Meds and procedures in Mexico??

[Colorado Mom]

I am wondering if you would, or do, buy prescription meds in Mexico? Do you think it's safe?

My mil and her husband (65 and 75) buy all their meds in Mexico, which is kinda scary to me. There have been times that she'll just pick a new med to start taking because all her friends are on it.
Now the latest is that she had a root canal done in Mexico, it's cheaper and all her friends go there. This just makes me feel unsafe, but not sure exactly why. maybe I'll feel differenly when i am that age.

What do you think?

 

[Hedy]

I lived in Mexico for 3 months and would not do it, unless I had to. I knew people who were getting their BC over the counter there. I wouldn't do hat.

 

[horseshowmom]

I know my parents have brought back prescription meds from Mexico (the ones that are legal to be brought back). These are prescriptions that they would normally take. The prescriptions are manufactured in Mexico anyway.

They've also brought back the meds that I use for my dogs and cats if/when they have tapeworms. It is VERY expensive at the vet, and VERY INEXPENSIVE in Mexico. I've got 4 dogs and 12 cats, so that adds up to a lot of money saved. I just gave her the name and dosage that I wanted. It's very easy to tell whether it works or not, and it does.

They have also had some dental work done that was much cheaper and turned out just the same as their dentist here. The dentist was trained in the U.S. and had a very nice office.

Many snowbirds do this type of thing on a regular basis. During the winter they live in south Texas and go just across the border. The area caters to the snowbirds.

However , I do have a problem with an individual just deciding to start taking prescription meds just because their friends are taking it, and it sounds good to them. Not a good idea, but you probably can't stop her.

Also, I doubt that I'd do this further down into Mexico.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

My OB/GYN told me that some of her patients would go down to pick up fertility drugs. She said they were the exact same thing and much cheaper. I think they were specifically buying the liquid for injections.

She said even with the cost of the airline tickets and hotel they could save a ton of money.

 

[beavismom]

My BIL just had a root canal done there for $200 vs $1600 here. He said the office didn't have the latest and greatest technology like digital x-rays, but they did a good job. They don't have dental insurance and this was an affordable alternative. They said there were dentists and pharmacies on almost every corner.

 

[CathrynRose]

I used to go to San Diego every year - with a Tiajuna side trip every year.

I'd pick up my stuff down there. It was all the same exact meds - FROM THE MANUFACTORER for like 1/4 of the price.

The labels would be the same and everything....

I used to get my Ventolin Inhaler's down there, 2 for $8. TWO for 8 bucks.

 

[Colorado Mom]

That is a heck of a deal on inhalers!!!

Now, how do you know it's the same drugs? Do you need anything from a Dr to get them?


My skepticisim comes from knowing my mil and her way of doing things. She will drive 5 hours to the airport on a holiday weekend hoping to get a standby flight for 50 bucks cheaper rather then just get the ticket ahead of time. She would also just go along with whatever everyone else is doing instead of thinking on her own.

 

[luvwinnie]

I used to go to San Diego every year - with a Tiajuna side trip every year.

I'd pick up my stuff down there. It was all the same exact meds - FROM THE MANUFACTORER for like 1/4 of the price.

The labels would be the same and everything....

I used to get my Ventolin Inhaler's down there, 2 for $8. TWO for 8 bucks.

Please be careful. Saw the Dateline expose on companies who make such good fakes that by sight the scientists who MAKE the drugs could not tell they were fake.

 

[horseshowmom]

It is the same. If you saw the boxes/packages/medicine/etc., you'd see what we're talking about. A lot of prescription meds are manufactured in Mexico.

ETA: As I said earlier, it's very apparent whether the prescription wormer works or not, and it does (don't want to be indelicate here).

Some people buy antibiotics while they're there, but I'm kind of leary about that, not because of the meds, but because I think antibiotics are over prescribed to start with.

OT, but you should see the deals you can get on real vanilla (not the imitation stuff). Whenever my folks go, I send after bottles of the stuff for my own use and to give to people as gifts (who I know like to bake). It comes in glass bottles though, so it can be a little bit heavy to carry (comes in bottles about the size of a quart). Several years ago my mother got it for about $3 a bottle, but I think she paid close to $10 a bottle this last time (which is extremely cheap compared to what you pay here). It's really good too!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I am wondering if you would, or do, buy prescription meds in Mexico? Do you think it's safe?

My mil and her husband (65 and 75) buy all their meds in Mexico, which is kinda scary to me. There have been times that she'll just pick a new med to start taking because all her friends are on it.
Now the latest is that she had a root canal done in Mexico, it's cheaper and all her friends go there. This just makes me feel unsafe, but not sure exactly why. maybe I'll feel differenly when i am that age.

What do you think?

Although I understand your concern, they have lots of company! We live about 15-20 minutes from the border, and lots of the "Winter Texans", those who winter down here out of the cold, buy their medication across. Lots of locals regularly buy medication over there. You can buy many medications without a prescription over there, which are prescription in the US-antibiotics, lomotil, viagra (I think), osteoporosis meds, etc. My parents are coming down next week, and as many senior citizens do, they already have their "shopping list" of medications to price over in Mexico. My only concern is that when I was in the hospital a few years ago, with stomache pains, one of the first questions they asked at admission was "Have you taken any medication from Mexico in the last 30 days?" So both your concern and their actions are common.
And many of DS's friends in high school got their braces done in Mexico because it was so much less expensive than in the US. And dental care is cheaper. DS gets his eyes checked and his contact lenses over there and he swears it's just as good, only lots cheaper than, the US.