leem Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 I saw on a U.S. news report about six months ago that Mexico is going to start requiring doctors' prescriptions to buy antibiotics at pharmacies and penalizing pharmacies that don't comply. Has this actually happened in practice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlas Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 Yes, and while I haven't had to fill an antibiotic prescription since the rule is in effect, my doctor last week said not to be surprised if you are asked for an ID with address when you fill a prescription and that random checks would be made by health personel (don't know which agency) to your door verifying that you did indeed fill the prescription for whatever problem for which it was prescribed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedros Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 A friend needed antibiotics and found by shopping around that some places don't require the prescription. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 A friend needed antibiotics and found by shopping around that some places don't require the prescription. That wasn't real helpful. Like......shopping around....where? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
More Liana Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 A friend needed antibiotics and found by shopping around that some places don't require the prescription. What your friend found is that some places aren't enforcing the Mexican federal law that went into effect on August 25 requiring a prescription to purchase antibiotics. A prescription for buying antibiotics is now required everywhere in Mexico. Here in Morelia, pharmacies that are non-compliant are being fined--and fined enough to matter to them. All Mexican pharmacies are overseen by physicians, many of whom are actually present at the pharmacy if you happen to be there, need an antibiotic, and don't have a prescription. The attending physician will write one for you, either for a small fee or free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedros Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 That wasn't real helpful. Like......shopping around....where? At the pharmacy on the south side of the Ajijic plaza. The gal said the doctor is usually in the back and could write you one but she sold it without doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 At the pharmacy on the south side of the Ajijic plaza. The gal said the doctor is usually in the back and could write you one but she sold it without doing that. Thanks. That's good to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trundlebuckets Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Also, the generic pharmacy beside the Clinica Maskaras. They have a doctor who does all their prescriptions, after the fact. Both pharmacies, for that service, charge a minimum of $150 pesos on top of the price of your medication. And at least at the one, they charge it for each item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
More Liana Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Also, the generic pharmacy beside the Clinica Maskaras. They have a doctor who does all their prescriptions, after the fact. Both pharmacies, for that service, charge a minimum of $150 pesos on top of the price of your medication. And at least at the one, they charge it for each item. AHEM! Highway robbery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trundlebuckets Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 and that random checks would be made by health personel (don't know which agency) to your door Right. Immigration is just going to release a few thousand of its millions of bored agents to start following prescriptions home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlas Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Farmacia Express II in Riberas, Dr. ususally there, small or no charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alacran26 Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Why are so many trying to circumvent the law? Would you try to get antibiotics in the US or Canada without a prescription? Antibiotic resistant bacteria is a very real problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trundlebuckets Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Ignoring completely the discussion about who is responsible enough and who isn't, there are many people who have recurring problems that require use of the same antibiotic or other prescription type. Up north, one goes to a doctor each time and gets charged for the prescription. If you have a plan, they will phone it in to the drugstore, and you don't see any transaction other than when you go to pick it up. Few doctors will prescribe more than two or three rounds of the same treatment. This was much easier to deal with here: you know what you need, you just go get it. Most doctors around here will charge you to write a prescription, and few will give you more than two or three repeats. So off you go to a place where you don't need one, saving time and money for something you already understand. Example: friend has fibromyalgia, requires strong sleeping pills. Considered narcotics, and therefore requires prescription. Needs to see the doctor every two months to renew. Can barely walk. What would you do... go to the doctor, pay for a scrip, then go to the drugstore? Or just go to the drugstore, and pay their doctor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted November 13, 2010 Report Share Posted November 13, 2010 Ignoring completely the discussion about who is responsible enough and who isn't, there are many people who have recurring problems that require use of the same antibiotic or other prescription type. Up north, one goes to a doctor each time and gets charged for the prescription. If you have a plan, they will phone it in to the drugstore, and you don't see any transaction other than when you go to pick it up. Few doctors will prescribe more than two or three rounds of the same treatment. This was much easier to deal with here: you know what you need, you just go get it. Most doctors around here will charge you to write a prescription, and few will give you more than two or three repeats. So off you go to a place where you don't need one, saving time and money for something you already understand. Example: friend has fibromyalgia, requires strong sleeping pills. Considered narcotics, and therefore requires prescription. Needs to see the doctor every two months to renew. Can barely walk. What would you do... go to the doctor, pay for a scrip, then go to the drugstore? Or just go to the drugstore, and pay their doctor? You are talking apples and oranges here. The reason for the changes in antibiotic prescriptions is due to overuse and inappropriate use. With all the "antibacterial" products on the market, the weak bacteria get killed off and the strong survive to breed faster. When people self diagnose and use antibiotics for every sniffle, when there is a serious bacterial infection, it can be incredibly difficult to cure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trundlebuckets Posted November 13, 2010 Report Share Posted November 13, 2010 You are talking apples and oranges here. I'm not, actually. I understand the reasoning behind the law completely. I'm saying there are many of us who know the difference between use and abuse, and it was nice while it lasted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajijiccharlie Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 I'm not, actually. I understand the reasoning behind the law completely. I'm saying there are many of us who know the difference between use and abuse, and it was nice while it lasted. Help me understand--really. What chronic condition requires ongoing antibiotics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trundlebuckets Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 Typhoid, for one. Some people just never get rid of it. Gum infections, for another, in people who have chronically poor teeth. Note that these are not "ongoing", but repetitious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macmember Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 Help me understand--really. What chronic condition requires ongoing antibiotics? I have a friend that has had sistitis (not sure of spelling) in the bladder for years. She has been on antibiotics for at least 20/25 years. It is a small does that helps to keep it under control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecollard Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Yesterday, I came down with a horrible case of bronchitis. I went to the Farmacia Morelos in Chapala and asked the woman what she would recommend. She gave me a combination antibiotic and expectorant and then mentioned that, since there's a new law requiring a prescription, that I would need to pay $30p extra to have the doctor prepare a prescription (after the fact). The medicine plus prescription "fee" came to $145p. That sure beats the price at Maskaras Clinic, and the remedy seems to be working just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macmember Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Yesterday, I came down with a horrible case of bronchitis. I went to the Farmacia Morelos in Chapala and asked the woman what she would recommend. She gave me a combination antibiotic and expectorant and then mentioned that, since there's a new law requiring a prescription, that I would need to pay $30p extra to have the doctor prepare a prescription (after the fact). The medicine plus prescription "fee" came to $145p. That sure beats the price at Maskaras Clinic, and the remedy seems to be working just fine. Wow, inflation. In late 2008, consulting the Dr at the Farmacia in Chapala was 15 pesos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solajijic Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 One of them many aspects of life I love here is that the daily world is generally based on being practical... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carib Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 At the pharmacy on the south side of the Ajijic plaza. The gal said the doctor is usually in the back and could write you one but she sold it without doing that. This is why we have so many antibiotic resistant cases. Abuse of the system will result in catastrophic consequences not only for us but for future generations. My father was a pharmacist and he was very concerned about the overused of antibiotics and cortisone. He refused to used cortisone for my asthma when I was a child and finally , in my early twenties it went away. He was afraid of the long term use of cortisone and medical studies has proven him right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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