Medications available in Ecuador (Cuenca)?

Pueden ahudar me tienes la mes a medicinal no se mucho espanol pero soy mental mal y quiero y a mi papa no puedo estuar sola llama me por favor Miriam 7722611493 gracieas

Im meme have a lot of medication worried they might not have there when I get there leaving this Friday adderall and abilify is the most can anyone help me and do I have to post pic or info or will b replayed here thanks and god bless all

my wife takes morphine and gabapenton every day for chronic pain. Are these available in Ecuador and do you know how much they are if there are available

rick

Mine are Lisinopril and amlodipine for blood pressure. Lipitor (generic atorvastatin) for cholesterol.

I also take tegretol (carbamazepine) which I'd like to know if its available.

Is Dilantin in the cuenca pharmacies. I need to take it every day if I would loose mine I would need it,.I will visit in Oct.Thanks. [email protected]

drbill7 wrote:

You can't even get an ibuprofen (Advil) without a prescription here.

Bill, are you serious about ibuprofen? If so -- wow! That sort of thing could be a stopper.

I run ~8km maybe 3-4x each week, plus other workout stuff in a gym. Not surprisingly, I often get joint/muscle aches after the workouts -- nothing serious, but 400mg of ibuprofen is needed.

If getting such simple meds is going to be a problem ...

What about other meds that are OTC in the US (and other places I've been), such as for cold/flu/allergy symptoms (e.g., Contac)? 

Bob

Thanks, that doesn't sound so bad. I probably average only 3-4 tablets a week, so a bottle of fifty or a hundred lasts me a while. I'll just have to be sure to keep stocked up to get me through 'temporary' disruptions.

Good idea. I wonder what a US doc would say if I asked for a prescription for ordinary ibuprofen. I think I'll get it from a doc here in the Philippines -- they're used to weird behavior by Kanos.

I take amlodipine. I get it easily from the Farmicias here.  When I had my Dental work done , was given a pain killer.  Will see if I can see what it was.  Dentist gave me prescription and Farmicia filled it.  Other wise sorry we don't have any need for prescriptions. 
Living It and Loving It here in Bahia, Ecuador
Charlie

Can some one help me? I will visit cuenca in Oct. Can I get DILANTIN in the drug stores? Thanks.  [email protected]

Grant, I'll check with the local Farmicias here in Bahia for you this week.
Still Living It and Loving It, here in Bahia, Ecuador,
Charlie

Here's my list of medications.  Can anyone tell me if they're available in Cuenca:

Ativan'
Seroquel
Celexa
Flomax

Misty, love your posts! I am diabetic and take a number of medications. I found a very helpful lady in Cotacachi who, for five dollars, took my list of medications to a local pharmacy and sent me a list of availability and costs. Some medications cost as much as they do here in Canada and others were ridiculously cheap. All totaled, the meds that cost about $750 a month here will cost about $300 in Ecuador.

As for your comments about the health care system here in Canada, you are spot on. Our socialized care is apparently the "envy of the world". Seriously? God forbid you have to go to Emergency at the hospital, where you will wait hours and hours to even be seen. It took me three years to find a family doctor here in London and the first thing I saw in her office was a sign, "please limit your issues to one". How's that for compassionate care?

At one point my diabetic neuropathy was so painful I could not walk. My diabetic specialist put me on Oxycotin with no warning of the side effects. I went from working twelve to fourteen hours a day to lying on the couch in tears and thinking seriously of jumping off my balcony. I researched Oxycotin and learned I had every single side effect, including suicidal thoughts. I weaned myself off of it as quickly as I could.

Despite medications and supplements, my pain continues. I asked to see a diabetic specialist renowned for her knowledge of diabetic neuropathy. After a referral from my family doctor I have to wait between two and three YEARS to see her.

In desperation I wrote a heartfelt letter to everyone involved in my care, begging for help with this intolerable pain. Not one of them responded. So much for the oath they took as doctors.

My experience with doctors outside Canada was in Panama. Just like Misty I found them to be compassionate and extremely knowledgeable. Their clinics were modern and they took all the time in the world to learn about your health. All for the princely sum of two dollars a visit. Pharmacies were able to refill prescriptions without the need to see the doctor again. It was all so refreshing compared to Canada.

Here's the logic of health care in Canada. Although my insulin is covered under the province's health care plan, the needles to take it are not. I asked if I am supposed to drink it?

If health care in Ecuador is anything like it was in Panama I know I will be much better off.

my wife needs Gabapentin and M-Eslon every day. Are they available in Ecuador

What about Codine? I know that a lot of countries sell Asprin/Tylenol with Codine (Tylenol #4 here)OTC. Is it available in Cuenca?

I will bring some with me - is that a problem? Will I be able to get more?

I had partial knee replacement surgery a few months ago and sometimes need it if I have done a lot of walking!!

I also take Valium - I have essential tremor and it does help the tremmors/shaking - will my prescription be confiscated at customs?

THANKS! Pam

Pam,
Me again. You should have no problems with confiscation. I brought my meds in a baggie, in my carry on luggage. They never even looked at it. Goes through the scanner, and nothing shows up illegal.
When you arrive, I can give you the name of a pharmacist that is pretty helpful, and speaks English. His name and number are posted in this thread. Posted by MistyMeaner.
I did peel off the label from my prescription bottle and re attached it to the baggie. I don't think you'll experience any problems. Let's face it, the majority of Ex Pats are under some type of medication given the average age of us. < grin >
Stay Well,
Neil

Neil Thanks for the reply! - what about the Tylonal/asprin with codine? Can you get that there (in Cuenca?)

When we travel I always put the original prescription bottles in a zipper bag and then sort them when we arrive. I have had NO problems anywhere (carry-on) we have traveled - including Russia and Egypt etc.

Excuse any spelling - I am getting frazzled as we leave in 2 days and I am TRYING to get all my ducks in a row and some of them don't want to cooperate!

Hugs - Pam

Pam,
Not 100% sure on the codeine. I think it may be one of the drugs you will need a script for. The good news is that you can have a consult with a Dr. for like 20 bucks, and they are pretty open to writing a script for legitimate purposes.
I'm sure you have a ton of things to attend to, and it can get hectic the closer to departure.
You're well traveled, you'll do fine.
Safe Travels,
Neil
Ps. I have a good friend here that was a pharmacist in the states, and I'm sure he'd be happy to help you out.

Thanks again Neil!

Hello Fellow escapees or soon to be escapees from the Rat Race. We have been down with the flu here for the past week plus.  We're back.  Ok so I did the research on the Dilantin, which as with any medication you are looking for is based on the generic name.   In this case it is Phenytoin in English which is Fenitoina in Spanish.  All words in English with a PH  F sound are written with F in Spanish.  The pharmacy chains such as Sana Sana, Fybeca, Cruz Azul, Farmacias Pharmacy's, etc. will have the medications throughout the country not only in one city.   We found the Fenitoina in Sana Sana, in both pill/tablet form as well as liquid suspension.   We also verified that Ibuprophen = Ibuprofena is available in 400, 600, and 800 mg tablets.  Naproxen = Naproxeno is available as well.  These may require doctors prescription.
For stronger pain medications  Demerol = Dolantina = Dolosa
   other names also Petidina and Meperidina    This as well as Oxycontin =Oxicodona  are ONLY available with RX from doctor, and were not available at the regular pharmacy.  We were told that these might be available at the Hospital pharmacy.   
Another strong pain medication that we were told is very good here is Arcoxia and Etoricoxib... I do not know what these are in English counterpart.   It is my understanding that these are only available for surgery pain etc. only with RX and that is why they would be at the Hospital pharmacy.    Hope this helps...
Basically all drugs should be available in their generic forms or in their Spanish spellings. The stronger pain meds only by prescription.  And perhaps only in the Hospital Pharmacies (Farmacias).  All the major chains carry the same drugs .  They may have to order some items.  It is best to approach the individual Farmacias in each location in Spanish and have the generic and Spanish names for what you need.  Very hard to do over the phone or from North America.  Good news , you should be able to get what you need here with a liitle diligence.....Best wishes to all.
Still living It and Loving It here in Bahia, Ecuador

wanderingbears wrote:

Another strong pain medication that we were told is very good here is Arcoxia and Etoricoxib... I do not know what these are in English counterpart.   It is my understanding that these are only available for surgery pain etc. only with RX and that is why they would be at the Hospital pharmacy.

Arcoxia is the brand name for Etoricoxib; it is currently not approved for use in the US, so many may not be familiar with the name.

I had some minor surgery Wednesday and it was prescribed for post-surgery pain. I only used one tab and it worked OK for me.

Hey!
Hope you are finding answers to your questions.
About medication in Ecuador, will be good idea if you bring medicine enough for a few months until you find a Dr who can give you prescriptions. I met a very good (and inexpensive) Dr who speaks great english, educated in the States and can give you medicines. If you bring your prescriptions in english that will be useless..
Why?
Because the pharmacys in Ecuador are regulate it by the Health Center, for certain medicines we have specific forms (with Health Center logo) that needs to be sign by a Dr, in spanish.
Lets say you bring your prescription and you go to the pharmacy..
They will ne unable to sell it to you, because they need to keep the form (the prescription) and send it to the Health Center who keep them as records for what people is buying and for what conditons.

drbill7 wrote:

I too will need to know the medication situation in Bahia. My moving there will depend on it. It's hard enough here in Quito, where I can't even get an ibuprofen for my bad neck!

Just go to the doc, explain your situation, and get a 90 day prescription. It was a recent change that things like Ibuprofen and decongestants became controlled. It was the government's rather reactionary and sweeping response to people going straight to the pharmacy when they really needed to go to the doctor.

Oh, and on the topic of Valium, there's some surprisingly strong valerian tea in the stores.

Why do people who do not use prescription drugs or need them make such rude comment ? How easy it to get insulin for a type 2 diabetic ?

Hello Les,  When we arrived in Quito this year a fellow Expat needed Insulin and some equipment for his Diabetes.  My wife(Spanish Speaker ) went to several Farmicias (Pharmacies) and helped him find his specific needs.  They do have it here.  I hope I have been helpful.

Still Living It and Loving It here in Bahia, Ecuador
Charlie

Does anyone know is plavix and paxil are readily available in Cuenca??

My husband is under medication since he had a bad accident few years ago. We have a Dr here who give us the prescription, he is taken a diferent name medicine, it has the same effects.
The only thing that someone needs here, is a Dr.

Thanks Charlie. I wont worry as much !

Cool Les , I am glad I can help.  We escaped the rat race and love it here. Just For your Info.  We are from Seattle.  What we found was you need the Spanish names of the medications in their Generic Names not the brand names and all seem to be available here.  Some you will need an RX for from a DR. and are only available at the Hospital Farmicia.  Controlled Substances.  The rest if you know the Generic name in Espanol should be available.  Good prices for the Meds here. Enjoying not being in the cold and rain.  The Warm Ocean is so nice.  Still a Sounders and Seahawk Fan though.  Watching them on  paid subscriptions with a virtual private network (VPN) through the internet.

Still Living It and Loving It here in Bahia, Ecuador
Charlie

Thanks Charlie. After the last Hawks I thought I would need heart meds LOL. Have you herd anything about a medication called " COLESTIPOL " with out it my wife would be restricted to the house of very short walks. It is for a bowel disorder that causes severe diarrhea.   

We are planning to move to Cuenca in about a year but first need to find out how much all your medications will cost us.  How can we spdo
Do that?

Cacatlin55 wrote:

We are planning to move to Cuenca in about a year but first need to find out how much all your medications will cost us.  How can we spdo
Do that?

By going to Cuenca first for fact finding mission.

Contrary to gardener1's flippant post, there are many ways to research the questions you are interested in, before you are in country. Obviously, this is the age of the internet for God's sake.
If you follow this thread, on 05-11-13, you'll see a post by MistyMeaner with the info of a pharmacist here that I put her in contact with. Read the post, and you'll get his info.
It's a pretty expensive trip to just find what med's are available. The info is readily available from anywhere you are in the world.
Best Wishes,
ZenSpike

I like so much ZenSpykes recomendation! Just research in internet, spanish if you can read and then send email to the pharmacy and confirm they have it. Or, you can contact the pharmacy by Facebook and ask them:)

I would like some information on obtaining two drugs for my wife.
One is bystolic a blood pressure medication. Benicar also used for lowering blood pressure.
Can you tell me how to contact the Pharmacist?

If you follow this thread, on 05-11-13, you'll see a post by MistyMeaner with the info of a pharmacist here that I put her in contact with. Read the post, and you'll get his info.

I see I am not the only person up at this ungodly hour.

janet119 wrote:

I see I am not the only person up at this ungodly hour.

Geez... I forgot to go to bed.... again!

I am a night owl as well. Plus I went to bed with a hot water bottle (it is -21 here) that leaked all over my bed before I realized it....good reason to get up!