Medicine from Mexico - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Jay and Fay · RV-Dreams Community Member

Medicine from Mexico

mcw50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Fay....
We just went to Los Algodones, Mexico (off I-8 in CA, just west of Yuma, AZ) on Monday. We have been there several times in the past as well as the border towns of Progresso (Rio Grande Valley of TX) and Nogales (south of Tucson, AZ). We prefer Algodones, but they all seem to have the same policies. Yes, you just walk into the pharmacy, tell them what you want, and if it is available, you can purchase it...no prescription, no doctor. You can not get anything that has narcotics in it. I've never checked for Imitrex...maybe somebody else here has. We have found that many of the prices are comparable to what we have to pay through our insurance plan...but if you have no insurance plan, then it might be much better for you. Or, if you want something that you have no prescription to get it in the US, then you can get it in Mexico. We carry a basic antibiotic (same one our DR once prescribed to "have on hand" for a trip to Europe) and the muscle relaxant that we always seem to end up with when we "throw out our backs" with us. This week we tried several different places to get some Allegra-D and they told us that the "D" ingredient is no longer made in Mexico because it was used too often to make crystal meth...so we're probably now on a list of "druggies" someplace aww

. As for coming back through Customs...sometimes they ask to see what's in your bag, sometimes not. Just make sure you have your passport! They did enter something in their computer when we made our first trip back across with the booze we bought (to put it in the car, rather than carry it around), and when we made a second trip a couple hours later, they said they couldn't tell us what the computer said, but we think it might have told them we had already been through customs earlier that day, and perhaps what we told them we had. We didn't bring any drugs back this time, but have brought 6 months supply in the past. The drugs we've used in the past were fine, but we've never used any long term for chronic conditions - perhaps others have. We also got new eye-glasses in Algodones...we each got new sunglasses and new regular glasses...all four for $220, made in 3 hours while we shopped and had lunch.
If you have never been to the border towns, its a real experience...there are plenty of "salesmen" from the pharmacies, dentists, and optical shops on the streets. But we have many, many friends who use ALL the services regularly.

Mary

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

Having lived near the border for a lifetime we have discovered a couple of things. One is that many drugs you buy in Mexico are made by international companies well known in the US. Two is that many of the latest drugs where no generics are available are sometimes not reduced in price if available at all in Mexico and most of these are discounted only about 15%. However on occasion we have found a great deal on some of the latest drugs when they first came out like advair for instance.

You do not need a perscription in Mexico but you do need some common sense when you are offered a slight substitute. Be prepared with a list of ingredients and percentages or amounts because the lable is not always that revealing especially on brand names.

You cannot bring controlled substances into the US but most drugs are ok. If you have any doubt google your drug and ask if it is a controlled substance. If they won't give you a perscription more than a month in the US then you are probably going to have a problem. Also a second less reliable but useful test is to ask the pharmacy in Mexico if you can take it back into the US before you buy it. If they say no then the answer is no for sure. If the say maybe the answer is probably no. If the say yes then you probably have a good chance.

If asked what you are bringing back just tell the border people that you bought some stuff at the pharmacy (drugs is an attention catcher word). If they want to know details show them. Most of the time they just peak into the bag. If a guys dog starts getting upset you are going to have to do some explaining. The dogs are very good even with sealed containers. If you have a US perscription it might help you get off the hook if you made a mistake.

Quantity is also a small issue. If you have a bag full of stuff ok but if you 20 or 30 bottles you might be pushing the personal use apperance issue.

Good luck,
Larry and Jacki

Judy the Other · RV-Dreams Family Member

Many people in Tucson make regular visits to Nogales to buy prescription meds.
Here's a resource from the University of Arizona.

Judy

ed. to correct atrociousspelling errors! biggrin

-- Edited by Judy the Other at 08:37, 2007-09-25

rolo9999 · RV-Dreams Community Member

I've done it a few times and LOVE getting meds for cheap. My medication was $30/month and not covered by my insurance. The same med was $2 for a month supply in Mexico. I did find it was much more readily available in Tijuana than in Algadones or Nogales, but each time I went, I bought all they had, usually an 18 mos. supply. I've never had a prescription with me upon returning to the USA. The only time they questioned what I had was when I had 2 fifths (or the Mexican equivelent) of rum. The custom's agent asked me when was the last time I was in Mexico. I truthfully said when I went to Cancun in college in '92. He told me next time I could only bring back one bottle then let me through. Nobody ever cared about my meds in the 3 times I went over.

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

I want to jump in here just a little. I don't have a problem with anyone getting their drugs in Mexico, if that works for them and I do think most of the drugs are probably the same as what you get here in the U. S. Someone mentioned antibiotics and that makes me a little nervous. Unless you have a doctors recommendation to use an antibiotic I would be very hesitant to take one. I work in health care and we have abused antibiotics so much that now resistant strains of bacteria are becoming more common. The real scary part is there are no new antibiotics on the horizon - partly because there is no money in their development. What that means is when we really need an antibiotic there may not be one that will work. Two things we can all do to help that issue is to one: make sure what we have is a bacterial infection - antibiotics do not work on viral infections-and that may mean a doctor's visit, and two: if you are given a 2 week prescription take the whole prescription even if you feel better after day 5, just because the symptoms go away doesn't mean the infection is completely gone. I want everyone of us to live our dreams on the road to the fullest and that means staying healthy for many years. So buy those antibiotics in Mexico it helps with the cost but make sure they are what you need if you get sick. Sorry about the little rant, it is just a subject I am passionate about.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Advice well given, Janie. In spite of the age of the original posting of the thread, it is still extremely good advice for all of us.

Terry