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Buying antibiotics in Mexico

Ted W

By Ted W,
in Mexican Riviera

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halos

halos

Posted
Posted
I agree. I would also add the American Academy of Pediatrics, etc.

 

Even veterinarians.....

 

I am turned off of western medicine in the worst way. If one day I find a doctor I can trust it will be a happy day.

I keep looking....

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Martini Mom

Martini Mom

Posted
Posted
Even veterinarians.....

 

I am turned off of western medicine in the worst way. If one day I find a doctor I can trust it will be a happy day.

I keep looking....

 

DH's neurologist is a D.O. (vs M.D.), but he's no better. We've done wonders with his health through our own research on vitamins and nutrition.

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richstowe Great Review Rare

richstowe

Posted
Posted
But you do pay for your healthcare. You just pay up front with your tax dollars. Nothing is free.
Absolutely!

 

How does that work in Canada? Do you pay a set amount and is it from your paycheck or is it a percentage of income, etc?
Just part of our taxes, which are higher then in the US.

However our health care costs are lower because the "cut" that the insurance industry gets is much lower.

As is the cut that the hospitals ,lawyers and politicians get.;)

 

Never understand why socialized medicine is an issue but socialized military isn't.

 

BTW we have our own irrational issues in Canada. Lots of them.:o

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CanadaJulie

CanadaJulie

Posted
Posted
How does that work in Canada? Do you pay a set amount and is it from your paycheck or is it a percentage of income, etc?

 

 

The glitch in Canada is that because it's free, everyone with the sniffles has it checked out by going to the doctor. The wait at the clinic is easily 4+ hours if you can get a spot that day and the ER probably 12+. Montreal area hospitals are operating at way over capacity.

 

The meds I buy in Mexico are simply to save time. I hate having to show up at the clinic at 7am, stand outside for an hour before the clinic opens just to make sure I have a spot in line to see the doctor so he can prescribe the meds I already know I need. My family doctor ? Well if you want an appointement wih her, it will probably be in 3 months... But it's free !!

 

It's not all bad, don't get me wrong, but sometimes for little things... you better bring along a good book... I have to take a day off work to go to the clinic so I "pay" that way (lost wages)...

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PaulMedik

PaulMedik

Posted
Posted
I would just watch what you get in Mexico - Ive had 2 problems with them.

One time I thought I was getting a bottle with 100 pills in it -I saw the bottle, handled the bottle and then purchased it. But between buying and recieving it - they did a switcheroo when they turned and put it in the sack for me and I got home with a bottle that only had 50 pills in it. I watch real close now and check before I leave the store.

And the second problem was - when I got the pills home (Ethromycin) and opened the seal on the bottle they smelled so bad (like the fertalizer I put out on my lawn) that I threw them out. So Im cautious on what I get now in Mexico.

 

 

Cinderose,

 

If you open a bottle of antibiotics and they don't smell bad then you should be suspicious; Antibiotics stink! With most of them I can ID them just by their smell. ;)

 

 

I have read this thread and don't have a thing to add to the topic.

 

Off topic I have to wonder why the worlds richest and most powerful country can't afford health care for all.

Every other half civilized country has medical care (and often drug and dental) for everyone.

 

I love the USA but for the life of me, on this issue ,I think you guys are nuts.

 

 

Richstowe,

 

We became the world's richest and most powerful country thru the inovations, inventions, and designs of a FREE MARKET society. Perhaps the 'free' confuses some people, but it refers to business competition and not free goods or services.

 

Business competition benefits consumers by driving down costs and our health care system is so heavily regulated by our government that costs are multiplied many times over just to follow the illogical whims of government agencies. Why does the government limit what hospitals can purchase and whether they even can purchase certain testing devices? Why does the government feel that their notion of what hospitals can perform procedures and what hospitals can't is good for our health care system? The government agencies eliminate head to head competition and thus keep costs high. MRI scanners are a prime example; why not have several available and routinely used in every ER? They're minimally invasive and if more of them were built they'd be cheaper.

 

The first step to fixing this country's health care system is to deregulate it. Allow hospitals to buy what they choose to buy and as many as they wish.

 

Our government considers itself to be the largest payor within our health care system therefore they feel empowered to project stupid rules and regulations on all hospitals. With our current debt to China, the real payor now is no longer US tax payers; it's the Peoples Republic of China. Soon they will step in and throw down new rules about what can and cannot be provided; I doubt there will be an option to 'just let them write it off' then. ;)

 

You are right; we ARE nutz to continue allowing our own government to cripple our health care system.

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glrounds

glrounds

Posted
Posted

 

Richstowe,

 

We became the world's richest and most powerful country thru the inovations, inventions, and designs of a FREE MARKET society. Perhaps the 'free' confuses some people, but it refers to business competition and not free goods or services.

 

Business competition benefits consumers by driving down costs and our health care system is so heavily regulated by our government that costs are multiplied many times over just to follow the illogical whims of government agencies. Why does the government limit what hospitals can purchase and whether they even can purchase certain testing devices? Why does the government feel that their notion of what hospitals can perform procedures and what hospitals can't is good for our health care system? The government agencies eliminate head to head competition and thus keep costs high. MRI scanners are a prime example; why not have several available and routinely used in every ER? They're minimally invasive and if more of them were built they'd be cheaper.

 

The first step to fixing this country's health care system is to deregulate it. Allow hospitals to buy what they choose to buy and as many as they wish.

 

Our government considers itself to be the largest payor within our health care system therefore they feel empowered to project stupid rules and regulations on all hospitals. With our current debt to China, the real payor now is no longer US tax payers; it's the Peoples Republic of China. Soon they will step in and throw down new rules about what can and cannot be provided; I doubt there will be an option to 'just let them write it off' then. ;)

 

You are right; we ARE nutz to continue allowing our own government to cripple our health care system.

 

I wish there was a "LIKE" button to hit. Paul, you hit the nail SQUARELY ON THE HEAD. Regulations are killing American business. Well said.

 

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richstowe Great Review Rare

richstowe

Posted
Posted

Richstowe,

 

You are right; we ARE nutz to continue allowing our own government to cripple our health care system.

Well one thing is for sure, 2 people can see the same problem and come up with diametrically opposite solutions.

 

I would add that catastrophic medical issues are supposed to be the number one cause of bankruptcy in the USA.

We would considered that unacceptable here in the socialist North.

 

Sorry also had to add that have good friends in Florida who had to wait 2 years before they were "allowed" by

their insurance company to try to start a family. We also think that is odd.

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chrpai

chrpai

Posted
Posted
Well one thing is for sure, 2 people can see the same problem and come up with diametrically opposite solutions.

 

I would add that catastrophic medical issues are supposed to be the number one cause of bankruptcy in the USA.

We would considered that unacceptable here in the socialist North.

 

Sorry also had to add that have good friends in Florida who had to wait 2 years before they were "allowed" by

their insurance company to try to start a family. We also think that is odd.

 

Actually I'd say that 2 people look at a situation and see two different problems.

 

I would also disagree about the couple being "allowed" to try to start a family. You can try any time you want provided you have two consenting adults of the opposite sex. Putting it in the context of "allowed" is inflamatory when it's really a simple question of should reproductive health be a named peril with regard to health care insurance.

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baymadsus

baymadsus

Posted
Posted
The glitch in Canada is that because it's free, everyone with the sniffles has it checked out by going to the doctor. The wait at the clinic is easily 4+ hours if you can get a spot that day and the ER probably 12+. Montreal area hospitals are operating at way over capacity.

 

The meds I buy in Mexico are simply to save time. I hate having to show up at the clinic at 7am, stand outside for an hour before the clinic opens just to make sure I have a spot in line to see the doctor so he can prescribe the meds I already know I need. My family doctor ? Well if you want an appointement wih her, it will probably be in 3 months... But it's free !!

 

It's not all bad, don't get me wrong, but sometimes for little things... you better bring along a good book... I have to take a day off work to go to the clinic so I "pay" that way (lost wages)...

 

Wow, wait times are nothing like you describe where I live. You have to take a day off?? So you don't have after hours clinics? If I show up about 25 mins early to the after hours clinic, then I am usually close to the front of the line and in and out in a few mins once they open. And I definately don't go for the sniffles!! Haha I dislike going to the doctor way too much to do that...usually it's darn ear infections!

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quincytoo

quincytoo

Posted
Posted
Wow, wait times are nothing like you describe where I live. You have to take a day off?? So you don't have after hours clinics? If I show up about 25 mins early to the after hours clinic, then I am usually close to the front of the line and in and out in a few mins once they open. And I definately don't go for the sniffles!! Haha I dislike going to the doctor way too much to do that...usually it's darn ear infections!

 

 

Those wait times are also like nothing that we have here in Victoria. The longest I have waited for in a drop in clinic (we have 2 within 5 mins of each other) is about 20 mins. When I want to see my reg GP I usually have to wait a week or two.

I don't do anything for sniffles, but have had those darn ear

infections :( Nasty things they are.

 

I recently had some minor hand surgery, saw my GP in Sept for a referral, he said it would take up to a year as he sent me to one of the top hand surgeons in BC, got the call to see the HS in Dec and had the surgery Jan 30. I don't mind that kind of a wait for free.:D

 

One thing to be aware of when buying meds in Mexico they are not always cheaper then buying them here in Canada or The States.

That said, it is cheaper for me to buy Retinal-A cream.05% and I buy three tubes each vist.

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richstowe Great Review Rare

richstowe

Posted
Posted (edited)

Of course we have huge lineups! You have to pay for The Office de la langue française somehow.:(

 

Just realized this thread was moved. I get that it was not really a Carnival issue BUT why Ports of Call > Mexican Riviera?

Edited by richstowe
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CanadaJulie

CanadaJulie

Posted
Posted
Of course we have huge lineups! You have to pay for The Office de la langue française somehow.:(

 

Just realized this thread was moved. I get that it was not really a Carnival issue BUT why Ports of Call > Mexican Riviera?

 

Bien sur ! C'est très important !! (don't get me started !!) :rolleyes:

 

According to this local article

http://www.cjad.com/CJADLocalNews/entry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10344891

The Royal Victoria hospotal ER departement (in Montreal) is at 212% capacity. So for every bed, they have a little over 2 people that needs it...

 

We have a few after hours clinics open 5pm-8pm. You show up an hour before it opens and stand in line. Assuming a doctor can see 1 patient every 15 mins, they can take say 12 patients from 5-8. If you are the 13th person in line, too bad. Go home and try again tomorrow. Problem is, I'm not home at 4pm so I need to leave work early. Same deal with the day clinics - stand outside and hope you are not the 13th person (could be the 100th person, just saying 13. It's harder to figure during the day, and depends on how many doctors they have that day). At 9am, when the clinic actually opens, they are full for the day with people having waited outside. They are not all like that, sometimes you go to a different neighborhood and get a less busy day at that clinic. Luck of the draw...

 

A new family doctor was setting up an office here in my local clinic. They were taking on 500 new patients. The first person in line had been waiting since 4am (clinic opened at 9am). This is in January, in the cold !! By noon, their 500 patient quota was filled.

 

I do have the option to go to a private clinic, pay the 80$ fee and see a doctor the same day. If I really needed it, you bet I would do that.

 

I just keep a bottle of cipro on hand so I can avoid that 80$ visit when I get get another UTI.

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  • 1 month later...
polkadotannie

polkadotannie

Posted
Posted

I go to Tijuana several times a year -- my dentist is there and when I'm there I visit my favorite pharmacy. I used to be able to buy antibiotics (and cheap too!) without a perscription -- now I'm told I need one ... then he sold me some anyway, but not the 100 unit bottle, like before.

 

I'll be interested to see what other Mexican towns are like for meds.

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AZbeachboy

AZbeachboy

Posted
Posted
What happens if you get into a car accident or have an unexpected emergency?

 

When I was 21, I passed out and had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance and have a Cat-scan (I think). I spent 12 hours in the hospital- total bill $10,000+. As I was in college, I was still on my parent's insurance and out of pocket costs were less than $1000.

 

Even perfectly healthy people can have emergencies. Unless you are a millionaire and can really afford $100,000+ hospital bills, I would never go without health insurance.

 

In a car accident you would come under the insurance of the car you were riding in. I do acknowledge that other accidents could happen.

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AZ Karaoke Girl

AZ Karaoke Girl

Posted
Posted
Supposedly, Mexico passed a law that you now need a prescription, but I'm sure the pharamicist will help you with whatever you need to do.

 

I've bought antibiotics all over the world including Mexico and use them when I know it's appropriate, like a sinus infections that I don't need a doctor to diagnose for me.

 

They sell Z packs in Mexico. Those are the best.

 

I buy amoxicillian every trip to Mexico and I've never needed an RX including when I went in Feb this year. I wrote down on customs form that I bought amoxicillian. The customs agent looked at my form and waived me thru no issue. I also hate going to the Dr for a script for something I know I have. When I take them, my ailments disappear so they work fine and for a fraction of the cost. Why pay my $25 copay to my doctor, miss work to go to the Dr, plus a $25 copay for the RX when I can buy 2 big bottles of Amoxicillian for $33 that treats me for several issues over the year?

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  • 2 weeks later...
Unknotted

Unknotted

Posted
Posted

I have bought a lot of meds in Mexico, and only one time it was antibiotics. I stock up on my osteoporosis meds there and it saves me a mint! Actonel costs about $15-$18 per tablet in the US and even most insurance plans don't pay enough of it to help much. But in Mexico it's so much cheaper that I can actually afford the darn stuff.

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