BUYING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN MEXICO

Americans who purchase their prescription drugs in Mexico, have turned a once cottage industry into a booming hundred million dollar business. Counterfeit drugs are rare, but alternative brand name drugs are quite common. By preparing yourself with needed information, you can safely purchase your medicines in Mexico, with confidence and a big savings to boot.

Before you leave home, visit your local pharmacy, and ask your druggist for specific literature about your medicine. Contained within each package of medicine that your druggist receives is a miniature pamphlet of drug information, called a PACKAGE INSERT. The information printed on the package insert is actually taken from from the PHYSICIAN'S DESK REFERENCE (or "PDR") reference book that is universally used by US doctors and pharmacists alike. You'll need the insert when you get to Mexico, as it describes in detail the formula for your medicine, the dosage(s) and other useful information. The second part of your preparation involves the determination of classification of your medicine (restriction). US medicines are classified or unclassified.

Classified medicines are denoted as Class II, class III, or Class IV. If your pharmacist or doctor proclaims your medicine as being class II, III, or IV, then you're going to need a special prescription from a federally registered doctor in Mexico. The days of walking into any old pharmacy and ordering up a jar of Quaaludes, is long gone in Mexico. It's almost impossible to get a pharmacy to admit that they stock controlled medicines unless you have a valid prescription in hand.

NON-CONTROLLED MEDICINES

All 'farmacias' (pronounced far-mah'-cee-ahs) are not alike. Second class farmacias stock a range of uncontrolled medicines. Only first class farmacias (primera classe) are allowed to stock controlled medicines (medicinas controlados) med-eh-seen'-ahs cahn-troe-lah'-does.

If in a town of any size, you'll want to shop around at various farmacias for your medicine needs. Large discounts stores will often sell generic bulk medicines for half of what the brand name equivalent will go for in smaller old-fashioned farmacias. Counter personnel are NOT TRAINED IN MEDICINE. They are sales people, and it's up to you to review drug labels to insure that what you're buying is an exact formula copy of your US medicines. Be certain to scan the label for additive drugs or "shotgun" multi-drug inclusions in a single bottle. Your goal is to buy the exact copy of your US medicine. Mexican pharmacists use a large counter top book printed in Spanish which is similar to our own PDR (which may also be present). Present your copy of the "Package Insert" to the clerk, and point to the strength (dosage) that indicates the correct one for you. The counter person will return with a sample. Inspect its label for ingredients. If necessary, copy down the price of the medicine and shop at a few more large farmacias, and compare prices (it's really worth the trouble to do this). In short order you'll have all of the information necessary to make a wise purchase. If buying a large amount of medicine, take your time and inspect all packages to make sure that they are correct, and if the boxes can be opened and closed, open them and inspect the foil wrappers to make sure that the quantity inside agrees with the number posted on the box, and that the drugs inside have not been switched or mis-labeled. Sealed packages and jars (frascos frah-scoes) don't need this kind of attention. Printed on all Mexican drug packages is the FECHA DE CADUCIDAD, the date of expiration.

CRITICAL MEDICINES

If your life depends on a particular medicine, then check with your doctor before you decide to substitute Mexican medicine. Some US heart medicines, for instance, are so sensitive, that different brand names of drug react differently in different people (even though they are supposedly the same formula). If your doctor states an emphatic "No" to your question, then the subject is best closed.

MEXICAN BRAND NAMES

All of the major pharmaceutical manufacturers are present in Mexico, and much of the medicines are produced in and around Mexico City. Sometimes the brand name of the medicine has been "latinized" to accommodate local taste (Example: Relafen, in the USA is branded RELIFEX in Mexico) even though the manufacturer (Smith Kline & Beecham) is identical. Alternative brands are often cloned at much reduced prices.

COUNTERFEIT DRUGS

Mexico, is a well regulated country when it comes to medicine. Counterfeit or bad medicine is so rare, that it is almost unheard of. Efficacy, dosage, and technique, is closely monitored and enforced.

CONTROLLED MEDICINES

To purchase controlled medicines (medicinas controlados) you'll first need to visit a federally registered medical doctor. The easiest way to go about this, is to inquire at a first class pharmacy. Every first class pharmacy has a list of approved, familiar doctors that they will share with you. Often their office is within a block or two of the store. Because of intense pressure from the US, Mexican doctors are reluctant to issue prescriptions for more than 30 tablets of a controlled medicine. All prescriptions are held by the pharmacy for inspection by the Mexican DEA, the SECTOR SALUD, who audits pharmacy inventories against prescription sales. Violators, are subject to stiff fines and jail sentences. Special prescriptions are written for controlled medicines; they have an "SS" (sector salud registration number) printed on them, and the issuing doctor must affix a rubber stamp seal to further corroborate the legal issuance of the prescription. The farmacia will keep the original prescription, and then offer to make a "copy" for your own record (often the copy is produced by their FAX machine). You'll want to keep this copy handy in case of later inspection by Mexican authorities somewhere down the road. HINT: It's a lot easier to get the doctor to write a prescription for a controlled medicine if you bring a pill bottle from home, indicating your name and the dosage.

RETURNING TO THE USA

Because of intense lobbying by the AARP, US Customs officials are very lenient about allowing even large quantities of medicines to accompany you through customs. The medicine must be for your own personal consumption, and you absolutely must declare all medicines when asked to do so. Only drug smugglers have anything to worry about. Senior citizens who pass through the border with enough medicine to last six months is a common occurrence. The phrase "And I have a quantity of prescription medicines for my own use", is usually sufficient to allow quick passage.

SELF-PRESCRIBING

Don't try to be Albert Switzer, and concoct your own witch's brew! If you're in doubt about something, elect to pay a brief visit to a Mexican doctor. They are every bit as skilled as family doctors in the USA, and gasp with horror at the thought of untrained patients self-prescribing medicines for themselves. My personal opinion of Mexican doctors, is that they are more skilled in diagnosing common problems than US doctors, and willing to try different therapies. If you find yourself "in trouble" medically, don't hesitate to head for the nearest hospital. Federal Mexican law, dictates that all hospitals, and clinics must treat any and all seriously ill patients, free of charge, until such time as the patient's condition is stabilized (whereupon they can be transferred to a regular hospital).

GENERIC DRUGS

The latest fad in Mexican farmacopeia, is to offer bulk quantities of non-controlled medicines in generic form. If you are taking maintenance quantities of "Zantac" for instance, buying a bottle of 60 300 mg. Ranintidine (formula) will save you about 80% over what the drug would cost in the USA. Some "Mexican" drugs are actually manufactured in Puerto Rico. Often, they will cost more than Mexican drugs (but less than US drugs).

Copyright 1996-2002, RVers Online. Reprinted with Permission of RVers Online.

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