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Posted

I'm going to have to get some more blood pressure and cholesterol medication soon (ramipril) and (atovarstatin) these are fairly widely prescribed in the uk but any tips on best place to get them on samui ? - pharmacy / hospital .. or wait for visa run and get in Bangkok or Malaysia? Any advice appreciated 

Posted
11 hours ago, uptheos said:

Artovostatin 10 or 20 mg any pharmacy.

ACE inhibitors just as easy from a pharmacy

I would have assumed so.

My wife uses a different blood pressure stuff (amlodipine?) and it's dirt cheap, available everywhere.

 

And for more medical info I move this thread to the health forum leaving a link in the Samui forum.

 

Posted

Actually unless willing to pay for Lipitor; Atovastatin is often difficult to source in Thailand at a reasonable price.  Currently buy Chlovas 40mg and cut.  Cost is about 22 baht each

 

 

Posted

Simvastatin, which is in same drug family and chemically quite similar to atorvastatin, is very cheap here and available  everywhere. Atorvastatin is basically just a newer brand of the virtually the same thing - pharm companies do this when a drug is going off patent. Typically at that point small scale studies funded by the pharm company come out showing the new drug as better in some respect and, typically, later independent studies with larger sample sizes come out showing little or no difference but by then the pharm reps have succeeded in getting most doctors to which over.

 

This has been the case with simvastatin and atorvastatin

 

See  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1476712/

 

as to where in Samui to buy, go into Nathon  and look for a large pharmacy (NOT a Boots or Watsons - a Thai pharmacy). Near the government hospital would be a likely place.

Posted

Actually on Samui,  Morya Pharmacy have a good selection of most meds... (Ask for a member card and get 5% purchases .) Stores around the island. 

 

Gai Pharmacy on Soi 4 in Maenam, (toward sea front from traffic light)  is popular for us locals, prices usually lower than other places and she knows her stuff! 

 

Nathon Hospital would have also, but one needs to see a doc first... although you may need to know what strength of meds needed.  

Any of the Clinics around the island will check blood pressure for free...  (Some pharmacies too) ...

Posted
14 hours ago, TerryLH said:

Simvastatin 20mg tablets cost ฿1 each at the government hospital I use.

Simvastatin drugs are very cheap here in most pharmacies - but it is not the same statin drug as OP was asking about.

Posted
On 4/25/2017 at 11:37 AM, KhunBENQ said:

I would have assumed so.

My wife uses a different blood pressure stuff (amlodipine?) and it's dirt cheap, available everywhere.

 

And for more medical info I move this thread to the health forum leaving a link in the Samui forum.

 

 

Doesn't that make her feet swell? I was advised to take Zanidip (Lercanidipine). It works great. It's expensive. I buy the generic from an Indian online Pharmacy.

Posted

If you go for simvastation, just ask for Zimmex.  The wife and I have been taking 10mg per day for a couple of years now  First recommended by our doctor at a large private hospital here in Thailand....they definitely work to lower your cholesterol....sure worked for the wife and I.  We buy Zimmex 20 (20mg) and just break the tabs in half...the tabs already have a midpoint breakpoint.  Here in the Bangkok pharmacy area they go for around Bt220 for a box of 30 tabs....works out to around Bt7/tab.  You can buy it by the pack of 10 tabs, a box of 30 tabs, or a box of 50 tabs based on my personal buys at two different pharmacies.   Just walk in and ask for it.

 

Capture.JPG.20d2690d76ea2368b5213940dd4fed61.JPG

 

 

Posted
33 minutes ago, joealx said:

Doesn't that make her feet swell?

Not that I have noticed or she complained.

Side effects can vary widely.

Posted

There are many, many brands of simvastatin, and I don't think Zimmex is the cheapest.

Normal low dose would be 20mg a day not 10. In OP's case he'd want dose equivalent to what he has been taking as atorvastatin.

Posted

Thete are many, many brands of simvastatin and I don't think Zimmex is the cheapest.

 

Most people on simva take at least 20mg, 10 is an unusually low dose. In OP's case he would need to get dose equivalent to the atorvastatin he had been onn. The equivalence is 2:1 i.e. 10 mg atorvastatin equivalent to 20 .mg simva.

 

 

Posted
12 hours ago, Bigdogfarang said:

Hi which hospital is that ?

 

Being that you are Samui, the only government hospital here is in Nathon, passed the old Samui Immigration office... 

You would need to get a prescription from doctor first, they do not sell meds "over the counter"... Avoid Mondays and Fridays as wait can take a while, although if you go in the afternoons, waits to see Doc are usually a lot shorter (After 1 pm) ... You will need to register first at counter #1 Have passport with you (easy) >>> they will give you a card to keep for other visits...

Posted
6 hours ago, Sheryl said:

There are many, many brands of simvastatin, and I don't think Zimmex is the cheapest.

Normal low dose would be 20mg a day not 10. In OP's case he'd want dose equivalent to what he has been taking as atorvastatin.

 

The doctor recommended 10mg per day for both the wife and I and it brought our cholesterol down to well within limits/normal level.  This 10mg dosage level also inline with prescribing info shown below.   Seems the dosage can range from 5mg to 80mg daily depending on your condition.  10mg worked for both the wife and I.   Don't want to take more than I need to.

Capture.JPG.4e51a8769e44617d1abba2e0b125c621.JPG

 

Posted

Just thinking if one is getting cholesterol checked,  to determine strength of meds, it a test that needs to be done after fasting for about 12 hours, which means if want a blood test for that it means a morning visit... it usually takes about 2 to 3 hours for them to give the result....

(again avoid Monday and Fridays, as always busier! )

 

Just be clear to the doctor you do not want Crestor, that is over the top expensive and what they may give a prescription for!

Posted
On 4/25/2017 at 3:36 PM, Sheryl said:

Spharm companies do this when a drug is going off patent. Typically at that point small scale studies funded by the pharm company come out showing the new drug as better in some respect and, typically, later independent studies with larger sample sizes come out showing little or no difference but by then the pharm reps have succeeded in getting most doctors to which over.

 

 

Alas, Sheryl. You've shattered all my illusions about the ethics of Big Pharma.

Posted
8 hours ago, samuijimmy said:

 

Being that you are Samui, the only government hospital here is in Nathon, passed the old Samui Immigration office... 

You would need to get a prescription from doctor first, they do not sell meds "over the counter"... Avoid Mondays and Fridays as wait can take a while, although if you go in the afternoons, waits to see Doc are usually a lot shorter (After 1 pm) ... You will need to register first at counter #1 Have passport with you (easy) >>> they will give you a card to keep for other visits...

 

8 hours ago, samuijimmy said:

 

Being that you are Samui, the only government hospital here is in Nathon, passed the old Samui Immigration office... 

You would need to get a prescription from doctor first, they do not sell meds "over the counter"... Avoid Mondays and Fridays as wait can take a while, although if you go in the afternoons, waits to see Doc are usually a lot shorter (After 1 pm) ... You will need to register first at counter #1 Have passport with you (easy) >>> they will give you a card to keep for other visits...

I'm in chaweng so could I register with a doctor here (not even sure where I would find one) - get prescription then go to na thon.. need to way up cost saving of all that  hassle rather than just going in moyra pharmacy and buying over counter which I assume I can do without a perscription ? 

Posted
12 hours ago, samuijimmy said:

Just thinking if one is getting cholesterol checked,  to determine strength of meds, it a test that needs to be done after fasting for about 12 hours, which means if want a blood test for that it means a morning visit... it usually takes about 2 to 3 hours for them to give the result....

(again avoid Monday and Fridays, as always busier! )

 

Just be clear to the doctor you do not want Crestor, that is over the top expensive and what they may give a prescription for!

There should not be any fasting required for current tests - but some hospitals seem to put fasting on everything. 

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/farewell-fasting-cholesterol-test-201606169784

Posted
1 minute ago, lopburi3 said:

There should not be any fasting required for current tests - but some hospitals seem to put fasting on everything. 

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/farewell-fasting-cholesterol-test-201606169784

 

Well that is good news then... it's always spoils the morning before going, not having at least a coffee !  (It's not just a Thai thing, I used to have to fast in Canada too!... perhaps changed there now? )

At least here one gets results within hours and not weeks!:whistling:

 

Never had to fast for any other blood test though ...

Posted
1 minute ago, lopburi3 said:

Never had blood sugar test (FBS)?  That does require fasting - but most others do not.  

 

Last time sugar test was done at same time as cholesterol checked...:wink:

Posted
9 hours ago, Bigdogfarang said:

 

I'm in chaweng so could I register with a doctor here (not even sure where I would find one) - get prescription then go to na thon.. need to way up cost saving of all that  hassle rather than just going in moyra pharmacy and buying over counter which I assume I can do without a perscription ? 

 

No - hospital pharmacies do not sell to the public, they only dispense medications to their own patients. So a presecripton from elsewhere is pointless.

 

Just to be clear: this drug does not need a prescription, you can buy it over the counter at a pharmacy.

 

While the drug cost might be a little less in the govt hospital than a pharmacy you have to figure in  the cost of the doctor consultation as well as the long waits.  I doubt it would be worth it so unless you are due for another blood test anyway likely not worth it.

 

Just go to one of the pharmacies mentioned and ask for the least expensive brand.

Posted
On 4/25/2017 at 5:21 AM, Bigdogfarang said:

Thanks any idea on pricing I heard it can be quite expensive over here in the uk it's 9 quid for a three month supply !

That's probably because your doctor puts thee months supply on one prescription. If he prescribed it monthly it would probably be 27 quid, so that's the figure you need to go by for cost comparison, as you can only get 3 months supply on prescription.

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Right so after quite a lot of shopping around I've found a place on samui that can provide all the medication I need at a pretty reasonable price it's a thai pharmacy on the ground floor of samui central in chaweng called p&f central samui for anyone who may find it useful these are the drugs I needed and the alternative (generic) I can buy here with costs 

 

ramipril - anapril 90 baht for 30 tablets

amplodimine - amlopine 150 for 30 tabs

indapamide - natrilix 240 for 30 tabs

atorvastatin - bestatin 210 for 30 taba

or zimnex - 144 for 30 tabs

 

bestatin and zimnex are simvostatins

 

i am checking with my uk doctor I am ok to use these equivalents but from what I can see I should be 

 

so in the end it will actually work out cheaper than on prescription in the uk

Posted

The OP mentioned Ramipril which doesn't seem to have been mentioned since. I have twice bought some from my nearest pharmacy in Nong Khai. So it must be widely available. Sorry, can't remember the price. 

I use 2.5 my but they only sold 5mg. So I use a pill cutter. 

Hope you find what you need. 

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