Pharmacies Abroad

We have done several TA, Med, and Mexico cruises and it ceases to amaze us the amount of passengers that make a beeline to the nearest pharmacy once they're in port. Just curious why? Are you able to buy certain meds without a Rx, if so what are the common ones that would drive these folks to pharmacies, ie: ED, Diabetes, Inhalers etc etc ?? Just curious, we enjoy the local sights and attractions before going anywhere else.

In some countries some medications that require a prescription at home are available without a prescription from pharmacists. I found that out accidentally when I had forgotten my meds at home and went to a pharmacy in Portugal to ask about finding an English speaking doctor who would see me so I could get a prescription. Instead, I was able to buy the meds directly.

In Mexico it's not that uncommon that the pharmacy will refer you to the doctor next door for a RX. Personally I see the bigger issue being the possibility of getting "counterfeit look-alike". 20/20 , 60 Minutes and Dateline have all done shows on this very problem .

We have done several TA, Med, and Mexico cruises and it ceases to amaze us the amount of passengers that make a beeline to the nearest pharmacy once they're in port. Just curious why? Are you able to buy certain meds without a Rx, if so what are the common ones that would drive these folks to pharmacies, ie: ED, Diabetes, Inhalers etc etc ??

Yup

Lots of folks think they are saving big $$ buying their meds from another country....and they might be...who knows? That's the problem....especially in Mexico...you don't know if what you're buying is legit.

Next trip to Cozumel I'll be sure to ask the Farmacista if Abilify is right for me.

It might be because you don't need a prescription; it also is likely because prices are much, much cheaper than in the U.S.

I have a few friends who swear by allergy meds that they have brought back from pharmacies in other countries.

In Canada you can buy many codeine products over the counter for headaches (think Tylenol 3) for backaches try Robaxacet 8, cough medicines. However, don't try buying Neosporin over the counter in Canada, that requires a prescription. The price is much cheaper too.

In Mexico it's not that uncommon that the pharmacy will refer you to the doctor next door for a RX. Personally I see the bigger issue being the possibility of getting "counterfeit look-alike". 20/20 , 60 Minutes and Dateline have all done shows on this very problem .

It is possible. Some are mere placebo.

I would never take the chance of buying medications out of the US.

There is no telling what you are actually getting -- especially in Mexico.

I would never take the chance of buying medications out of the US.

Do you really think that people in the US are the only ones who have safe access to useful medication? Where do you think people in Brazil, Korea, Spain, or Sweden with heart disease, anxiety, arthritis, or IBD get their drugs? They're not all running to the US because they can't get safe medication at home. BUT that doesn't mean that counterfeits aren't all over the place, and so one shouldn't get off a cruise ship and run to the nearest pharmacy attached to the tourist center of town.

I would never take the chance of buying medications out of the US.

There is no telling what you are actually getting -- especially in Mexico.

You have just as much of a chance of getting counterfeit meds at home as you do out of the US.

Wouldn't there be some legal consequences for doing such a thing?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you really think that people in the US are the only ones who have safe access to useful medication? Where do you think people in Brazil, Korea, Spain, or Sweden with heart disease, anxiety, arthritis, or IBD get their drugs? They're not all running to the US because they can't get safe medication at home. BUT that doesn't mean that counterfeits aren't all over the place, and so one shouldn't get off a cruise ship and run to the nearest pharmacy attached to the tourist center of town.

We have high standards in Australia, but there is always one shady character that tries to make a quick buck. This was in the media yesterday:

Thousands of counterfeit prescription pills made their way into Australia's official supply chain and ended up at a children's hospital in Sydney, an investigation has found.

Key points:

• Counterfeit pharmaceuticals were discovered in a children's hospital
  
• Health department says the fakes were found before being given to patients
  
• Pharmacist who supplied the drugs is fighting the cancellation of his licence
  

The details of the 2010 incident have only recently come to light, as the pharmacist who supplied the fakes fights the cancellation of his licence.

A staff member at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick was crushing ****** tablets, which can be used to treat children with pulmonary hypertension, when she noticed something different about the pills.

"What [she] noticed was that the consistency of the tablets wasn't normal. It appeared to be a bit grittier than normal," Bruce Battye, the NSW deputy chief pharmacist said.

The hospital pharmacist phoned the manufacturer Pfizer to raise her concerns. Pfizer told her she had a counterfeit product.

When the counterfeits were analysed, authorities found they did not contain enough sildenafil.

There are several reasons: Some don't have insurance coverage. Some of the folks on SS and Medicaid can get a 3 month supply of their med for less than a month. They go on a couple of cheap cruises a year, buy up their prescriptions and still have money left, over purchasing them in the U.S. You would be surprised how many nurses and those in the medical field are buying their prescription medications in Mexico. The manufacturer is the same, the pills are the same with the same markings, etc. The VAST majority aren't buying pain killers. They're buying heart meds, blood pressure meds etc...basically medications for chronic conditions.

What about ( Epipen ) in 2013 it cost me $300.00 for 2 I didn't use it,

now it is 600.00, Should I get them while I'm there ? Thanks for the suggestion.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Not familiar with whether they have the Epipens or not but it won't hurt to check with the pharmacists. The ones we've met speak flawless English and were educated in the U.S. in their field. All you have to do is ask them. You would have information about them I wouldn't know about.

What about ( Epipen ) in 2013 it cost me $300.00 for 2 I didn't use it,

now it is 600.00, Should I get them while I'm there ? Thanks for the suggestion.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Epipen is a brand. So if they have them, they're likely going to be just as expensive since the manufacturer is the one charging the outrageous price. We too, buy 2 every year, and (thankfully) haven't needed them.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Epipen is a brand. So if they have them, they're likely going to be just as expensive since the manufacturer is the one charging the outrageous price.

That is where you are very wrong. It is a brand but licensing for Epipen marketing rights depends on country, as do many branded pharmaceuticals. In the U.S., the rights were purchased by Mylan which has increased prices substantially (you have to wait until 2025 when the patents expire for cheap generics).

In Canada, the marketing rights are held by Pfizer which charges a much lower price.

In Mexico, the drug containing the active ingredient is not available over the counter but the drug or prescription, but available at hospitals and clinics at a wholesale price in bulk of .... about a quarter per dose.

If you insist on an EpiPen, you'll brown your pants on how much they cost in France. €40.04 for a 15 mg single pen or... ~USD 43

https://www.vidal.fr/actualites/13897/epipen_adrenaline_nouvelle_solution_auto_injectable_d_urgence_dans_les_reactions_allergiques_severes/

I have prescription drug coverage so there's no need to shop pharmacies abroad. But I've been told you can get drugs much cheaper in these ports than in the US. I'd imagine that if you live near the port its most likely cheaper to book a short cruise a couple times a year and stock up than to pay US prices. No idea about the safety aspect though.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Epipen is a brand. So if they have them, they're likely going to be just as expensive since the manufacturer is the one charging the outrageous price.

That's not the case. Big Pharma has different prices in every country, with the prices in the US often being much higher than anywhere else.

Bloomberg article specific to Epipen. $600 in the US, $69 in the UK.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-29/epipen-s-69-cost-in-britain-shows-other-extreme-of-drug-pricing-itnvgvam

According to this article, though, Epipen is not available in Mexico and its ingredient, epinephrine, is only available at hospitals, clinics and specialists.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/valley/article_e5e24d34-7233-11e6-9409-6f17db7e5912.html

That is where you are very wrong. It is a brand but licensing for Epipen marketing rights depends on country, as do many branded pharmaceuticals. In the U.S., the rights were purchased by Mylan which has increased prices substantially (you have to wait until 2025 when the patents expire for cheap generics).

 

 

In Canada, the marketing rights are held by Pfizer which charges a much lower price.

 

In Mexico, the drug containing the active ingredient is not available over the counter but the drug or prescription, but available at hospitals and clinics at a wholesale price in bulk of .... about a quarter per dose.

 

 

If you insist on an EpiPen, you'll brown your pants on how much they cost in France. €40.04 for a 15 mg single pen or... ~USD 43

 

 

https://www.vidal.fr/actualites/13897/epipen_adrenaline_nouvelle_solution_auto_injectable_d_urgence_dans_les_reactions_allergiques_severes/

Thank you for the condescending reply. Clearly I lack your extensive knowledge on the subject matter. A simple explanation without the negative introduction would have been sufficient.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you for the condescending reply. Clearly I lack your extensive knowledge on the subject matter. A simple explanation without the negative introduction would have been sufficient.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Telling you that you were wrong is not condescending. Just accept your error, learn something new, and move on.......

I would never take the chance of buying medications out of the US.

There is no telling what you are actually getting -- especially in Mexico.

Hi there

Possibly there may be issues with drugs purchased in Mexico, but it certainly wouldn't be an accurate statement generally. The control in production in many countries is at least a stringent as would be in the U.S.

Some drugs such as "Epipen" are many hundreds of dollars less expensive in Canada, and what is sold here is manufactured in the U.S.

Of course to have a prescription filled in the pharmacy you would have to be seen and have a drug prescribed by a Canadian doctor, but if the savings were significant it would be worth looking into. Don't forget the CDN $ has also fallen 25% vs. the US % in the last 2-3 yrs. so your dollar will go further here.

I would caution, in regards to Canadian purchases, to avoid the so called "on line" pharmacies. They have had certain legal issues, because they had been trying to avoid the requirement of patients being examined by Canadian doctors and the question of "counterfeit" drugs.

You would certainly have to do your research, but the thought that purchasing your medication in a Canadian pharmacy could be problematic is absurd.

hope this helps