Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand.
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Dear Martin,
I am a (healthy) person over 65 with back problems. For this I take Contramal retard 200mg and OxiNorm instant 10mg. When I experience severe pain I do a course of Matrifen 50mcg / h (I cut them into 3 or 4).
Can these painkillers be brought without any problems at a long stay in Thailand and if so, under what conditions and if not, what alternatives are available locally?
Thanks for your reply.
Regards,
G.
*****
Dear G,
Both Oxinorm (Oxycodone) and Matrifen (Fentanyl) are on the list of Narcotic Drugs category 2. You may therefore take them with you under certain conditions for a maximum of 30 days. See the following link: https://thaiembassy.se/en/tourism/restricted-medicine/
Contramal (Tramadol) is not on the list, but it is considered an opiate, and oddly enough it is freely available in many pharmacies. The 200 retard probably not.
If you want to obtain the medicines locally, you must do so through a doctor. Therefore, take along a prescription and a statement from your doctor stating why you are taking these opiates.
If you are caught at customs with these medicines without the correct papers, you are in for a bad time.
Detoxification is also a possibility, but will not be easy, because the opiates are very strong.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Maarten
Do you have a question for Maarten and do you live in Thailand? Send this to the editor: www.thailandblog.nl/contact/ It is important that you provide the correct information (see list at the top of the page).