Prescription Drugs in Cozumel

[Bbethparsons]

Does anyone have any experience with purchasing any prescription drugs in Cozumel at the Pharmacia? Will be going on May 25th Magic and read a little about amoxicillin/birth control? Anyone know more??

 

[Denine]

We noticed that all the the prescription drugs were out for everyone to see. It was weird. I would be careful buying there. You do not know the quality of the drugs.

 

[Psiklops]

I'm not saying that the prescription medications are COMPLETELY safe, but they are usually the same exact thing that you can buy in the U.S. (albeit the label is probably changed).

The reason that they are so cheap is because the drug companies are forced to sell it to certain countries (Mexico, 3rd World Countries, etc.) at substantially discounted rates. Often times, the drug companies have to sell it below production costs.

How, you ask, can the drug companies make any money then? Well, to cover those costs, they have to raise the price in the U.S. That is the REAL reason why prescription medication costs so much in the U.S. - it's to offset the loss they take in other countries.

Anyway, just thought you might like to know why they're so cheap - but, please be careful - you might want to write down the exact ingredients of your medication before you leave and then check it against the label from wherever you buy it (especially check the ACTIVE ingredient).

Just my 2¢...

- Jim

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

My husband is from Mexico, and ALL the friends we have are, too. Most of them go there OFTEN, several times a year. You can buy prescription drugs in Mexico with no prescription, AND they are WAY cheap, and they ARE exactly the same as you'd get at any pharmacy here in the states. My grandmother even buys drugs there when she goes to Arizona for the winter. They go into Mexico and buy prescriptions. Exactly the same. I'm not saying you won't find any "shady" drugs, maybe not what you think they are, but for the most part, at the regular local pharmacies, they ARE what we have here. I honestly know. Like I said, my hubby is from there, and all our friends and his family, etc....

 

[Pugdog007]

like Xanex (anti-anxiety) or Lortab (mild pain) or prescription cold medicine, or is it just limited to OTC antibiotics and birth control?

What would you have to know in order to identify it if labeled in Spanish? Just the main ingredient???

 

[Psiklops]

Yes, probaby. Although I'm sure the pharmacist (?) would know what you were talking about if you gave them the regular name.

- Jim

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

With OUR personal experience, it is the same, not in spanish. After all, a name is a name in ANY language. I have a box of prescription tagament and it says Tagament in English as we know it (since that is it's name), but ALL the ingredients and dosage info- everything else is in spanish. We know guys who buy Viagra there all the time so you can get pretty much ANY prescriptions there, pain killers, etc.. Not just birth control. Anyways, the drugs are all made by the same drug companies, same ingredients, all the same. Just don't expect to be able to ready the rest of the box except for the name and milligram info...

 

[LemonDietCoke]

I have a box of prescription tagament and it says Tagament in English as we know it (since that is it's name),

Except that the name is Tagamet.

I hear many elderly purchase their drugs this way since they don't have Medicare Drug Coverage.

 

[Denine]

Just one more note. Please do not buy prescription meds in Mexico if you do not have a prescription from your doctor for them. No one should be self medicating, especially with antibiotics. There is a real problem with the overuse of antibiotics causing drug resistant bacteria.

 

[MO64RN]

Are there any problems getting these meds through customs? Especially xanax, lortabs and others like that? I can't believe these drugs are so available to the general public. Seems that people can buy in large volume and distribute illegally in the US. Just concerned.

 

[Denine]

MO6RN: It seems you and I are both concerned because we are both RN's.

 

[Scott H]

You will need a current prescription to get a controlled substance back into the US. Really it is not worth it.

I agree over med with antibiotics is a problem.

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

I know alot of you don't like what I have to say about it, as I DO understand your points of view. It isn't my intention to make people consider bring back drugs they shouldn't have, or purchase antibiotics. You should see a doctor, I know. ALL I am saying, is like where my Grandma is concerned, she has prescriptions for certain drugs she cannot afford. She buys them in Mexico to save money, and she does NOT have to show any current prescriptions for them. and all our Mexican friends purchace presc. drugs there, like Viagra without a prescription as I assure you they function quite normally, but young guys apparently like to take it anyways..? And NEVER has anyone ever had to show prescriptions for them on there way back into the states. Not trying to be disagreeable, but these are the facts as I know myself from personal experience. Also, you'd have NO NO clue as to the problems with coming back into the states with the things people bring back with them. We know people who bring back prescriptions drugs, illegal ones if they wanted to, and even PEOPLE come back illegally. Its quite a business, and you'd be shocked at how many of the border police are involved. All you have to do it give them a little cash, and you're on your way. Mist of the time they don't even ask or check- unless you give them reason to be suspicious. Like I said, I'm DEFINATELY not advocating it at ALL.. It's wrong I know. I'm just saying this is how things are in reality..There is ALOT of corruption involved in customs and border patrols.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Keep in mind, those returning on the Disney ships will enter the U.S. through Customs as they disembark the ship. Quite different from bribing your way through border patrols.

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

Yes, I do understand the difference, but as alot of people have said in different posts, and my experince with customs on my cruise, it's a joke. Not only was it in San Juan with us, but in the States, as well.. They just ask questions, and you answer them. People have been known to lie, and unless they search everyones bags as well, no one would know any better. That is all I am saying. Customs people aren't on the lookout for folks with antibiotics and viagra. They're concerned with terrorists and bombs.. Ya know? Ok, well that's it I guess... Just making people aware of the way things are. Maybe one day we can live in a perfect world where things like that don't happen. But until then, we deal with what we actually have.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by Bbethparsons
Does anyone have any experience with purchasing any prescription drugs in Cozumel at the Pharmacia? Will be going on May 25th Magic and read a little about amoxicillin/birth control? Anyone know more??

I do know that Amoxicilln is NOT very effective for birth control- better use something else for that!!

 

[kendall]

Webmaster Doc - too funny!

I've lived and travelled in Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica and Spain, hence my viewpoint on meds from foreign pharmacies.

If you are going to get meds, you MAY need a prescription - it may depend on the pharmacist on duty. Generally for non-narcotic you don't need a prescription, for narcotics you do. (your foreign pharmacy may vary) In many Latin American countries, folks talk to the pharmacist just like a doctor - give symptoms and the pharmacist doles out the meds - usually without any examination. However pharmacists are not doctors, nor are they as extensively trained. So if you are considering buying meds,

1. know what you are buying - dosage, maker, any generic equivalents. Many meds share a common name, others do not - and there are equivalents. I've done fine with some Bayer pharmaceutical products produced in Latin America - generics.
2. know about potential drug interactions with other meds you may be taking or side effects - don't count on receiving a nifty printout or information about possible side affects or interaction information
3. keep the meds in the original packaging (obviously this may be the prescription vial itself, the box, the foil, etc - but keep the original packaging). This helps if you are searched during customs or if you have a reaction to the meds.
4. remember shelf life - some folks tend to stock up on a medicine, but shelf life may matter in effectiveness - check expiration date on meds you receive and don't stock up too much.

I agree with previous posters - prices are great in Mexico - my Mother lives in Phoenix and she, along with other seniors, make a trip to Mexico every few months for refills - for a senior on a fixed income and little health insurance, this is one of the only ways to afford medication. How sad.

On another side, I have come to appreciate the easy access to meds in foreign pharmacies when I am travelling - as long as I know what I need.

 

[akid@hart]

We go to Mexico every year, we do buy many medicines there cheaper than in the USA and they are the exact same thing. For those of you who are concerned, go to this website:
http://www.freetranslation.com
Type in the wording from the medicines you are now taking, then click on the button that says translate from english to spanish. Print this and take it with you when you go shopping at the pharmacia to compare dosage, etc.
There is a pharmacia at the International Pier in Cozumel as well as a couple of them on the edge of the town square downtown, near the clock tower.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We always stock up on antibiotics in Mexico. No, we don't self-medicate at every little fever or sniffle. Mostly we prefer to have meds when we travel as a just in case. I can't tell you how many times I've been at the doctor with someone in my family when a prescription was being written and I already had that on-hand. You can also buy things like migraine meds, retin-a, etc. We have carried meds back into the US *many* times through customs. Never asked for anything. There is a blurb if you search for it in the customs info online that pertains s to medications. It basically states a quantity you can bring back. It's like they want to make sure it's not so much you're distributing. Ya know?

Before we started cruising we used to get a bunch of family together & go in on a larger order from online pharmacies from India. Exact same meds at a fraction of the cost. No prescriptions needed. Completely legal. Nothing shady.

 

[undertheradar]

Has anyone purchased from safegenericmart. com? Thanks

Cool, an over 15 year bump!