How cheap are perscription drugs in Thailand please?

[Siani]

Hi Can anyone tell me how expensive perscrition drugs cost? I would need to buy steroids for my mother. I also need metformin plus numerous other items. Are they cheap by enlarge please? Siani

[Big Boy]

Back in Apr 08, I bought Metformin at 15 Baht for 10.

[Siani]

That sounds really cheap, good to know that. Thanks..I keep thinking of everything I will need when I get there. Many thanks for the info Siani

[MartinJ]

does any one know it asthma medication can be brought over the counter too ?

like brand name Ventolin (salbutamol)

[Siani]

I would like to know that too Martin...will also need steriod pump for my mother. amongst numerous other things! By enlarge are medications expensive in Thailand? Metformin will cost me about 45 baht a week...which is under £1, so that is ok.
Thanks Siani

[hhfarang]

does any one know it asthma medication can be brought over the counter too ?

like brand name Ventolin (salbutamol)

Yes, nearly any medication can be bought over the counter here. I have bought four different asthma meds otc (including Ventolin or a salbutarol inhaler, which is fairly cheap), and buy 3 now regularly.

Bear in mind that not all pharmacies have all meds, especially if it is a newer one (med, not pharmacy), and bear in mind that the names are often different here but any good pharmacist can look up the name and cross reference it in a catalog.

The newer meds are not cheap here either. Try Tesco pharmacy (in the back of the store first) for some of the best prices I've seen. If they don't have what you need try the pharmacy about a block north of the Old Hua Hin shopping mall. They are pricey but carry a better variety of stock than most places.

[hhfarang]

By enlarge are medications expensive in Thailand?

By and large older, out of patent (especially if you are willing to take a generic or Thai brand of the same med) are cheap here.

Newer meds (marketed within the last 10 years) can be very expensive here. I take a blood pressure med that costs 1700 baht per month in the prescribed dose, one preventative (daily) asthma med that costs 1200 baht per month, and an allergy med that costs 800 baht per month as they are relatively new and have no generic. I was taking an expensive cholesterol med when I came here (1200 baht per month), but found a Thai generic brand of the same drug for 270 baht per month. I stopped one asthma med because it was 2000 baht per month and my asthma is fine with only the other one.

Also, like a lot of other things, medications seem to be more expensive in Hua Hin than in a lot of other places in Thailand. I can save around 20% on all the above mentioned meds if I get them in Bangkok so when I'm there I usually try to stock up for the next three months.

[Siani]

By enlarge are medications expensive in Thailand?

By and large older, out of patent (especially if you are willing to take a generic or Thai brand of the same med) are cheap here.

Newer meds (marketed within the last 10 years) can be very expensive here. I take a blood pressure med that costs 1700 baht per month in the prescribed dose, one preventative (daily) asthma med that costs 1200 baht per month, and an allergy med that costs 800 baht per month as they are relatively new and have no generic. I was taking an expensive cholesterol med when I came here (1200 baht per month), but found a Thai generic brand of the same drug for 270 baht per month. I stopped one asthma med because it was 2000 baht per month and my asthma is fine with only the other one.

Also, like a lot of other things, medications seem to be more expensive in Hua Hin than in a lot of other places in Thailand. I can save around 20% on all the above mentioned meds if I get them in Bangkok so when I'm there I usually try to stock up for the next three months.

Stocking up seems a good idea. I need blood pressure tabs + diabetics tabs, so maybe looking at quite a bit per month for just these. My husband takes the same....also my mother. I think the answer is to get a healthier lifestyle and get of the tabs! Maybe easier said than done!! Thanks for the info Siani

[Siani]

does any one know it asthma medication can be brought over the counter too ?

like brand name Ventolin (salbutamol)

Yes, nearly any medication can be bought over the counter here. I have bought four different asthma meds otc (including Ventolin or a salbutarol inhaler, which is fairly cheap), and buy 3 now regularly.

Bear in mind that not all pharmacies have all meds, especially if it is a newer one (med, not pharmacy), and bear in mind that the names are often different here but any good pharmacist can look up the name and cross reference it in a catalog.

The newer meds are not cheap here either. Try Tesco pharmacy (in the back of the store first) for some of the best prices I've seen. If they don't have what you need try the pharmacy about a block north of the Old Hua Hin shopping mall. They are pricey but carry a better variety of stock than most places.

Thanks for the info..will look at the cheaper range from Tesco, seems a good idea. In the UK we seem to take medication for granted as it is free. I don't mind paying but need to have daily medication. You info is really helpful. Thanks Siani

[MartinJ]

Yes thanks for the information it is good.

as i had asthma all my life thank so many types over the years and now down to the 2 types , the med are not free for me, but that is life 7 + per item right now i know how to cope and do what i can.

My main worry is if i only take one inhaler and ii gets broken or i leave it on some place i may not need it but i like to be safer then sorry

Normally i take spare and leave one set in the safe in the place i stay. this time i will be traveling around and may not that close to the placed i leave it in. The strange thing is here in the UK i need them more than i ever do in Thailand

Could i ask if any one find places that has these for sure in Hua Hin it be great to have a price, and the Thai name of the product may be in the Thai text too , which i would then make a card up so i could hand in and hopefully get the correct product if the need did come

Once more thanks

[mr lonely]

The price of drugs varies considerably as here you pay the cost of the drugs themselves, not a flat fee like in the UK.
Many pharmacies (I always use the big Chinese one on Chomsin) will offer both the generic and a non generic drug.
Stock up with several months supply before you came and keep a copy of the prescription from your doctor. My UK GP will prescribe for 6 months supply at a time.
Note that any drug containg any for of morphine salt (eg Co-Codamol) is not available in thailand

[nevets]

Medication in the UK is not free it is about £7 per script unless you have an exemption certificate.
Sorry did not read your post Martin.

[hhfarang]

Could i ask if any one find places that has these for sure in Hua Hin it be great to have a price, and the Thai name of the product may be in the Thai text too , which i would then make a card up so i could hand in and hopefully get the correct product if the need did come

Once more thanks

Martin, If you're talking about the emergency inhaler containing (S)Albuterol, they are available at nearly any pharmacy and are only a couple of hundred baht as many Thais use them. 90% of the pharmacists I've encountered here speak English so you should have no trouble finding what you need.

[PeteC]

As a kid I had a friend who used an inhaler and he used to carry it on a safety chain around his neck so as not to lose it. Probably a good idea for anyone on holiday and hopping between hotels and locations. Here they may think it's a new type of amulet. Pete

[Siani]

Good idea Thanks for the tip! Siani