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RickS

Oct 15, 2011, 2:30 PM

Post #1 of 7 (1291 views)

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Availability of Prescription Drug

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I take the calcium channel blocker Amlodipine 5mg .... generic for Pfizer Norvasc....for hypertension. It is a drug that has been around 'forever'. It looks like my 90-day supply may run out while I am in Mexico this winter. Does anyone know whether this drug is available in Mexico, either over-the counter (wink-wink), at Farmacias Similares or via a doctor's prescription?

RickS

Rolly

Oct 15, 2011, 2:47 PM

Post #2 of 7 (1277 views)

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Re: [RickS] Availability of Prescription Drug

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There is no wink-wink involved. Almost all meds are available over-the-counter.
Only antibiotics, strong analgesics and psychotropics are by prescription only.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Oct 15, 2011, 2:48 PM)

mazbook1

Oct 15, 2011, 2:56 PM

Post #3 of 7 (1270 views)

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Re: [RickS] Availability of Prescription Drug

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Yes, it is available in México without prescription, no wink-wink about it at all. If the website is correct, it isn't available at Farmacias Similares, but should be available in the generics section of any other major farmacia. One website, Farmacia del Niño, shows a bottle of 100 tablets (5 mg) at: Precio Normal: $ 581.83 MXN * Oferta: $ 155.64 MXN. "Oferta" being their sale price. It is a government approved generic made in Guadalajara. Note: the Mexican generic name is Amlodipino.

*I would guess that this "precio normal" is probably the brand name drug, Norvas (name in México).

(This post was edited by mazbook1 on Oct 15, 2011, 3:01 PM)

RickS

Oct 15, 2011, 6:28 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1222 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] Availability of Prescription Drug

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Thanks, guys.

The reason I said 'wink, wink' is that I have run across a situation before where the drug, Lamictal, needed to be given with a (Mexican doctor) prescription but when I just asked about availability, this particular farmacia at Lakeside said the 'owner' was a doctor so she could give me the drug 'without' a prescription. The owner was not present at the time.

fordmexico

Oct 16, 2011, 8:24 AM

Post #5 of 7 (1165 views)

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Re: [RickS] Availability of Prescription Drug

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I purchase Amlodopino regularly. The price at Costco, Soriana and Walmart is about $125 Mxn for a package of 30, 5mg tablets. The price at Farmacias Similares is a bit cheaper if you buy 4 packages of 10, 5 mg tablets for $125 Mxn. I also have my senior citizen's card, "INAPAM" that enables to me to get a 5%-10% discount for most prescriptions at Soriana, Walmart and Farmacias Similares. I have not been able to find a 10 mg version of Amlodopino in Mexico. It seems to be only available as Norvasc.

The Amlodopino I buy at Costco is manufactured in Mexico by Kendick Laboratorios which is owned by Sanofi-Aventis.

Grieger-Lods

Oct 17, 2011, 11:12 AM

Post #6 of 7 (1077 views)

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Re: [RickS] Availability of Prescription Drug

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When we joined IMSS last year my husband was asked what meds he was taking in the USA. He told them about two meds which the doc said they carried and would provide. When my husband told them he took Norvasc his doc said they did not have it at IMSS. Now he goes to a diabetic clinic within IMSS and the doc there said today that they do carry it but that the first doctor just did not know the name used here: Amlodipine. As of today that med also will be paid by IMSS. For a year he has been buying it over the counter. We receive great medical care at IMSS here in Puebla.

Aaron+

Oct 21, 2011, 10:50 AM

Post #7 of 7 (962 views)

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Re: [Grieger-Lods] Availability of Prescription Drug

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1. Physicians here are more likely to know the generic name that the proprietary name. In the US, where many if not most doctors "learn" about drugs from drug company "representatives" (i.e., sales persons), the physicians rarely know the generic names except perhaps for the most popular drugs available genericallly.

2. Please, please patronize drug stores that are air conditioned, not open air stores such as the Simulares ("Dr. Simi") chain and just about all pharmacies in smaller towns -- unless you are certain that the meds were first stocked during a cool season and have not been subjected to storage in hot and / or humid conditions. This is particular critical in the tropical or northern desert areas of Mexico, less so in places such as the DF, Toluca, and San Cristobal de las Casas. Pay attention to the pharmaceutical company´s storage requirements. If none are stated, you can imagine how reputable the laboratory is.