Will I need a physical prescription from a US doc on a pad in order to buy meds in BA? In other words, can I walk into a farmacia and purchase my (US) prescription meds without a prescription, e.g. Arcoxia, rGH, Viagra, etc?

Most likely you will need an Rx from an Argentine Doctor to get any Rx meds. I have never tried using a US Doctor's prescription simply because many of the names are not the same.

Sam

A US prescription will have zero validity in Argentina. Some things that are available only with a prescription in the US (e.g. birth control bills, some antibiotics) are available in Argentina without a script.

The brand names will almost certainly be different, as might formulations and dosages, even for similar drugs.

I wouldn't chance getting what you need without going to an Argentine physician. It's not like going to Mexico, as some people do who live near the US border, and you can't assume that the pharmacy employees will speak English.

Besides which, if you have insurance in the US, there probably isn't going to be a cost savings by attempting to buy drugs here. Many Argentines have insurance plans which also give them a discount on drugs.

John

No... you will only need to have a prescription if you want to obtain the discounts/refunds associated with local healthcare coverage... since you are from outside Argentina and have no coverage, you do not need to have a prescription for almost all medicines sold... you will just have to pay a less discounted price.

Alex, a lot of expats are reporting increasing difficulties in obtaining prescription drugs without a script, although that seems to depend on which pharmacy you go to.

It probably doesn't help that many patients aren't familiar with what the active compounds are in their medications, and given language difficulties, some pharmacists don't want to risk causing problems. I think that a lot of the problems are also related to the fact that there are retirees from the US here who are avoiding seeing local physicians for chronic conditions that absolutely need to be monitored and evaluated periodically.

This is a question that comes up regularly on expat bulletin boards and the general consensus is that you should be seeing a local physician for prescriptions.

I've personally witnessed a serious adverse reaction of somebody who obtained amphetamines (unknowing what they were), from a local pharmacy.

(As an example, some people have been unable to get insulin formulations without a prescription. I personally think that anybody who takes such drugs and self prescribes has a fool for a patient. Disclaimer - I've spent a career in human pharmaceutical development)

John

You should always get at least a 20% discount for most Rx's when paying with cash (efectivo) as opposed to paying by credit card. Since I have an Argentine insurance plan I have always had the Rx, but I have known tourists that were refused when they attempted to secure meds without one. And no they were not trying for controlled substances I think Ibuprofen is used here to treat everything from headaches to post op pain

suerte
SAM

Sam, that raises another issue - credit card usage.

Outside of hotels and restaurants, you'll usually be asked for ID when using a credit card (I'm sure Alex will waive that since he can track you down ), and the only acceptable ID I've found is a passport (i.e. a US driver's license won't cut it).

John

Actually always use my US DL at Coto and Disco. Only one time did a clerk at Disco ask for additional ID and accepted my main page passport photocopy. I just have to point out where the DL number is so they can input that into the register. Maybe I have an honest face

Sam

I've been refused with my DL at Jumbo and Rodo (but I finally managed to persuade Rodo to accept a copy of my passport -although they did call VISA to check on me).

John

A photocard driving licence should be fine as long as it has any number on it that they can input as a document #. IME, once they know they're dealing with a foreigner, most people aren't really that fussed (espcially when you're spending a lot of $$ - turn down the sale or bend the rules. Tough call!!)

Another option which worked for me without fail before I got my Argentine ID was to carry a color photocopy of the photo page of my passport shrunk down to credit card size and laminated. It was never refused (it looked just like a laminated ID card) and saves the worry of carrying original documents around with you.

Agreed. I have had several friends and family try to get Rx drugs over the counter and all have been refused. I know the system used to be a lot more laid back but it looks like it's been tightened up a bit in the last few years,

Thanks for clarifying the updated situation at the pharmacies... I thought that you could still get away with buying stuff if you were ready to pay close to full price. I guess the system is now being checked more closely, and after all, the original system does have a sale with prescription and also a sale with archived prescription (con receta archivada) where the pharmacy does have to keep physical records by law.

I think it is a mixed answer. I have always bought meds over the counter. Last week for the first time I was asked for a RX for ambien at one place. However I went to another where I have purchased it in the past and was able to get all meds I needed.
1)You can not get certain meds such as codeine type and some so called "psycho tropic" basically the triple script things from the states.
2)You have to know the generic name or compound.

as to cost,, I can get most drugs here for less ( lately, slightly less) than the cost of the co-pay on my insurance.

Basically I only get them here if I am low or for some like the ambien that require a rx in states.

Last week I went to a dentist and was given a " rx" for antibiotics Pharmacist looked at it gave me the antibiotics and handed the rx back to me. Said not necessary.

Credit cards. I am rarely asked for any ID but when asked sometimes I use a NY DL and sometimes a non official photo ID with a number no one has ever questioned them.

I've heard of several people being refused Ambien (Zolpidem) without a prescription, whereas before it was no problem. Somebody indicated it was a new regulation (but I don't know which authority has regulatory oversight).

Probably because Ambien has a signficiant abuse potential that it's now being restricted, and the generic Zolpidem that's now available doesn't have the plastic coating of Sanofi-Aventis Ambien (which was specifically to prevent pills being crushed for snorting or injection).

John

The only place where I ever had to show my passport was when buying longhaul bus tickets or ski passes. At all other places they ask for a document number, but it's never cross-checked.

And a drivers license simply isn't an ID, sorry ;-)