Little Blue Pill

[FarSeas]

What's the legal status with getting Sildenafil or related products in Thailand over the counter? Several times in Southern Phuket its never been a problem wherever I go (pharmacies) but around Sukhumvit I've been told an outright 'no' or otherwise been given some useless but expensive herbal rubbish. Not sure I want to trust the street vendor pharms  ! 

 

 

[lopburi3]

Not legal.

[dddave]

Usually not a problem. Seagra is a local brand of sildenifil and sold cheaply...try the pharmacy on Sukhumvit between Soi 4 & 2, close to "Bully's".  Always fair prices.

[Oxx]

10 minutes ago, dddave said:

Usually not a problem. Seagra is a local brand of sildenifil and sold cheaply...try the pharmacy on Sukhumvit between Soi 4 & 2, close to "Bully's".  Always fair prices.

 

Perhaps you mean Sidegra? (Produced by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation [GPO])

[Sheryl]

All forms require a prescription, by law.

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

All forms require a prescription, by law.

 

A law "More honour'd in the breach than the observance", methinks.

 

The reality in Thailand is that, with a few exceptions (such as opiates), notionally prescription-only drugs can readily be obtained sans prescription.

 

 

[FarSeas]

Damn, I should probably stop smuggling them out of the country then..... 

[KhunBENQ]

4 hours ago, Oxx said:

 

Perhaps you mean Sidegra? (Produced by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation [GPO])

Correct, Sidegra made in Thailand since the patent protection has expired.

And of course it is legal but requires a prescription.

 

One should always consider/consult a doctor whether the sildenafil (Viagra like) stuff is the best option.

There are two other substances, one of them being tadalafil (Cialis brandname).

I don't know about legal availability of this in Thailand.

 

[Sheryl]

 
A law "More honour'd in the breach than the observance", methinks.
 
The reality in Thailand is that, with a few exceptions (such as opiates), notionally prescription-only drugs can readily be obtained sans prescription.
 
 

That does not protect one from legal consequences. And they will usually befall the expat customer not the Thai seller. (Who if they are selling openly probably has an "arrangement" wirh the lical BiB.)

It has happened, even with the blue pill. Sometimes there are even stake outs right near pharmacies in tourist areas.

[dddave]

Absurd, really. Take a walk after dark along lower Sukhumvit between Asok and Soi 3 and you pass a minimum of 10 sidewalk stalls displaying all manner of erectile dysfunction medications, herbs and substitute devices.

Take care not to drop a cigarette butt, though. The same cops who somehow fail to notice the "illegal" substances will spot that from 200 yards. 

[geriatrickid]

The  erectile dysfunction drugs available OTC or without a script packaged as Viagra, Levitra, Cialis etc. are counterfeit. They are at best comprised of inert compounds such as corn starch or at worst packed with dangerous components such as high dose caffeine or other stimulants. When the product does contain an active ingredient, the dosing may be incorrect.  A person with a pre-existing heart condition can suffer a cardiac crisis when taking these products.

 

Under no circumstances should these products be purchased without a  clearance from  your physician first. Erectile dysfunction is an indication of a pre-existing medical condition, often a circulatory problem  such as  heart disease.  Do not purchase the product from a non reputable pharmacy. This means you should purchase this class of drug  from a hospital affiliated pharmacy or an established chain. Erectile dysfunction drugs are the most likely to be counterfeit in Thailand.

 

Read the product monograph. If you see spelling errors or a poor quality printing, The likelihood of a counterfeit is 100%. If in doubt call the free pharmaco vigilance phone number on the box.  You will be asked for the box identification number and/or lot number and where  and when you purchased the product.  If your product does not have a contact number to call and to verify, you may wish to reconsider its use, as all reputable drug companies will provide a contact number for inquiries or to report an adverse reaction. 

 

 

[Sheryl]

Yes, the blatently sold OTC meds that require a prescription are more often than not fakes. Which will not help you if stopped by police. I have heard of cases where people were shaken down by police immediately after buying such fakes and when they complained that there was no action being taken against the open sales, told the seller wasn't doing anything illegal because what they sold wasn't real.  (Presumably the logic is that this doesn't exclude the buyer since they intended/believed they were buying the real thing.)

 

It is not at all difficult to get a script. Any doctor, any clinic, few hundred baht. Do this,  make a few photocopies of it (in case a pharmacy wants to keep one), keep one in your wallet in case ever hassled by the police, and then buy only from legitimate pharmacies.