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Answered2 years ago

What are the costs and availability of Sinemet in Thailand for Parkinson's patients?

Teddee ********
asked Aug 4, 2024
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Update: I was able to get the price from Medisafe. Thanks to all for the help.

Hi, my family and I are moving to Thailand next year, and I've been working through all the logistics. I've been trying to get a rough estimate of what our various prescriptions will cost, and I've got most of them figured out well enough, except one. My mom has Parkinson's and takes a medication called Sinemet (carbidopa/levodopa). Does anyone here have experience filing this medicine and how much it may cost or know a resource I could reach out to for pricing? She goes through around 180 pills per month (6/day).
Answer summary
The user is seeking information on the costs of Sinemet (carbidopa/levodopa) for their mother who has Parkinson's and will be moving to Thailand. Community members suggested contacting Medisafe Pharmacy for pricing and discussed the general availability of medications in Thailand, noting differences between public and private healthcare systems, as well as the importance of securing a steady supply of medication for high-dosage needs. There were also comments on exploring alternative therapies available in Thailand and the complexities of managing Parkinson's disease in a new healthcare setting.
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Luan ********
Luan ********
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Andy **********
Andy **********
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Andy **********
Andy **********
Parkinson's is a progressive condition. Hope you have a long term plan to manage it.
Joe **********
Joe **********
@Andy *********
not helpful
Andy **********
Andy **********
@Joe *********
On the contrary, the OP seemed to appreciate the comment. Ultimately, the cost of the medicine will depend on the formulary, and Sinemet comes in 3 different doses, depending how far along the patient is with Parkinson's. @ 6 per day, the OP's mother is actually near the maximum dosage. One of the benefits of the medicine is to slow cognitive decline; it won't stop it. There are serious side effects, which means increasing the dosage needs to be physician managed. One of the challenges is assessing the cognitive decline by a doctor with no or limited command of English, let alone being able to recognise cultural cues. I've first hand experience of a close relative who had Parkinson's, and who eventually developed Lowey Body Dementia, resulting in extremely challenging behaviour. I hope the OP has made full preparations when contemplating emigrating to Thailand, which goes beyond knowing the price of medicines there (for a start, there is restriction on supply, you need a prescribing specialist, and not all parts of Thailand have access to the same medications). The pricing will vary depending if you want an imported brand, the same brand used in the US, or if you switch to a Thai version. You also have to consider that there are two prices in Thailand; Public and Private, with foreigners accessing only the Private hospitals. A drug like this will need to be procured through the Private sector. In both cases, hospitals will add a considerable markup to the retail price. And some drugs in Thailand are not available, or have very limited availability through the private sector. For instance, Zidovudine, better known as AZT, is not available through Thai private hospitals, but is available through 70% of public hospitals. Looking at other PD drugs, such as Madopar (original levodopa), because of a pricing dispute between Thailand and the manufacturer, its only available through tertiary and University hospitals. Generic forms, which are considered less effective, are prescribed through community hospitals. Community hospitals are not allowed to prescribe the branded drug. Its very important to secure the supply of Sinemet before traveking; at high doses, the body does become addicted to it, and coming off it causes serious withdrawal functions. As you no doubt know, Thailand only permits foreigners to enter with 30 days of medication.
Jeffrey **********
Jeffrey **********
In America it takes over 10 years for medicine to be approved. You're moving to a different country with the different medical system and different treatments as well as medications. Where it's true you probably can get those medicines imported there at a higher cost, they might have better local medicines or newer treatments than in America. When you arrive you might have her rechecked and see if they offer a better treatment here
Teddee ********
Teddee ********
OP
@Jeffrey *********
thanks, yeah, Thailand has stem cell therapy for Parkinson's that the US doesn't have, and we're looking into that. Though she'll still need meds, it'll slow it down.
Ma *****************
Ma *****************
Sinemet same of mother's medicine
David *******
David *******
If you contact this pharmacy in Bangkok they’ll give you a price. They deliver anywhere in Thailand.

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Malcolm *************
Malcolm *************
Try Medisafe Pharmacy based in Bangkok they ship all type of medicines all over Thailand and have competitive prices 👍

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