Pain Meds in the Bahamas

[JusDreaming]

My "Admiral" has MS and chronic pain, the dilemma is that she takes Percocet, and can not get them without monthly doctors visit, as the law will not allow call in Rx, or multiple refills.
We want to go back to the Bahamas for a couple of months, but don't want to run out of her meds. Is it possible to get meds from a doctor in Georgetown?

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by JusDreaming

My "Admiral" has MS and chronic pain, the dilemma is that she takes Percocet, and can not get them without monthly doctors visit, as the law will not allow call in Rx, or multiple refills.
We want to go back to the Bahamas for a couple of months, but don't want to run out of her meds. Is it possible to get meds from a doctor in Georgetown?

Have your doc write out the perscriptions in advance with dates to be used..might work..

[Custom30]

Originally Posted by tropicalescape

Have your doc write out the perscriptions in advance with dates to be used..might work..

Florida Law would have the Physician risking his license, and breaking the law to do that.

As he stated, monthly visits in person are required for all controlled substances.


'

[GordMay]

Smitty's Pharmacy (Drug Store)
Tel: 242-346-2411
Fax: 242-336-2146
Located about 3 mi. N of Georgetown, this is the only pharmacy on Exuma.
John, the pharmacist, gets twice-weekly shipments of prescription drugs from Nassau. While he keeps a good stock of standard pharmaceuticals he may not stock special combinations available in the US. Your doctor can phone or fax in a prescription. If it is special, the doctor can consult with John by phone to see what alternatives may be available through Nassau.

➥ BAHAMAS PHARMACY COUNCIL

See also:
Government clinic: 242-336-2088
Island Med Medical Clinic (Dr Fox): 242-336-2220

[kingwoodie]

It's illegal for dr's to write prescriptions for narcotics that is not current. The prescriptions written in the US are not legal in most foreign countries. My son has a degenerative nerve problems and requires two types of heavy narcotics to keep his pain level to tolerable. His insurance company has a 90 day prescription plan for vacationers and we could get this supply sent via air to almost any place we were. Every 90 days ( expensive ) he would fly back to renew his drugs with the dr. We also had a letter from his dr explaining the problem and we presented this to dr's in the larger cities we visited and were able to get his meds sometimes but most countries we were in didn't have the drugs anyway. Your as they say between a rock and a hard place. So every 90 days we would sail to a large city in the area and he would fly back and get his meds renewed. Since your only going to be in the Caribbean flying back every 90 days is not to expensive. One other thing. Make sure you have a letter from your dr explaining the problem and if possible have the letter translated into Spanish if you are just staying in the Carib. We spent four years circumnavigating had a great time. His dr letter was in Spanish and French and we had to present these letters to the authorities when questioned. Nearly all didn't understand but as long as the prescriptions were in his name we were ok. Sailing with a handicapped person is a real problem in foreign countries. Doable but sometimes very expensive. Hope this helps.
Kingwoodie
s/v "The Lady Margaret Ann"
Ps. The meds in Georgetown like you need is not easily available but can be ordered when needed. If your going to be gone only for a couple of months just have the dr double the drug amt if possible and have her take her normal dose and save the rest. Not to ethical but it works in the short term.

[In Training]

This will be a problem with my husband as well once we retire. We cannot afford to fly back to the us four times a year. Aren't there doctors in the Caribbean or foreign countries you can go to and get prescriptions? What do people in those countries do?

[kingwoodie]

GordMay: Narcotic prescriptions cannot be faxed or phoned in. All narcotic prescriptions must be picked up in person and presented in person to the pharmacy. A new DEA requirement is that a random drug test be done to ensure the drug is being taken and not being sold. The info you have posted over the years is very good but in this case having narcotics in foreign countries is a real problem for visitors. Smitty's in Georgetown is a good place to go but he would have to order the drugs and the prescription would have to come from a local dr. The last time I was in Smitty's, they said the meds my son needed was not available.

[letsgetsailing3]

I think the OP was on track with looking for a doctor in the Bahamas.

[captain58sailin]

Mostly they suffer.

[captain58sailin]

Might be a good idea to coordinate with a local MD and your current MD, if you know what area you are going to be cruising in and then you should be able to fill your perscriptions at least in the Bahamas, so as not to require a quarterly flight to the USA unless you wanted to.

[kingwoodie]

In Training: Yes there are dr's in foreign countries that can help but a lot of the narcotic drugs needed just are not available. Now we are talking about narcotic drugs here. All the other stuff no problem. The one problem we faced in Europe as well as many other countries was the blood pressure drugs. Not all drugs are created equal.

[keepondancin]

We have the same situation. Each state has it's own regulations. In NY a Dr can write for 90 days. In Florida, the Dr can write 3 scripts for 30 days each. In Florida, the Dr requires you to be a resident for him to prescribe. Wife's Dr, last year wrote 90'days, then allowed our daughter to pick up and sign for another 30 days, which she over nighted to us in Fl. This has stopped us from extended cruising. Your best bet maybe to explain to the Dr, see if you can designate someone to pick up the script, and send it to you. Call the pharmacy in the Bahamas and see if they would fill it, before you make definite plans.

There is this national campaign to limit pain meds, makes good press for the Politicians, but at the expense at patients that can't live something even close to a normal life without the meds.

Please post your progress in finding a solution. We had one Dr in Florida tell us to go to Ft Lauderdale, apparently there is an area that has about 30 pain clinics, that for a price will write scripts. Wouldn't touch that one. Also, we were advised by both the Dr and a local Police officer to keep copies of the script with you when you have more than a weeks worth of meds. Could save a lot of aggravation. It is easier to buy and have a gun than it is to be in a pain management program.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by kingwoodie

... Smitty's in Georgetown is a good place to go but he would have to order the drugs and the prescription would have to come from a local dr. The last time I was in Smitty's, they said the meds my son needed was not available.

Hence my reference to two local Doctors/Clinics.
Government clinic: 242-336-2088
Island Med Medical Clinic: 242-336-2220

George Town Community Clinic
P.O. Box N. 3729
Georgetown, Exuma, Bahamas
Tel. (242) 336-2088
Fax.(242) 336-2089 or 358-0052
E-mail: dphe_GeorgeTown@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

I’d suggest that Denny/Diane contact Smitty’s to determine if, and under what circumstances, her medication might be available through the G-Town pharmacy.
Her Stateside Doctor may have to coordinate with a local Dr, such as at the Clinic.

[In Training]

Well, I was also thinking of the flights to Indiana, much cheaper to other towns further south. Just would be a pain to fly back also. Liked the idea of having someone picking up the prescription for us. In the Caribbean does anyone know if you can get prescriptions filled at the us virgin islands. This will get interesting.

[AnchorageGuy]

Denny and Diane, In the Bahamas, if you have a prescription from an American doctor, you still must see a Bahamian doctor before anyone will fill it. This is for the usual prescription and for narcotics it may be a different matter. I would give the Hospital in Nassau a call and ask them how you will be able to handle this while in the islands. Good luck and be careful taking the drugs into the Bahamas. Be sure you have an official letter from your doctor and maybe even the pharmacist. Be sure the labels on the containers have not been removed. Chuck