Those Friendly Mexican Pharmacies
Sep 8, 2008, 6:16 pm
#31
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: Club Premier, AmEx Plat, Priority Pass
Posts: 132
As someone told before the most comfortable way of getting meds would be in the large supermarkets (Soriana, Wal-Mart, Comercial Mexicana, H-E-B in the north) as all of them have a pharmacy section and the price variation between them and small pharmacies can be +/- $4 USD
Oct 9, 2008, 8:45 am
#32
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Buying in large well-established stores is a good strategy.
As to Ambien, etc. be aware that, though the government interferes minimally in the sale / dispensing of various drugs one would require a prescription for in "el norte," the government is significantly more zealous about controlled drugs like benzodiazepines, soporifics, sedative-hypnotics and their ilk.
And you might not be able to find the latest or most effective drugs for other problems (e.g. Malarone as a malaria preventive.)
DO check expiration dates ("fecha de caducidad",) how the medications have been kept (how warm is the temperature at mid-day?) even in larger stores.
As to Ambien, etc. be aware that, though the government interferes minimally in the sale / dispensing of various drugs one would require a prescription for in "el norte," the government is significantly more zealous about controlled drugs like benzodiazepines, soporifics, sedative-hypnotics and their ilk.
And you might not be able to find the latest or most effective drugs for other problems (e.g. Malarone as a malaria preventive.)
DO check expiration dates ("fecha de caducidad",) how the medications have been kept (how warm is the temperature at mid-day?) even in larger stores.
Dec 6, 2015, 1:18 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 3
Current question?
Be aware, there are "pirate" (counterfeit) drugs available in Mexico, and conditions vary considerably in storage - temperatures can get quite warm in non-air conditioned farmacias. Be sure to check the ingredient list - many medications vary in naming, and some sold in Mexico with the same name as US (or other) have the principal ingredients, but may be compounded with other active ingredients you may not want.
While a number of medications can be obtained without prescriptions (e.g. antibiotics,) some medications, particularly anything that could be considered a stimulant, narcotic or depressants - are more controlled than in the USA or Canada, and do necessitate a doctor's prescription (which should be carried with one.) Some medications sold in Mexico may be of any US or European list - one common and popular anti-diarrheal was sold years after they were prohibited in Europe, Japan and the US because one of the potential side effects was blindness (now that's a serious stopper...)
Mexico regulates the maximum prices of medications - "Precio máximo al público" should be on the printed on the box, with the maximum allowable price in pesos. Most pharmacies also have a book similar to the US PDR (Physicians Desk Reference") available, but of course, it is in Castilian, and may have different pharmaceutical or generic names (we do that in English as well - "acetaminophen" in the US is "paracetamol" nearly everywhere else, including Argentina.) Some medications available in the US, Canada, Europe may just not be available in Mexico, either entirely, or in strengths you may be looking to buy; and a number of medications have a different appearance (the paracetamol I purchased last week in Buenos Aires, for example, was a much larger tablet than the comparable strength acetaminophen in the US,) or may be packaged differently - such as in individually tearable packets dispensed in strips from a box.
As well, there are different kinds of farmacias: only "de Primera Clase" have a licensed pharmacist in attendance at all times. Other points of note - many pharmacies have someone on staff who is capable of giving injections - but be sure they are using disposables, as you may not be able to evaluate the sanitary conditions of their autoclave or other sterilization method. Finally, you can still get your meds compounded by hand in some farmacias - but it may be compounded by an ayudante, or totally unlicensed and sometimes unsupervised "assistant."
How do I know this? A number of my family members were physicians in Mexico, and my first jobs after school / summers were translating, selling and working the counters, compounding meds for people and animals (including small doses of "sleeping pills" for drugging parrots to be smuggled into the USA,) unpacking and stocking, etc. at Farmacia Zapata - where medical advice was dispensed and injections given as well (but not by me.) Fuhgeddaboudit - the statute of limitations, if there was any law against it anyway, is long, long expired... ¡Salud!
While a number of medications can be obtained without prescriptions (e.g. antibiotics,) some medications, particularly anything that could be considered a stimulant, narcotic or depressants - are more controlled than in the USA or Canada, and do necessitate a doctor's prescription (which should be carried with one.) Some medications sold in Mexico may be of any US or European list - one common and popular anti-diarrheal was sold years after they were prohibited in Europe, Japan and the US because one of the potential side effects was blindness (now that's a serious stopper...)
Mexico regulates the maximum prices of medications - "Precio máximo al público" should be on the printed on the box, with the maximum allowable price in pesos. Most pharmacies also have a book similar to the US PDR (Physicians Desk Reference") available, but of course, it is in Castilian, and may have different pharmaceutical or generic names (we do that in English as well - "acetaminophen" in the US is "paracetamol" nearly everywhere else, including Argentina.) Some medications available in the US, Canada, Europe may just not be available in Mexico, either entirely, or in strengths you may be looking to buy; and a number of medications have a different appearance (the paracetamol I purchased last week in Buenos Aires, for example, was a much larger tablet than the comparable strength acetaminophen in the US,) or may be packaged differently - such as in individually tearable packets dispensed in strips from a box.
As well, there are different kinds of farmacias: only "de Primera Clase" have a licensed pharmacist in attendance at all times. Other points of note - many pharmacies have someone on staff who is capable of giving injections - but be sure they are using disposables, as you may not be able to evaluate the sanitary conditions of their autoclave or other sterilization method. Finally, you can still get your meds compounded by hand in some farmacias - but it may be compounded by an ayudante, or totally unlicensed and sometimes unsupervised "assistant."
How do I know this? A number of my family members were physicians in Mexico, and my first jobs after school / summers were translating, selling and working the counters, compounding meds for people and animals (including small doses of "sleeping pills" for drugging parrots to be smuggled into the USA,) unpacking and stocking, etc. at Farmacia Zapata - where medical advice was dispensed and injections given as well (but not by me.) Fuhgeddaboudit - the statute of limitations, if there was any law against it anyway, is long, long expired... ¡Salud!
Dec 6, 2015, 1:41 pm
#35
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
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Thank you all for your insight. I stumbled across this forum trying to figure out if I can refill my tramadol in Mazatlan, Mexico? It is now a schedule IV drug in the US. I know it used to be widely available in Mexico OTC however since US regulations have changed I was wondering what impact that has had on Mexican regulations (if any). Please advise, I am trying to see my doctor before I leave in 6 days but just in case I'd like to know if there are other options. Thank you!
The larger pharmacies in Mexico often have a physician on consult, so you might find it more effective to try your American Rx and as a backup do a consult (usually moderately priced) with your US physician's letter or / and prescription.
Dec 6, 2015, 2:40 pm
#36
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Join Date: Dec 2002
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Thank you all for your insight. I stumbled across this forum trying to figure out if I can refill my tramadol in Mazatlan, Mexico? It is now a schedule IV drug in the US. I know it used to be widely available in Mexico OTC however since US regulations have changed I was wondering what impact that has had on Mexican regulations (if any). Please advise, I am trying to see my doctor before I leave in 6 days but just in case I'd like to know if there are other options. Thank you!
Personally I do exactly the opposite, as I've found Wal-Mart prices are roughly 2x higher, and they tend to be more stringent about requiring prescriptions. YMMV
Dec 6, 2015, 4:26 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 3
Influence on Mexico drugs regulations is more marked with those affected by DEA and US drug laws. Those most affected include stimulants, opiates and opioids and various central nervous depressants, hypnotics, sedatives, etc. so my guess is Tramadol is restricted in Mexico.
The larger pharmacies in Mexico often have a physician on consult, so you might find it more effective to try your American Rx and as a backup do a consult (usually moderately priced) with your US physician's letter or / and prescription.
The larger pharmacies in Mexico often have a physician on consult, so you might find it more effective to try your American Rx and as a backup do a consult (usually moderately priced) with your US physician's letter or / and prescription.
Dec 6, 2015, 4:27 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 3
About a year ago we tried to stock up on vicodin which I need for migraines, no dice (shocker). However the helpful pharmacist suggested tramadol which was sold OTC. So unless things have changed I doubt you will have any issues.
Personally I do exactly the opposite, as I've found Wal-Mart prices are roughly 2x higher, and they tend to be more stringent about requiring prescriptions. YMMV
Personally I do exactly the opposite, as I've found Wal-Mart prices are roughly 2x higher, and they tend to be more stringent about requiring prescriptions. YMMV
Mar 8, 2016, 7:34 am
#40
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: AA
Posts: 377
Mar 18, 2016, 2:28 am
#41
Used to be 'etrevino'
Join Date: Feb 2014
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