Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

1 2 View All

expatsinmexico

Aug 14, 2011, 8:11 PM

Post #1 of 27 (1990 views)

Shortcut

Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Does anyone have a link to a site showing drug costs in Mexico? It would also be handy to find a table that shows the US prescription name with the corresponding name that it is sold under in Mexico.

yucatandreamer

Aug 14, 2011, 8:34 PM

Post #2 of 27 (1976 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bound4ajijic] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

https://sites.google.com/...emexicodruglist/Home Scroll down

This was referred to on Mexconnect several years ago and has the information you are looking for(more or less). Most of the pharmacies have a large reference book and can look up your prescription.
]

(This post was edited by Rolly on Aug 14, 2011, 9:22 PM)

YucaLandia

Aug 14, 2011, 8:58 PM

Post #3 of 27 (1970 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bound4ajijic] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

I don't have a link, but you should also check out Similares Farmacias prices. Their shops are not airconditioned, so, we hesitate to buy liquid or creams or ointments from them (the meds that actually degrade when stored over 90º F), since our temperatures are so hot here in Yucatan.

Similares buys lots of high quality pharmaceuticals as generics from India. The Indian chemists have done fine jobs of reverse-engineering the drugs, and have a decade of reputation for producing good quality products with good QC checks - unlike many chemical products out of China.

Tetracycline sells for about $50 pesos, Ciprofloxin sells for $60 pesos. Amoxycillin sells for $35 pesos.

They do not have generic equivalents for less typical meds like the statins like Zocor etc, but they offer lots of other high quality products at very modest prices. Prices vary widely between the other pharmacies, so, it's really best to have someone check first here for the current prices and availability of specific drugs.
steve
-
-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

richmx2

Aug 14, 2011, 11:37 PM

Post #4 of 27 (1946 views)

Shortcut

Re: [YucaLandia] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Similares may indeed buy generics from India, but they are also part of the same firm that owns Laboratorios Best which produces a lot of its own generics.

Drug prices in general (that is, legal drugs... you're on your own with the other kind) are substantially lower in Mexico than in the U.S. Like most relatively sane countries, there are price caps on pharmaceuticals and the importers are private firms (full disclosure: I briefly worked at one of them teaching English to their execs) basically only have one important buyer (IMSS) which means they can negotiate bulk purchase discounts.

I'd also add that doctors here aren't as quick to rely on drug therapies for ailments as those north of the border, especially when alternatives are more cost effective, or less

http://mexfiles.net
http://voiceofmexico.com
http://editorialmazatlan.com

(This post was edited by richmx2 on Aug 14, 2011, 11:48 PM)

mazbook1

Aug 15, 2011, 12:47 AM

Post #5 of 27 (1942 views)

Shortcut

Re: [YucaLandia] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Actually, Steve, Similares DOES have Zocor, just ask for simvastatina. I've been buying it there for years. Oh, and it's made in México, too.

Tomas_en_Mexico

Aug 15, 2011, 12:54 AM

Post #6 of 27 (1941 views)

Shortcut

Re: [YucaLandia] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Does one need a prescription in Mexico for most of these drugs?

mazbook1

Aug 15, 2011, 12:58 AM

Post #7 of 27 (1939 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Tomas_en_Mexico] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Antibiotics, YES, opiates (codeine, etc.), YES, some anti-depressives (but not all), YES. Most everything else, NO.

Bennie García

Aug 15, 2011, 5:52 AM

Post #8 of 27 (1911 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richmx2] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

In Reply To

I'd also add that doctors here aren't as quick to rely on drug therapies for ailments as those north of the border, especially when alternatives are more cost effective, or less

Au contraire. While not as common in the big cities as the smaller towns and pueblos, many doctors also own their own their own farmacía and prescribe bushel bags full of medicine. Even the generic drug stores such as Dr. Simi, Generix etc, they have an in-store medic that will prescribe medicine. Medicine is big business here also.

Most of you weren't around when drugs were heavily regulated and very cheap. Those days left town with Salinas de Gortari.

fordmexico

Aug 15, 2011, 8:32 AM

Post #9 of 27 (1866 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bound4ajijic] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Superama posts prices on its site. Owned by Walmart, the prices are usually the same at Sams Club and Walmart Supercenter.

Walmarts Generic Line

http://www.superama.com.mx/...LUSIVA%20MEDI%20MART

Brand Name Prices.

http://www.superama.com.mx/...milia=f_ESPECIALIDAD

The sites are NOT the easiest to search. Better Prices can often be found at other farmacias. If you have an INAPAM card Walmart offers a 5% discount on the quaoted prices.

Here is a link (slow-loading) to the INAPAM discounts for Healthcare. Scroll down to Farmacia.

http://www.inapam.gob.mx/...os/29/file/SALUD.pdf

(This post was edited by Rolly on Aug 15, 2011, 9:09 AM)

fordmexico

Aug 15, 2011, 8:37 AM

Post #10 of 27 (1864 views)

Shortcut

Re: [YucaLandia] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Here is a link.

http://www.farmaciasdesimilares.com.mx/...uscar=MEDICAMENTOS-1

They offer up to a 10% discount on most of their drugs with an INAPAM card.

(This post was edited by Rolly on Aug 15, 2011, 9:09 AM)

esperanza

Aug 15, 2011, 8:57 AM

Post #11 of 27 (1860 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fordmexico] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Farmacia Similares also offers the following discounts:

Mondays 11AM-1PM and 5PM-7PM, 25% off your purchase.
Thursdays 11AM-1PM and 5PM-7PM, 25 pesos discount on every 100 pesos spent
First and 16th of each month, buy one get one half price

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

La Isla

Aug 15, 2011, 9:04 AM

Post #12 of 27 (1853 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richmx2] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

In Reply To

I'd also add that doctors here aren't as quick to rely on drug therapies for ailments as those north of the border, especially when alternatives are more cost effective, or less

Au contraire, I´ve found that antibiotics seem to be more freely prescribed here than in the States. I've even had doctors ask me if I thought I needed antibiotics when I went to see them for a minor ailment.

CanuckBob

Aug 15, 2011, 1:00 PM

Post #13 of 27 (1794 views)

Shortcut

Re: [La Isla] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Up until a year or so ago one didn't even need a prescription for antibiotics in Jalisco.

Bob
Inside Lakeside
http://www.insidelakeside.com

La Isla

Aug 15, 2011, 1:09 PM

Post #14 of 27 (1784 views)

Shortcut

Re: [CanuckBob] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

I believe the same was true all over Mexico till a law was passed requiring a doctor's prescription for antibiotics.

jrpierce

Aug 15, 2011, 7:40 PM

Post #15 of 27 (1707 views)

Shortcut

Re: [La Isla] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

My wife and I joke that we never leave a doctor's office in Mexico without 4 new RX's. We once asked a doctor here about that, and she said doctors in Mexico made better use of drugs than those in the US. After all we'd heard in the States about antibiotic resistance due to overuse of antibiotics, I was very pleased about the tougher regulations in Mexico. I know of Mexicans (and even one or two expats) who would pop out and buy an antibiotic for something like a cold or flu, Less so now, but there are still some pharmacy based doctors who will, for a fee, write an RX for anything you want.

Jim

richmx2

Aug 16, 2011, 12:00 AM

Post #16 of 27 (1674 views)

Shortcut

Re: [La Isla] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Perhaps our experiences are different, Isla, but it was a huge difference I noted between medical practices NoB and here. NoB there seems to be a mindset that your complaint is a problem that requires fixing... by drugs or surgery or intervention, whereas here, the doctor listens to you, and is more likely to recommend therapies that allow you to live with the condition... which at times includes drugs. Not you, personally (I have no way of knowing), but it seems a lot of patients (especially foreigners) go into the doctor's office with the expectation of receiving a prescription that will "fix" them.... and Mexican doctors... like other Mexicans ... are willing to give you what your desire if it is within their power to do so.

http://mexfiles.net
http://voiceofmexico.com
http://editorialmazatlan.com

Bennie García

Aug 16, 2011, 5:57 AM

Post #17 of 27 (1658 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richmx2] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Rich, in all honesty, how many times have you visited a doctor here with someone other than yourself?

Maesonna

Aug 16, 2011, 9:32 AM

Post #18 of 27 (1618 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jrpierce] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

I add my “vote” to those whose experience is that doctors here prescribe a lot of medications. It seems to be the expectation of patients that if you visit a doctor, s/he’s not done their job unless you walk out with a prescription for at least 3 drugs. Another thing I’ve observed is that everyone seems to believe that injections are more “serious” than pills. How many times have you heard a friend relating the story of an illness, “¡Hasta me tuvieron que inyectar!” (I even had to get injections!)

I found that for a minor ailment, it’s a good idea look up the drugs before buying; it’s frequently happened that one or 2 out of the 3 medications prescribed turn out to be uncommon brands of drugs that are more commonly available as OTCs, such as paracetamol or ambroxol, and I don’t see the need to buy the prescribed brand when the active ingredient is the same.

Maesonna

Aug 16, 2011, 9:42 AM

Post #19 of 27 (1609 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bound4ajijic] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

For finding the Mexican equivalent to a drug in the US, you can follow this procedure (if anyone knows a less roundabout way, do let us know!)

Start with the name of the active ingredient, and find its name in Spanish. This can almost always be found via Wikipedia: find the English Wikipedia page for the drug under its generic name, then click on the español link from the list of languages in the left sidebar.

Then do a google search for the ingredient under its Spanish name, limiting your search to www.facmed.com.mx (by including the string site:facmed.com.mx).

bournemouth

Aug 16, 2011, 10:14 AM

Post #20 of 27 (1598 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Maesonna] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

This website covers a lot of drugs prescribed in Mexico:

http://sites.google.com/...ghtrxdruginmexiconow

(This post was edited by Rolly on Aug 16, 2011, 10:31 AM)

La Isla

Aug 16, 2011, 10:55 AM

Post #21 of 27 (1572 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Maesonna] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Whenever I'm sick or just have a bad cold, if I mention this to a Mexican friend, the invariable question is, "What medicine are you taking?"

tonynico

Aug 16, 2011, 11:47 AM

Post #22 of 27 (1555 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richmx2] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Went looking for Boniva today 650 to 750 pesos per pill. True a pill is good for a month but it still adds up.
My wife needs it so unless I can find cheaper I guess that is the cost. I did think it would be cheaper here. If I was in the states internet pharmacies have it for 108 for three pills

Tony

jrpierce

Aug 16, 2011, 12:01 PM

Post #23 of 27 (1543 views)

Shortcut

Re: [richmx2] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Apparently your experience is different, however my wife and I both go to doctors' offices, describe the reason we are there, and let the doctor take it from there. Almost without exception, they prescribe several drugs without us mentioning drugs at all. This includes general docs as well as specialists. This includes times when we ask if we can just let something go--i.e. because we think it is a cold, or something that will get better without intervention.

We are both generally healthy, so our doctors' visits tend to be for relatively minor ailments.

Jim

nob2sob

Aug 17, 2011, 7:12 AM

Post #24 of 27 (1446 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jrpierce] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

We've had a completely different experience in Oaxaca. Our first visit to our doctor he promptly cut my husband's statin drug dosage in half and they are discussing cutting his second medication also. They are following up with bloodwork to make sure that all is well.

robt65

Aug 18, 2011, 9:55 PM

Post #25 of 27 (1312 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mazbook1] Drug Costs in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hello Mazbook 1,

Out of cuosity, as I also use this drug from the VA NOB, what is the going costs for simvastatina in Mexico these days?

robt65

1 2 View All