Meds in SD

Alas

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May 3, 2015
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Hi guys, me again!

How are pharmacies and doctors there?

My son requires daily use of two meds, Singular and Q var (inhaled steroids) and I take Lamictal and Effexor. None of them are controlled but you need a rx for them, and our insurance won't let me buy a three month supply.

How expensive are doctors and meds over there?
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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your meds are not controlled here and are available over the counter. no prescription is required. i have not seen qvar but them i was not looking for it. meds are generally more expensive here than in the states and ambulatory coverage sucks - if you have dominican insurance, that is - because the yearly amount to spend is limited. for prices call any large pharmacy.

you can see any specialist, at any time you want. most accept local health insurance and you pay only relatively small amount as copay. you can also see any doctor at full consulting price which varies,from about 1000 pesos upwards.
 

tommeyers

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Jan 2, 2012
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But, be careful. There are fake drugs andf there are drugs past expiration.

Maybe, it wouldf be better to hasve thm shipped in. Using a service like EPS.

Ask cris colon (CC) how well that works for him.

Ask dv8 how to avoid fakes.
 

Alas

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May 3, 2015
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But for what I've read online, you can't ship meds by mail....It needs to be done by an agency that is registered with the DEA, Gd knows where those agencies are.

Holy crap, fake meds sound very scary!
 

bob saunders

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Jan 1, 2002
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I get all my heart medications in the DR, and they are comparable in price to the USA. I can't say how expensive Asthma inhalers are but they are readily available, as asthma is a very common medical problem world wide.
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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i cannot help with sending meds from USA, someone else can chipin.

as far as fake meds... if it was so easy to recognize them they would not be a problem... all i can advice is to be careful where you buy. use large pharmacies, they are less likely to use shifty suppliers. check expiry date on the box and then on the medicine itself: each pack of pills or each bottle/ampule. if the medicine is sealed make sure the seal is intact. in DR most pills are sold by one, try buying unopened box or unused package if possible. follow storage instructions. DR is hot and humid, some meds like gel capsules may not keep well here.
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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oh that's great!

No RX? OMG that's crazy!

Why is it crazy? Just because you are accustomed to having to have prescription? Most people here can't afford to self medicate
like they are where you come from so there is not the abuse here there would be there. Farmacias sell many of the commonly
used meds by the pill here, and there are people who don't go to the doctor even if they have insurance because they can't
afford to buy the medication.
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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But, be careful. There are fake drugs andf there are drugs past expiration.

Maybe, it wouldf be better to hasve thm shipped in. Using a service like EPS.

Ask cris colon (CC) how well that works for him.

Ask dv8 how to avoid fakes.

I've been getting medications from the US via EPS for a great many years with no problems.
 

Alas

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May 3, 2015
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Why is it crazy? Just because you are accustomed to having to have prescription? Most people here can't afford to self medicate
like they are where you come from so there is not the abuse here there would be there. Farmacias sell many of the commonly
used meds by the pill here, and there are people who don't go to the doctor even if they have insurance because they can't
afford to buy the medication.

No, I didn't mean crazy as "people are getting self medicated all of the time" crazy.

I know in Mexico they are not regulated either and visiting Mexico (my mom lived there for years) I never saw people overmedicating, as far as I know. I'm from Cuba, came to States when I was 16, there is no such thing as free meds there, and they are very stingy with controlled meds, so the idea of having access to any seems scary to me, that's all.
 

La Profe_1

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Oct 15, 2003
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But for what I've read online, you can't ship meds by mail....It needs to be done by an agency that is registered with the DEA, Gd knows where those agencies are.

Holy crap, fake meds sound very scary!

My pharmacy ships meds to me monthly. No problem at all since I use one of the mail forwarders. Of course, theyare in prescription bottles with the name of the pharmacy, medication, prescribing doctor and my name.

Usually, I call around the 9th of the month and the meds arrive before the 15th. So far, have never had a Customs issue. I do, however use Business Mail instead of direct mailing.

With my US insurance, even paying for shipping from the pharmacy and to Business Mail, the meds work out to be cheaper than purchasing here.

Your mileage may vary, depending upon the number of prescriptions, your insurance and the cost here.
 

tommeyers

On Vacation!
Jan 2, 2012
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Regarding doctors: simple: go to the US for as much a you can afford. Haver medical treatment only for things that are non-life threatening.

That aspplies equally for dental. Although some will praise the dentists the majority will not. They are cheap - you get what you pay for.
 

Alas

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May 3, 2015
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So is EPS a Dominican service or is it American?

My mom could get my meds here (I have very small co pay) and mail them to me, that would be awesome, but maybe the shipping costs would cancel out any savings... huuummm.

So big pharmacies are those that you can find online? I emailed Farmacia Carol and Farmax. I aSSuming those are big?
 

Alas

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May 3, 2015
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Regarding doctors: simple: go to the US for as much a you can afford. Haver medical treatment only for things that are non-life threatening.

That aspplies equally for dental. Although some will praise the dentists the majority will not. They are cheap - you get what you pay for.


No, I was thinking doctors to give me the prescription, but if you don't need one then I don't need a doctor (unless, knock on wood, one of us gets sick)
 

La Profe_1

Moderator: Daily Headline News, Travel & Tourism
Oct 15, 2003
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Both EPS and Business Mail are Dominican companies.

You might be better off having the pharmacy do the mailing because Customs requires a receipt. My pharmacy always includes the receipt and there is never a problem.
 
Carol is a big one yes but I got fake meds from there so I rarely go there anymore I think it was one in SD, we have gotten so many fake meds I can't keep track of all the places this has happened.

We have one pharmacy now in Sosua that seems decent. More expensive but at least they are real!!
 
Carol is a big one yes but I got fake meds from there so I rarely go there anymore I think it was one in SD, we have gotten so many fake meds I can't keep track of all the places this has happened.

We have one pharmacy now in Sosua that seems decent. More expensive but at least they are real!!
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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No, I didn't mean crazy as "people are getting self medicated all of the time" crazy.
I know in Mexico they are not regulated either and visiting Mexico (my mom lived there for years) I never saw people overmedicating, as far as I know. I'm from Cuba, came to States when I was 16, there is no such thing as free meds there, and they are very stingy with controlled meds, so the idea of having access to any seems scary to me, that's all.

few things i need to explain here. really hard core stuff that is prescribed in USA left, right and centre (think vicodin and so on) is not available here that easily. controlled meds are really controlled. and regular folks do not crazily overmedicate because medicine is relatively expensive and because they know next to zero about it anyways. but i appreciate a fact i can get most stuff i need without having to go to the doctor first.

in any case, i would follow the advice of posters who get meds from USA. but it's good to know you can always get your medicine here if you forget to take it with you, run out or are in emergency situation.
 

AlterEgo

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Jan 9, 2009
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but i appreciate a fact i can get most stuff i need without having to go to the doctor first.

Agree 100%. Last year, Mr. AE got very ill with an intestinal bug and high fever. I had to drive him to a specialist in Santo Domingo, and he was prescribed 3 medications that worked wonders quickly. A week ago, he got the identical symptoms, knocked him flat. I still had the empty boxes tucked away, so it was easy to go to the farmacia and buy the same stuff again [and was cheaper locally that it was in SD]. Worked wonders again, and no need to go all the way to the capital to see the doctor again.

Now we're back in US, he'll see his regular doc as a follow-up.
 

tommeyers

On Vacation!
Jan 2, 2012
1,599
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36
I live in Santiago
So is EPS a Dominican service or is it American?

My mom could get my meds here (I have very small co pay) and mail them to me, that would be awesome, but maybe the shipping costs would cancel out any savings... huuummm.

So big pharmacies are those that you can find online? I emailed Farmacia Carol and Farmax. I aSSuming those are big?

You did not ask about mail. In my opinion it is not functional; maybe to send a package dr to us. Regrding, eps: you may want to check is the price.

Email to pharmacies - let us know how that works.