Do pharmacies in Thailand accept UK prescriptions for medication?

Oct 21, 2024
4 days ago
Lee *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi guys, I'll be spending 3 months in Thailand soon , I'm gonna need to get my UK medication. My question is do pharmacies in Thailand accept UK prescriptions please ? I'll be in Jomtien area .

Thanks guys
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Pharmacies in Thailand do not accept UK prescriptions. Instead, many medications can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. Most expats recommend bringing a three-month supply of medications from the UK to avoid issues. Specific prescription drugs may require a doctor's note in Thailand, and it's possible to get local prescriptions from doctors or hospitals if needed.
Lynne *******
We go into our surgery, see the receptionist and explain we are going abroad for 3 months, they they send a 3 month prescription to the chemist
Greg *********
Of coarse they do
Ray **********
I have always been able to get my U.S.prescriptions at our local hospital
Jerald ********
I'm not an expert on the subject but from what I understand there are no prescriptions needed you just walk in and get all basic meds that you would normally require a script or just not required in Thailand I think
Tony ************
What about diabetic insulin. Can this be obtained in Thailand ???
John *******
@Tony ***********
yes it can I use Humulin and that can be purchased but they don't use the pens only bottles and syringes ok 🤠🙏
Tony ************
@John ******
thankyou john
Micheal **********
I moved to Pattaya over a year ago. So far, I'm able to get everything I need (I have 7 meds that I have to take all the time. Not counting other meds I have had to get for cuts and pain and such.) So far I haven't needed a prescription for any of it.) Also! Don't gat tour meds from Fascino, they're the high dollar corporates pharmacy. I found out that I save 54% on the cost of my regular meds (From the cost of Fascino.) by using the online pharmacy "Medisafe".They run deliveries to you, and you can pay on delivery via scanning the driver's QR code. It will save you a bundle. Just search Medisafe, on Facebook and Messenger, then you can send your required meds to them and when they make their delivery run, you can just pay it upon arrival. I hope this helps.
Gary *****
No !

All medications are sold over the counter the nhs system as we know it in the U.K. does not exist in Thailand
Derek *******
“most meds can be bought over the counter” - how about atorvastatin and carvedilol?
Kemal ******
Most medicine are available without prescription in Thailand. If it is a problem you can go to a doctor or hospital where they will give you the medicine and prescription. I had to go to a private hospital for a consultation that cost me about £15 including the medicine. Hospital stock medicine and sell.
Geoffrey **********
Doctor consultations are cheap. No appointments, usually. I used to be at surgery 15 minutes before it opened; I was usually first to be seen.
Ken ********
You get get 3 months from your UK GP
Len ******
Blood presure meds are cheap enough don't go to big pharmacy small ones are cheap enough readily available
Paul ******
Not sure about your uk meds and what you are on i can get mine over the counter but bring all mine from Australia just incase one trip i left them in the hotel when going to another province and had to go get them over the counter and very expensive compared to to Australia
Billy ******
I always get 3 months before leaving the UK, Thai pharmacy will not dispense on a UK prescription.
Juliet *******
Yes I get 3 months from my gp every time we travel to Thailand it’s never a problem
Brian ********
If you take your medicine to any hospital they can usually supply anything you need
Stuart *******
You should be able to get 3 months from your GP. Some will do 6 months.
Brian ********
I travel for six months every winter and bring six months worth of medication with me
Jeanette ********
We were there 3 months & I bought mine over the counter when I ran out x
Ian *********
u can buy most meds without a prescription ,if its a drug u do need one for then u will need go see a doc or health centre with your uk prescription
Henrik *****
Be sure to read the requirements for bringing medicin to Thailand, at the Thai Embassy website, well in advance of departure, or you may end in trouple.
Dek ******
I go every year for 3 months and get my GP to supply me with 3 months of meds
Colleen *******
Hydrocortisone (cortef) pills for adrenal insufficiency? Anyone have an idea if this is available?
Micheal **********
@Colleen ******
Check out "Medisafe" Pharmacy, on Facebook. They deliver...
Colleen *******
Micheal **********
@Colleen ******
Pretty much everything here isn't prescription, except Opioid based stuff, and so.e of the heavy dow ers and the like. Everyxay stuff like, blood pressure, diabetes, statins, almost anything really... Just go into a pharmacy (Or, like Medisafe, hit'em up on Facebook Messenger.) tell them what you need and what dosage and how much you need, and pay for it... No scrips needed. Almost everything is over the counter. My advice would be, to go into a pharmacy when you get here, ask them for a write up, on say 30 days worth of all your meds, then contact Medisafe, and ask them for a comparison write-up..

Like I said in a previous comment, Medisafe more than cut my drug cost in half, compared to Fascino Pharmacy. Actually, it knocked 54% off my cost. And they deliver... straight to your door, and I pay by QR code scan when the driver gets there. It's pretty damn easy... 🤷‍♂️
Colleen *******
@Micheal *********
thanks for the information
Lee *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Colleen *******
G.R. *********
I have the same issue with blood pressure tablets.
Alan *******
@G.R. ********
What do you take ? I take Amlopidine here in Thailand. Readily available.
Lau ****
Get all your meds ahead of time in the UK and take with you. You’re allowed to get up to 3 months worth at a time for this exact reason.
Adrian ******
No but most meds can get at pharmacy or hospital
Lee *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks everyone
Andy **********
Thailand allows you to bring 30 days of prescribed medicine. You might need an import licence, especially if opiate based
Ralph *******
@Andy *********
Yes if opiate based but otherwise they don’t seem to mind.
Steve *********
Your pharmacy will give you 3 months ( max ). You prob need call them as online not work. I have just done same said I away for 3 months. No problems
Peter **********
just read off the prescription list to the pharmacist who will probably have OTC most of it. statin and amoxycillin widely available
Cynthia ******
I bring three months supply from my doctors prescription.
Ralph *******
@Cynthia *****
I do the same.
John **********
You can go to a doctor or hospital with your uk prescription and ask them to issue a Thai one. Hospitals generally just provide the medication
Sasi ************
As many comments; bring it enough for the length of time off your stay or get some when you are in Thailand.
Leonard ******
I simply ask Boots to issue me with (2 months typically) and bring them with me
John ***********
Some medication cannot be easily obtained in Thailand - strong painkillers including anything with codeine and sedatives of any kind. Others like antibiotics can be bought over the counter.
Edward ******
You could definitely bring that much with you but for most things no prescription is required but they may not always have exactly what you are looking for.
Rick ********
I bring 3 months plus 2 weeks with me
Ian **********
Only amphetamine and morphine based drugs need a prescription. Most stuff is available over the counter and the prices are cheap. Most GPs will give you a prescription for 3 months supply if you tell them why. In the very unlikely event of you getting stopped on entry make sure you have a copy of your prescription.
Mark **************
Can you not ask your GP to give you three months worth of prescription and bring your meds with you ?
Jeffrey ************
Most are available to purchase.
Phil ******
@Lee ****
what's you medication?
Lee *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
Thyroxine, Ramapril (blood pressure ) and Fenofybrate ( statin).
Jenny ******
@Lee ****
these are definitely easily available over the counter at most chemists here. But ask your doc to prescribe more before you leave the UK - tell them you’re going away. They might and it would save you some money. UK prescriptions are not valid in Thailand
Vinny **************
@Lee ****
ramapril here is called anapril here

You can buy at pharmacy for peanuts
Phil ******
@Lee ****
easily obtained over the counter at any pharmacy
Adrian ******
But always bring signed script with stamp so customs see if get funny
Adrian ******
@Phil *****
not a problem ..I bring 3 month script as maximum doctors will do done for years now.Also have had sent to me when longer but thats another story 😆 🤣
Paul ********
UK prescriptions are not accepted here. Many drugs do not require prescriptions here. If you are discussing narcotic analgesics, category 2 here, they require an IMPORT PERMIT
Lynnette *******
All depends on medication. I buy arthritis and blood pressure meds over the counter.
Emma ********
Pharmacies here stock many medications that you simply buy over the counter , I don't think they accept UK Prescriptions, I got my gp to issue me with 3 months worth of medication before I left the UK
Rj ******
@Emma *******
not his question
Emma ********
@Rj *****
if you reread it you'll see I answered the question plus gave some advice
Cubi ******
@Rj *****
but a solution to his question
Rj ******
@Cubi *****
sarcasm is not needed. If you not like what a person writes then pass on it. Iy there question. You think it's funny but others look at you feeling the same way as I do. Howvwe were raised.
Cubi ******
@Rj *****
oh quit being so uptight.
Tim *********
Peter ******
@Emma *******
I will have to do the same. Going away for three months next January
Michael **********
depends on the medication u need....
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