Obtaining Medications in Mexico

[Capt Phil]

Good idea to see a local Mexican physician that specializes in your particular ailment like if you have heart problems, go and see a cardiologist. Most Mexican physicians were trained (at least in part) in the US and are really patient focussed in my experience. There are many drugs available OTC in Mexico that are not available except by prescription in the US. As Zee points out, best to travel equipped wth your medical history and scripts from your stateside doc before travelling anywhere outside the US. Phil

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by zeehag

if he is too stubborn to do the physician thing properly/correctly, he doesnt truly need the meds. these are NOT over the counter meds.

Zofran is not a schedule III drug is it?

Maybe they just don't have it.

What is so hard about an epi pen? It is not one that can be "abused" well. They don't have them either.

[zeehag]

therapy--they HAVE them but you must go thru a mexican md

i am allergic to phenylephrine, so they tried to sell me epi pen .... i know they have em--if they dont have in stock they will say no hay....


zofran is way too new for mexico.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Therapy

Zofran is not a schedule III drug is it?

Maybe they just don't have it.

What is so hard about an epi pen? It is not one that can be "abused" well. They don't have them either.

You can get Zofran but it's very difficult as it's (in Mexico) generally only prescribed for cancer patients. I watched my wife argue with two different physicians who wanted her to take something different. That drug, when talking to our family doctor and another physician friend back in san diego, carried way more risk and side effect.

Regarding epipens, I'll bet $100 right now that no one can show me a Mexican pharmacy with one in stock.

It's not a medication so much as a product. You can buy epinepherine and some syringes but that's not an epipen.

I've had lots of medical services in Mexico, including my own daughter being born here. It's generally fine but no one should be pretending it's a first world nation. It isn't.

[rebel heart]

My wife almost underwent a risky surgery in Mexico (after two previous Mexican physicians misdiagnosed it) but waited to get a fourth opinion in the States from one of the international leaders in that field.

Specialist said no surgery necessary, it will heal on it's own, and the surgery has lots of complications (non of which were mentioned by the Mexican surgeon) .

All that being said I'm getting my vasectomy here in La Paz.

It's not the banana republic that some think but nor is it top notch medicine at cheap prices.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

It's not the banana republic that some think but nor is it top notch medicine at cheap prices.

That I know.

But some still want to pretend that things are "just as good".

If that were the case then all these "trained in America" doctors wouldn't be.

I entered this thread when someone said the pharmacies all had MDs in them and all one had to do was tell of symptoms etc and could get medicines that would require two steps in the US at higher cost. So I said, in effect, "show me". Well that ain't happenin'. And it won't.

Best of luck with ya'lls health. I am curious as to what the non-needed surgery was though. Cyst or shoulder?

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Therapy

I entered this thread when someone said the pharmacies all had MDs in them and all one had to do was tell of symptoms etc and could get medicines that would require two steps in the US at higher cost.

Yeah, lol at that.

It's a mixed bag because for plenty of things it does work that way, and it is super convenient that (as an asthmatic, for example) I can just walk in and point to what I want rather than having to get re-diagnosed by a new doctor and wasting time and money, or calling my doctor to have her send a prescription in somewhere.

But no way in hell are you going to walk into a pharmacy (or should you, anyway) with blurred vision in one eye, get diagnosed by the kid behind the counter while he looks up from his phone (in plenty of communities it really is a kid), grab some pills, and call it a problem solved.

I've found that in these cases Mexican medicine is just as good or better than the USA:

• Chronic things you already know about and have been dealing with. Asthma, depression, hypertension, etc.
• Things unique to the area. Food poisoning, mosquito issues, local plant allergens, local wildlife/sealife issues.
• Vaccinations.
• Low risk surgical procedures.
• Lab work (they email you the results directly as a PDF).
• Most dermatology, especially as it related to skin cancer and solar radiation.
• Ultrasounds.
• Quick access to medical services. Normally you can see just about any physician that same day. Definitely within the week.

These I've had less than ideal results with:

• Anything complicated requiring a new diagnoses.
• High risk or high complication surgeries.
• Even if you speak Spanish, it can be hard working with an entirely different vocabulary. If you don't speak Spanish, the whole medical process can be very difficult.

[Teknav]

At a pharmacy, in Cozumel, there was no M.D. behind the counter. Instead, there was a very young kid who claimed to be a pharmacist; I doubted it. He offered to sell me any medication that I wanted, if I would pay him beforehand the cost of a prescription; 200 Pesos (around $20 USD). While the selection of drugs were not as plentiful as the ones at a Walgreen pharmacy, I found the generic equivalent of what I was looking for; slipped/fell on a slippery deck prior to SCUBA diving, and needed a mild pain killer for my back.

Mauritz

[bobconnie]

Because of old sailing injurys, I have to use a time release Morphine tab of small strength. I have had no problem getting the same pills in Mexico. even in 90 day amounts! I see a MD and he gives me a script and charges me for it all ! I go to a pharm, and pick up the pills ! Easy-peasy! Same pill as US but a heck of a lot cheaper! 2 years ago when we were going to be gone over 6 mounths, and I was able to get a 6 mo script from the doc in mexico! Sure made things a bunch easier!! All ya need to do is go to an MD and get your scripts! helps to have your pill bottles with ya !! Just sayin if ya do things there way it works fine !!

[truckeesailor]

What shipping company do you use