message. Perhaps it will be cheaper - everywhere I went in CM was priced within a hundred baht of each other apart from the one I get a discount for which made it 4,500 so their retail is still obviously 5,000.

Will report back with reply in case anyone does a search for Lyrica in the future.

[Sheryl]

In general for a brand name import like this, price in Cambodia will be a slight bit above normal retail price in a western country(since that is whete they have imported it from). Less than in Thailand because Thailand levirs a tariff on imported pharmaceuticals.

Thanks Sheryl - I've noticed in the past when buying painkillers in Cambodia at some of the small street front pharmacies that they had a price sticker in Euro's on them, so I presumed that someone just goes into the local pharmacy, buys them up and fills their suitcase - not all of course, that would be a lot of suitcases full to satisfy the population of expats and drug tourists alone. I worked out the price that I'd paid and it wasn't really that much more, but I don't know how strong the Euro was against the $US at the time. Also noticed how much higher the cost of branded meds we've had to have and assumed it was because the Aus government had negotiated a better deal with the big pharmacy companies; I know in US meds cost a lot more than they do in countries where there is government subsidised prescriptions such as UK, Aus and Canada.

I'd say it would have to be worth a trip if I knew that I could definitely get them, but without being there on the ground I don't know if they are available. Codeine, Oxy, Benzo's Ketamine, anything you can abuse no worries, but something like Lyrica, who knows?

Lyrica is definitely available in Cambodia (as are almost all pharmaceuticals). I just can't tell you the price.

Small street front pharmacies are not where to go. Head for the large places near Olympic market. There is a good air-conditioned one on Sihanouk Blvd, south side of the street and several blocks west of Monivong, name is Penh Vong, huge selection. http://yp.com.kh/listings/kh10702-pharmacie-chan-penh-vong

HOWEVER - i just found that there newly is a locally made brand in Thailand, called Lybalin and made by Biolabs. The distributor is Biopharm. Suggest contacting them directly if you are willing to buy say a years worth at a time - distributors are usually be willing to sell to an individual as long as a large quantity (they will not want to sell just a box or so though -- they aren't a shop).

Biopharm

7 Fl, Bio House

55 Sukhumvit 39 Bangkok 10110

Contact Information: Tel: (+66) 2258 8888, (+66) 2258 9999 Fax: (+66) 2259 0998 Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.biopharm.co.th

[Konini]

Thanks Sheryl - I'll let you know how I get on with Biopharm

[Konini]

Thank you to everyone who helped out.

I have a few strips of gabapanten to try, maybe taking them on alternate days to the Lyrica would work, so I'll try it next week.

No replies to emails to SC Drugstore or Biopharm (looks like the generics available are only 75mg, so they would have to be half the price I'm paying now to even draw level.

I have a friend in Saigon who checked prices, again only 75mg available, but genuine Lyrica was 1,600 baht box/56 and generic were a smidge over 1,000 box/56 but again I'd have to buy 2 boxes of 75mg for every 1 box 150mg. Still, it would still be an awful lot cheaper than here and would be worth flying to Saigon for if you need a few months worth . I still don't have a price on generics here so I can't compare.

I didn't get a response from the PP pharmacy above, but found a respectable looking one on Facebook who I messaged backwards and forwards - she questioned why I take such a high dose and said she wouldn't mind seeing my doctor's letter (for some reason I like the fact that she questioned usage, I don't know if these are used recreationally) and if I buy 12 month's supply she will give them to me for US$5/box of 14 generic tablets which means US$20 for 56. That is just over 700 baht. Compared to 5,000 baht in Chiang Mai. I know I'm comparing genuine with generic, but pregabalin is pregabalin. I googled the name of the manufacturer, Getz Pharma and they seem to be kosher, quite a large company - perhaps I should email them and see if they will sell direct. If I were braver than I am, I could even buy the pure HCL powder (and inject it into gummy bears or roll it into a ball of honey) from China but I can't imagine explaining that one to customs and I'm not complaining at $20/box. Saw some very interesting sites when I googled 'wholesale pregabalin'. It seems that there is no powder form of medications you can't buy directly from the manufacturer and a lot sell with a minimum order of 1kg.

So, to sum it up, a 12 month supply for me (13 month really) of 56 pregabalin 150mg tablets per month will cost 9,300 baht compared to 65,000 baht if bought here. 55,700 baht saving. Seriously. Last year we flew Bangkok to England business class RETURN for 53,000 baht each.

Mr K is on a retirement visa and as one of his goods and chattels I am on a dependant spouse Non-O visa and have to physically leave the country every 90 days rather than report to immigration. In the very near future we shall be jetting off to Phnom Penh, staying at a nice hotel for a few days, feasting like royalty and will still be miles ahead. I'm just annoyed because I paid for them for so long.

Moral of this story is that it pays to check. In this case, it really, really paid.

Thanks again for the interest showed and help given and happy new year to everybody.