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 and writes about medical facts.
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Dear Martin,
Due to the corona virus I am forced to stay longer in Thailand. The only problem for me is that I'm running out of meds. I am currently staying in Phetchabun. Can you tell me if the medicines listed below are freely available here without a prescription? If not available or available, can you provide me with an equivalent/replacement medicine?
I take these drugs for heart rhythm disorder, high blood pressure and enlarged prostate. For cardiac arrhythmias and high blood pressure, I have been taking these drugs for over 10 years with no problems. For enlarged prostate, I have been using this drug for 5 years without any problems.
My health is OK. Age 75 years, height 172 cm, weight 69 kilos, never smoked and sometimes alcohol. Daily cycling on the mountain bike.
Drug List:
- Finasteride tabl omh 5mg Finasteride 1
- Metoprololsuc retard tabl 50mg Metoprolol 1
- Perindopril tabl 8mg Perindopril 1
- Amlodipine tabl 10mg Amlodipine 1
- Eliquis tabl omh 5mg Apixaban 2
Thanks for the effort.
Yours faithfully,
D.
******
Dear D,
All these drugs are available in Thailand. It may be that a prescription is required for the Apixaban. Metoprolol only in 100 and 200 mg and as far as I know not in retard. You can then take a quarter of a 100 mg tablet twice a day. If your pulse becomes faster, take half a tablet twice.
Take the packages to the pharmacy and check whether they deliver the correct medicine. The generic name is also written on the medicines here.
Sincerely,
Dr. Maarten