Hi,

I was in Thailand about a year ago and had no trouble buying analgesics (tramadol)for my chronic back pain. I have a prescription in my home country but figured I could save a few bucks and avoid the hassle of bringing it through customs and just buy it here.

I tried about 10 different pharmacies and they all said they were sold out/"dont have. I asked some of the pharmacists what had happend but didnt recieve any good info about why it was so difficult to get this time around so I figured I would ask here. Im staying in Hua hin by the way.

Depends on the pharmacy. Also how much you ask to buy. Its abused here now. That being said I had a friend visiting in Rayong and he went to five pharmacies before he bought 200 50mg tabs for a thousand baht.

It is still an over the counter drug. However the FDA has begun strictly enforcing rules that wete always in place but usually ignored i.e. pharmacy must have a grade one pharmacist on duty and keep a record of sales. Many don't meet the first criteria and others don't want the record keeping hassle.

Keep looking around but don't bother with places like Boots or Watsons. Focus on really large pharmacies. Eventually you'll find it.

you can get it at any government hospital after insulting a doctor there. you will have to pay a small consultation fee, but the medicine will be very cheap.

you can get it at any government hospital after insulting a doctor there. you will have to pay a small consultation fee, but the medicine will be very cheap.

"insulting a doctor" might achieve the opposite result!

It's sold without prescription at Boots and Watson as well, but as a combination with acetaminophen, called Duocet or Ultracet. According to a pharmacist i spoke to, the combination makes it less attractive to abusers Never mind risk of hepatotoxity and acute liverfailure........

This has been going on for a while, if you have a genuine complaint you can get it from any hospital.