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JoeJustJoe
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Buying prescription drugs in Mexico for use in the US
I don't see too many questions about buying prescription drugs in Mexico, for use back in USA.
Lets take a hypothetical situation in the future and say, I'm going to Baja Mexico, for the first time, because I lost my insurance when the
"Affordable Health Care Act," was declared unconstitutional in 2020, and it was not replaced with something better.
I want to go to Mexico/Baja/Tijuana and buy four of my favorite or much needed prescription drugs.
1.Blood Pressure medicine-any BP medicine
2.Antibiotics- for example either, Amoxicillin, Cipro, or Z-Pac
3.ED-Medicine- for example either, Cialis, Viagra or Levitra
4.Benzos favorites like Xanax, Valium, or similar drugs.
Can I buy all these drugs over the counter, or will they need a prescription, and if so, from a US doctor, Mexico doctor or both?
Can I then jump in the car or walk back over the Mexico/US border, and get through customs with all four prescription type drugs?
What the exact letter of the law on either side of the border, and more importantly, what may be the requirements by the US customs or FDA, and/or
will let US Customs let you through if your prescription drugs are of a small quantity and for personal use?
What does the FDA say about foreign prescription drugs, and bringing them back to the US?
Is there anyone here willing to take a stab at one of more of these questions, because I'm sure there is interest in this subject?
Yes I know the trolls will also chime in as usual, but what else is new?
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bajatrailrider
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They used to allow you month supply of pills. Also sometimes ask for perception.
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4x4abc
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most medication is available without prescription
and dirt cheap at generics pharmacies (Similares)
if one is needed, it has to be from a Mexican doctor.
Most Similares (pharmacies) have a doctor next door
consultation is cheap ($5) - free on Tuesdays
but you are very limited with what and how much you can bring back to the US
If you prefer doctors who cater to expats, expect to pay about 600 Pesos per consultation
Harald Pietschmann
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Lee
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My understanding some years ago was a US prescription was needed to cross into the US with MX meds. I've been pat down and asked about meds in an
orange bag sticking out of my pocket while crossing on foot NB. Told the officer what I had and that was OK. Stopped carrying drugs in a orange
bag. Don't know what's needed anymore.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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JoeJustJoe
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Keep in mind I mentioned a cross section of common and popular prescription drugs, that may have different requirements.
For example, in 2010 Mexico, started cracking down on self medication of antibiotic sales, where many Mexicans, would run down to a pharmacy at a
first sign of a cold, and buy antibiotics pills, or get a penicillin shot self given or by a doctor.
Mexico, supposedly put real teeth in restricting antibiotic sales without a prescription, and therefore pharmacies were put on notice that they would
be heavily fined if they sold antibiotics starting in 2010 in an attempt of controlling antibiotic resistance.
But as 4x4abc, said, many pharmacies had a doctor next door, or close by willing to write a prescription quickly for a few pesos.
And of course there are some Mexican pharmacies that will still sell you antibiotics over the counter as before, and I think it's getting more lax as
the years go by.
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MrBillM
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U.S. Prescription required ?
Years ago, having directly asked an ICE agent the question, I was told that a prescription from a U.S. doctor was required.
How closely that would be enforced over drugs like B.P. meds, etc .............
Quien Sabe ?
The only thing I ever brought back over the years was antibiotics (Amoxicillin and Tetracycline). Never asked and never volunteered.
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sancho
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Walked back from TJ, 4 yrs. back, noticed at the end of
US Customs counter after one shows a Passport, a cardboard
box, maybe 3'x3', was 1/2 full of meds, obviously taken from
tourists. I ASSUME they were asked for a US prescription?
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JZ
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JJJ with a valuable thread.
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bajaguy
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https://www.verywellhealth.com/prescription-drugs-from-mexic...
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-tips-travel...
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1160/kw/medicat...
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JoeJustJoe
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One question that comes up is can you trust the FDA when they warn against buying medications in Mexico or Canada, because the FDA says it cannot be
sure the drugs are manufactured property, or the FDA warns that many foreign medications are counterfeit, mislabeled, and dangerous?
The other question that comes up is who does the FDA really serve, the American consumer and being sure the American pubic is buying safe
medications, or does the FDA really serve the American pharmaceutical industry, and helps protect their high profit margin, against cheaper foreign
meds?
I believe they serve the latter.
_________________________
Some random comments regarding the FDA:
"FDA cannot ensure that medications approved in other countries are safe or effective, or have been manufactured properly."
__________
The FDA has said reimporting medicines from outside the United States is dangerous because of the possibility that medications are
counterfeit, mislabeled or otherwise unsafe — a view vigorously supported by the industry.
_________
The pharmaceutical industry applauded the recent FDA raids. “We welcome the FDA’s action to crack down on drug importation schemes,”
said Holly Campbell, a spokeswoman for PhRMA.
[Edited on 7-16-2019 by JoeJustJoe]
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MrBillM
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???????
What does that have to do with the importation question ?
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4x4abc
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Quote: Originally posted by JoeJustJoe  | | One question that comes up is can you trust the FDA when they warn against buying medications in Mexico or Canada, because the FDA says it cannot be
sure the drugs are manufactured property, or the FDA warns that many foreign medications are counterfeit, mislabeled, and dangerous?
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I used to import cars to the US. Grey market.
The government warned to buy any cars not manufactured for the US to be unsafe.
Who would believe that a Mercedes or Porsche produced for Japan or the European market is less safe?
so, same scare tactic to protect someone. The local pharma industry maybe?
humans lie and cheat
companies lie and cheat
big companies (and government) .....
medication anywhere on the planet is relatively safe
dying patients are bad advertising
I would not go so far to speculate what a Trump run pharma company would do
Harald Pietschmann
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4x4abc
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drug prices are just another example of how capitalism works
one of the principles is that you take as much as the market can bear
so, asthma inhalers (salbutamol) in the US $50 to $100
in Mexico (remember, they are poor) MX$ 50 = US$ 2.80
Harald Pietschmann
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JoeJustJoe
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The meds safety is a very important factor to consider otherwise it's a moot point.
Here is another warning from "The Partnership for Safe Medicines," about buying cheap meds in Mexico.
It turns out the " Partnership for Safe Medicines," has deep ties to a lobbying group for big pharmaceutical companies.
_________________________
Is this accurate or another scare tactic from a lobbying group on behalf of big PHARMA?
Mexican Pharmacies Are Not The Best Place For Medicare Recipients To Lower Their Prescription Costs
Many older Americans head south to avoid harsh winter climates, and, as AP News reported, some also take advantage of savings offered at Mexican
pharmacies. An estimated 106,000 people winter in the Rio Grande Valley alone, and over 40 percent of those people admit to purchasing prescription
drugs across the border, but this is a classic case of caveat emptor. In the article, The Partnership for Safe Medicines’ (PSM) Board President Marv
Shepherd, who is also a leading authority on the sale of prescription drugs in Mexico, warned that counterfeit drugs are an issue in that country,
with the Mexican government estimating that up to 20 percent of drugs in that country are fake.
https://www.safemedicines.org/2018/11/mexican-pharmacies-are...
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mtgoat666
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Buyer beware. Some shops sell counterfeit medicine, choose your pharmacy wisely. Don’t shop the border stores with big signs. Scams are prevalent
in the shops tailoring to gringos.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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bajatrailrider
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.
Aye way cabron
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PaulW
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Suggest using a canadian pharmacy*.
Choose one of the Canada places by using "Pharmacy Checker". Pharmacy Checker lists any drug and allows anyone to do price comparison between various
canadian pharmacies. Then compare your price from medicare part D. Then the Pharmacy will arrange to have the drug shipped from a drug maker in the
other side of the world and delivered to your USA USPS mail box. Yes the US govt says that is illegal, but they continue to look the other way. In the
last 5 years I have had one order confiscated and the Canadian pharmacy immediately reordered at no charge to me and the order arrived shortly to my
mailbox.
Why I do this is because I cannot get what I need from a Mexican pharmacy and therefore I cannot compare prices.
I cross the border with around a 3 to 6 month supply going both ways and I do not declare and so far no problems.
* These canadian pharmacies always require a prescription from a US Dr. These canadian pharmacies are really not a pharmacy in the usual sense as all
they do is act as an intermediary to have drugs shipped from foreign sources (in fact some sources are from canada). These foreign sources have
licenses to produce the drugs from the US company owning the US patient and they have lower prices because the country where they reside has different
laws for drugs. Thus the price is defined by competition with other drug producers. So far the all my drugs are delivered from a foreign source to the
UK at a USPS facility then sent to the US as usual.
So comparing medicare part D MY price to my canadian source I find lower prices anywhere from 2% for generic to 1500% for patented. The end result is
no hassle and great cost savings. Caveat - You cannot use the Internet from Mexico (unless you have a US VPN). Thus I have to call from Mexico to get
my meds.
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AKgringo
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Before you even deal with border crossings with meds, I suggest that you take your shopping list to Costco to see what they can do for you.
For some common generic drugs, I have found that their over the counter cost was less than the co-pay that the VA charges me!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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JoeJustJoe
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| Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc | drug prices are just another example of how capitalism works
one of the principles is that you take as much as the market can bear
so, asthma inhalers (salbutamol) in the US $50 to $100
in Mexico (remember, they are poor) MX$ 50 = US$ 2.80 |
Yeah some of those asthma inhalers have crazy prices up to $400 dollars without health insurance, and even $100 dollars with insurance for 30 days.
( it sometimes pays to push your doctor to fine an equivalent inhaler at a cheaper price, as prices vary greatly)
One of the reasons why those prices are so high in California, is because of global warming and eliminating CFC based inhalers in an attempt to save
the ozone layers, but how much damage can those small inhalers really do to the ozone level?
Then those damn pharmaceutical companies took advantage of the situation with new designs that eliminated generic versions of the drugs.
But bringing asthma inhalers over the border from Mexico, I doubt you will get hassled by Customs, because regardless of the laws, US Customs
officials are not in the business of depriving it's citizens of their drugs for personal use, especially if the drug has no commercial street value
like control drugs, but they will sometimes hassle you about not having a prescription for your drugs before they wave you through.
[Edited on 7-17-2019 by JoeJustJoe]
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BajaTed
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Don't even try bringing purchased meds thru SENTRI.
You swore upon issue to you that you wouldn't do this as a condition of the PRIVELEGE a SENTRI card is.
Es Todo Bueno
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