Prescription Medication OTC in Phnom Penh
Dec 1, 2018, 7:04 pm
#16
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Can you get them? Yes. Is it illegal? Yes, Do tourist buy them for recreational use? Yes. I'd be careful as PP is scam central.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-w...nter-addiction
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-w...nter-addiction
Since OP is set in his mind that it is legal, then that is fine by him/her.
Dec 1, 2018, 10:05 pm
#17
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Ive been taking Valium for 10 years. I just want to say if it’s counterfeit drug, I will know very quickly. Not to mention the drugs I am asking about don’t seem to be reported as being in large part counterfeit if bought from a pharmacy.
Dec 2, 2018, 7:59 am
#18
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I have several prescription medications that I may need to be refilled while on my travels in Cambodia. I have mostly read that buying serious medication OTC in Cambodia is really easy and prescriptions are not needed. I’m just trying to confirm if that’s still the case and if someone has pharmacies to recommend?
I’m not trying to get my hands on anything hard or illegal, but I will probably need a Zolpidem and Valium refill while I’m there (medications already prescribed to me in the US) and I’m wondering if just walking into a pharmacy to get these medications will be easy? Does anyone have any specific pharmacies to recommend in the city?
I’m not trying to get my hands on anything hard or illegal, but I will probably need a Zolpidem and Valium refill while I’m there (medications already prescribed to me in the US) and I’m wondering if just walking into a pharmacy to get these medications will be easy? Does anyone have any specific pharmacies to recommend in the city?
Yes you can get these medications (or the generic equivalent) over the counter in central PP
PM me please if you want, else the thread will continue to be a moral 'you shouldn't be doing this' type of feel
Dec 2, 2018, 5:58 pm
#19
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Valium (diazepam) has been manufactured as a generic for decades at a cost of pennies per dose. That's not the sort of thing to worry about at a decent pharmacy. Still, a cursory search of pharmacies turns up some suitable candidates for reliable dispensaries (including those attached to hospitals/reputable clinics) such as U-Care pharmacy.
Interesting note: It seems based on academic papers looking into this (counterfeit medicine in Myanmar & Cambodia) much of the counterfeit market focuses on antibiotics and anti-malarial/anti-parasite medicines.
Interesting note: It seems based on academic papers looking into this (counterfeit medicine in Myanmar & Cambodia) much of the counterfeit market focuses on antibiotics and anti-malarial/anti-parasite medicines.
Last edited by Amelorn; Dec 2, 2018 at 6:21 pm
Dec 3, 2018, 12:02 am
#20
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But it's a well-worn path: OP asks for information, but gets some nonsense about what is legal and proper in the US morphing into what is ethical behaviour elsewhere in the world.
Dec 5, 2018, 11:50 am
#21
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Dec 6, 2018, 7:18 am
#23
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There are legitimate pharmacies all over town, and on the few occasions that I needed something that may have required an Rx in the USA, I had no problem buying them OTC (aside from the obvious language barrier). The only issue I ever encountered was that the same drug can have several different names, depending on who is making the generic version. So it is best to do some research before you walk in. But the drugs I am talking about are fairly mundane (xanax, antibiotics, etc), so I can't comment about any of the hardcore heroin-lite opioid painkillers that are all the rage among Americans these days.
Dec 7, 2018, 5:39 am
#24
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There are legitimate pharmacies all over town, and on the few occasions that I needed something that may have required an Rx in the USA, I had no problem buying them OTC (aside from the obvious language barrier). The only issue I ever encountered was that the same drug can have several different names, depending on who is making the generic version. So it is best to do some research before you walk in. But the drugs I am talking about are fairly mundane (xanax, antibiotics, etc), so I can't comment about any of the hardcore heroin-lite opioid painkillers that are all the rage among Americans these days.
Dec 7, 2018, 1:28 pm
#26
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Thanks for the update. I’m really not interested in any opiates unless I have an emergency with my arthritis so it sounds like what I need they have. Did they put a limit on how much you could have bought? How much was a box of say alprozolam (Xanax) and how many came in the box if you remember?
Dec 10, 2018, 8:06 am
#27
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They are probably more expensive than any other shop in town but I'll pay more for piece of mind.
Dec 10, 2018, 8:09 am
#28
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Thanks for the update. I’m really not interested in any opiates unless I have an emergency with my arthritis so it sounds like what I need they have. Did they put a limit on how much you could have bought? How much was a box of say alprozolam (Xanax) and how many came in the box if you remember?
Dec 12, 2018, 8:48 am
#29
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To my knowledge, Valium and Xanax are fairly easy to obtain in SE Asia, including Cambodia. At most you have to walk to a few different pharmacies. The ones clearly serving tourist trade (multiple language signs) in side alleys are usually your best bet.
Zolpidem is another matter. It's a lot more tightly controlled because it's actively dangerous. Pharmacies that'd sell all kinds of things still wouldn't sell that. They'll usually sell you other things that help you sleep... just not Ambien.
Zolpidem is another matter. It's a lot more tightly controlled because it's actively dangerous. Pharmacies that'd sell all kinds of things still wouldn't sell that. They'll usually sell you other things that help you sleep... just not Ambien.