Question to general practitioner Maarten: Generic medicines against diabetes

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,

I am a man recently 80 years old and reasonably healthy. Usually stay in Isaan/Thailand for half a year and in the Czech Republic (country of residence) for half a year.

• Length 1.81 m
• Weight kg 84
• Alcohol very moderate, not smoking for 40 years
• Since 1987 Diabetes Mellitus 2

Medicines:

• Eucreas 50/1000 2x daily morning and evening
• Diaprel MR 60 2x daily morning and evening
• Wafarin 3 mg 1 x dg morning (cardiac arrhythmia)
• Tritace 5 mg 1 x dg morning

About 2 years ago you gave me advice about the availability and different names of my (Czech) medicines against diabetes mellitus 2. It then concerned Diaprel*60 (became Diamicron*60* and Eucreas* 50mg/1000 (became Galvus-Met 50 /850) There was some discussion about whether the Galvus-Met would be available in a tablet, so it worked out.

Now I have the next question, especially related to the cost, are these drugs also available in generic versions and what is the name here in Thailand?

I suspect from the generic Diamacron *60, or 30, because I sometimes got a generic from my Diaprel in the Czech Republic. The possible generic Galvus-Met will be more difficult, but if I can obtain the separate version instead of 1 tablet, that is also a solution.

Thank you in advance.

Regards,

R.

*****

Dear R,

Eucreas is called Janumet in Thailand. there is no generic version. There is Janumet 50/500 and 50/1.000. Try the 500 version first.
Sitagliptin is called Januvia. Metformin in the genetic version is called Metformin GPO.
Diamicron is also called diamicron here. The substance name is Glicazide. There is no generic version.
Whether everything is available here is not certain. Prices vary by pharmacy.
Galvus Met is another combination. Vildagliptin/Metformin Can also be split into Galvus and Metformin.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Maarten