Pharmacies in Mexico

[chas329mi]

Is it legal to bring antibiotics back from Mexico?

[Misueno]

It used to be that you could buy antibiotics in Mexico without a prescription... that has changed - you need to see a doctor who will prescribe antibiotics for you.

[cb at sea]

If you have an infection, you should have a doctor prescribe the proper antibiotic...they are NOT all the same...and too much use of antibiotics will leave you open to those nasty, antibiotic resistant infections.

Antibiotics don't work for viruses, like colds, or flu or allergies.

[Ine]

Some farmacias have doctors either in the shop or close by to it. If needed they can give you a prescription in order to get antibiotics.

[griz400]

there is a pharmacy we seen on may 6th down by margaritaville had penicillin for 240.00 (pesos) lol, like 20 some dollars ... we just looked around, we have good health insurance and dont need any

[xxoocruiser]

There have been many news articles both on national TV and in print regarding the dangers of buying RX's in Mexico. Selling counterfeit RX's to tourist is a major business. Just because the box may state the same pharmaceutical company as what you purchase in the USA does not mean that it's the meds are the same.

 

Do your homework before purchasing. Buyer beware.

[SPacificbound]

You have no way to know what you are actually getting. I wouldn't chance it.

[sarafinadh]

Is it legal to bring antibiotics back from Mexico?

Yes, for personal use. Take your prescriptions with you for border crossings.

 

For those who have an unreasoned fear of medical care in Mexico and of the pharmacies I have a news flash. A whole nation full of people rely on the system there and are very happy with it. It is much more available and reasonable than in the US and the quality of care, and doctors and pharmacies is, as in the US subject to the individual cases. We have excellent specialists in Tijuana. My insurance would cover me in San Francisco, but in many cases the cost down south is less than the copay would be, or the procedure is one not covered by insurance because it is viewed as elective. In the case of major dental it is just much less expensive to have the work done there and pay out of pocket and deduct it, than to have a dental plan.

 

Many items on the forumlary for prescriptions in the US are not prescriptive medications in Mexico. You will want the US prescriptions when crossing the border.

 

You will find it helpful if you google your meds and get the clinical name rather than the brand name, and be sure to note your dosages and how much you pay so you can easily compare cost. A neat written list can help if you don't speak Spanish. Many pharmacists speak English and are US trained, but not all, so a written list is a good tool to avoid confusion. Many things are less, but sometimes you will run into something that is more.

 

Sometimes the meds will come packaged differently, this does not indicate that it is 'fake', only that it is not packaged for the US market. Sometimes you will be offered generics that are not available in the US.

 

We travel from San Francisco quarterly to purchase the families' prescription meds from a reputable pharmacy, Farmacias Nacional, at a tiny fraction of the cost in the US. Go with confidence. We have saved thousands of dollars over the last few years. In particular on insulin and blood pressure meds for my father.

 

It will depend on what meds you take to be able to tell if it is a worthwhile exercise for you ; -)

 

Good luck!

 

Sara

[chas329mi]

Thanks Sara!

I have an aunt and uncle in AZ that get their scripts in Nogales just for those reasons.

[Laurie S.]

I agree, we buy ours in San Carlos. I've found medicines there that aren't available in the US and work great.

[sarafinadh]

The first time I did it was a bit chaotic, but now I just email them the list and then pick it up. It's been a godsend given my father's medical issues, but I pick up for the whole extended family. My sister takes her turn going occasionally as well, but I am down to so cal on business a few times a year anyway so I usually do it.

 

I do keep on hand two multi spectrum antibiotics that my Dr prescribes for some reoccurring issues, as part of my earthquake preparedness kit. The idea of a bladder infection after a disaster looms larger in my mind than power and water being cut off!! It's so cheap I just throw it away in the prescription recycle box at my local Walgreens and replace it when it expires.

 

8 - O

[reedl]

If you have a Dr. who prescribes antibiotics for a potentially recurring issue, then you have a incompetent Dr. No Dr. should ever prescribe antibiotics for something that might happen in the future and let the patient decide on their use. There is no way a patient can decide for themselves whether an infection is bacterial or viral. You may think you know, but you do not.

 

And you will have many more issues than a bladder infection if an earthquake hits.

 

The overuse of antibiotics is what has led to antibiotic resistant strains of previously treatable diseases and the fact that the drug companies are not researching new antibiotics since there really is not much profit in them compared to lifestyle drugs (think daily use pills that you use for a long time), means that pretty soon we will be back to the "dark ages" before antibiotics even existed.

 

Wow!

[griffy116]

The "you don't know what you are getting" is so we pay what we are paying here in the U.S. You can take a nice trip and get your outrageously priced prescriptions in Mexico and still save money...and get the exact same prescription from the same manufacturer. Our pharmaceutical companies own our lawmakers or our prescriptions would cost the same as in Mexico and Canada. It's easy to "know what you are getting" if you do a little research first. Nurses were buying prescriptions right beside us on our last cruise to Mexico. ;)

[navybankerteacher]

The "you don't know what you are getting" is so we pay what we are paying here in the U.S. You can take a nice trip and get your outrageously priced prescriptions in Mexico and still save money...and get the exact same prescription from the same manufacturer. Our pharmaceutical companies own our lawmakers or our prescriptions would cost the same as in Mexico and Canada. It's easy to "know what you are getting" if you do a little research first. Nurses were buying prescriptions right beside us on our last cruise to Mexico. ;)

 

Spoken like a trained pharmacist.

[calliopecruiser]

It's easy to "know what you are getting" if you do a little research first. Nurses were buying prescriptions right beside us on our last cruise to Mexico. ;)

 

Yes, do a little research first, and be aware of what and where you are buying drugs. Pay attention to how the drugs are handled and stored, but (as has been said), it's not as if Mexicans don't get sick and need drugs too. Be sure you are getting what you're expecting (no bait and switch) and that they've been stored well and aren't expired - because there is sadly no shortage of businesses (all over the world) that take advantage of foreign tourists.