My Prescription Medication Is Not Available In Thailand .. Can I Bring In?

[pumper]

I am on a prescription medication not legal in Thailand .. it is available in many Thai pharmacies under the counter (Chinese brand at a HUGE markup)

I get my blood work ordered by my endocrinologist at Bumrungrad & my US doc accepts .. huge savings!

lab work is so inexpensive at Bumrungrad that I get 'several pages' of exotic specialty lab tests done .. for 1 test my blood must be overnighted to Singapore, as Bumrungrad does not have the equipment.

My US doc loves the medical records I bring to him, he is from the Philippines.

My prescription med is valid, is widely used & based on extensive lab work .. I provide far more medical records / labs / tests than the FDA / AMA requires ..

QUESTION:

can a retiree bring in his personal valid prescription medications in to the Realm .. I'd gladly jump through any hoops the government might realistically present.

&

can I have meds shipped from a US pharmacy into the realm.

or I could easily bring a 6 months ( or 12 months) supply with me... 12 months of meds would fit in a large FedEx envelope.

[julie_f]

i have brought about 6-8 months of supply of inhalers. They are avaliable here but at a different dose plus its miles cheaper in UK on prescription than here. I had them in my case and were never checked. I carry the prescription just in case.

[pumper]

Thanks Julie,

I have considered this obvious option .. I've never been checked & the a year's meds could easily be put in 1 shoe...

The meds are over US$300. per month .. would hate to have 12 months confiscated.

I guess with a valid prescription ..

the meds are available in Mexico ..

Mazatlan might be my retirement local ..

[Prakanong]

Interesting - I thought the blood works were quite expensive at Bumrungrad and they are cheaper in Singapore for what I have had.

One thing though - for next years full health screening i will be at Bumrungrad and not Raffles Singapore - the service and care in that situation is so much better in Bumrungrad

[Beardog]

I am on a prescription medication not legal in Thailand .. it is available in many Thai pharmacies under the counter (Chinese brand at a HUGE markup)

I get my blood work ordered by my endocrinologist at Bumrungrad & my US doc accepts .. huge savings!

lab work is so inexpensive at Bumrungrad that I get 'several pages' of exotic specialty lab tests done .. for 1 test my blood must be overnighted to Singapore, as Bumrungrad does not have the equipment.

My US doc loves the medical records I bring to him, he is from the Philippines.

My prescription med is valid, is widely used & based on extensive lab work .. I provide far more medical records / labs / tests than the FDA / AMA requires ..

QUESTION:

can a retiree bring in his personal valid prescription medications in to the Realm .. I'd gladly jump through any hoops the government might realistically present.

&

can I have meds shipped from a US pharmacy into the realm.

or I could easily bring a 6 months ( or 12 months) supply with me... 12 months of meds would fit in a large FedEx envelope.

[Beardog]

I am on a prescription medication not legal in Thailand .. it is available in many Thai pharmacies under the counter (Chinese brand at a HUGE markup)

I get my blood work ordered by my endocrinologist at Bumrungrad & my US doc accepts .. huge savings!

lab work is so inexpensive at Bumrungrad that I get 'several pages' of exotic specialty lab tests done .. for 1 test my blood must be overnighted to Singapore, as Bumrungrad does not have the equipment.

My US doc loves the medical records I bring to him, he is from the Philippines.

My prescription med is valid, is widely used & based on extensive lab work .. I provide far more medical records / labs / tests than the FDA / AMA requires ..

QUESTION:

can a retiree bring in his personal valid prescription medications in to the Realm .. I'd gladly jump through any hoops the government might realistically present.

&

can I have meds shipped from a US pharmacy into the realm.

or I could easily bring a 6 months ( or 12 months) supply with me... 12 months of meds would fit in a large FedEx envelope.

You should be fine I brought over vicodin percocet lorecet for my back & they never even checked. I doubt if they even know what anythingfrom America is anyway. I brought from Sanfrancisco

[unbiasbob]

I guess you're fine if you don't get checked but if you get checked you might (would) have a problem

[pumper]

I contacted a friend that works in marketing for a 'Thai Thai' Hospital (few farang) & he reports that with a prescription I should have no problems.

Ram Group is trying to break into the medical tourist market.

I'm pretty much a coward regarding carrying contraband into a SE Asian country that has a bit of an attitude these days toward Farangs not 'dotting the Is & crossing the Ts'.

re: Blood work expense at Bumrungrad.

I was comparing to the US ..

my total bill for 3 pages of blood work & consults with 2 docs & 1 injection was 9K Thb.

the bill at B'grad is combined into 1 credit card charge .. & I did not closely review the cost breakout .. the bill was more an office appointment with my US doc .. but not much more.

the best part of B'grad, IMHO, is my endocrinologists referred me to another specialist that evening (I ask way to many questions!) .. got in to see him in about 15 minutes & he ordered additional blood work due to my 'worry wart whining' ..

I'm 60 now & am closely watching all aspects of 'the condition my deteriorating condition is in' .. from treadmill stress test, to lung CT scans, to anterior pituitary gland function .. & everything in between.

My goal is to die healthy!

Get 'er done!

Singapore must have an advanced medical system if B'grad must send labs there.

[pgs]

It would be a good idea to get written approval from whichever government office is relevant to medication. If you're caught bringing in such a large quantity of medication, you could be taken in as a drug runner. It is suggested the 'Bangkok Hilton' is not the best resort. Here such things fall under the durisdiction of AQIS (Quarrantine), but for Thailand I would only be guessing. Regardless, I'd want the answer in writing, on a letterhead & if it is in Thai - as is most likely - have it translated at home by a couple of Thais if possible.