mattbel123 Posted November 16, 2014 #1 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Going on a cruise to St Maarten. I was wondering if there are pharmacies to buy drugs over the counter that require a prescription in the usa? Basically I'm asking is St Maarten similar to Cozumel Mexico where you can buy anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlueRiband Posted November 16, 2014 #2 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Going on a cruise to St Maarten. I was wondering if there are pharmacies to buy drugs over the counter that require a prescription in the usa? Basically I'm asking is St Maarten similar to Cozumel Mexico where you can buy anything? First post? Why would you want to buy a drug 1) without a prescription, 2) from a questionable source, and 3) heaven knows how it will react with whatever else you might be taking? (Especially the "blue pills".) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisead Posted November 16, 2014 #3 Share Posted November 16, 2014 St Maarten is run by two different governments, the Netherlands and France. I've never seen the kinds of pharmacies you see in Mexico, on either side of the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treven Posted November 16, 2014 #4 Share Posted November 16, 2014 I second, and for that matter I third that comment. But then I wouldn't trust anyone outside my medical support field to get my heart/chlorestoral/diabetes, etc, medication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaveDiving Posted November 16, 2014 #5 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Going on a cruise to St Maarten. I was wondering if there are pharmacies to buy drugs over the counter that require a prescription in the usa?.... In most countries of the world other than the USA, virtually any drug (except narcotics) can usually be purchased without a prescription. And generally, they will be less expensive than in the USA. IIRC, St Maarten is one of these countries. It is not unusual for a pharmacist to request you show the bottle from your previous prescription, not because it is legally necessary, but simply so they can determine exactly what drug you desire. However if you have the correct information, they will be happy to sell most any non-narcotic drug to you. Some brand new drugs may not be available in many countries. We have been buying prescription blood pressure, antacid, cholesterol, osteoporosis, antibiotic and thyroid medicine in foreign countries for years and commonly at less cost than the co-payment of our US drug insurance. Scott & Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted November 16, 2014 #6 Share Posted November 16, 2014 The types of drugs you see in Mexico you do not see blatantly displayed in St. Maarten. I would be very leery of buying these drugs in Mexico because you don't always know what you are getting and if it is precisely what has been described for you by your physician but that is an entirely different story. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted November 16, 2014 #7 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Philippsburg in St. Maarten has an international pharmacy in the center of town. They did not have the over the counter European aspirin that I wanted, but you can try your luck there. I did no see any other pharmacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATC cruiser Posted November 16, 2014 #8 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Philippsburg in St. Maarten has an international pharmacy in the center of town. They did not have the over the counter European aspirin that I wanted, but you can try your luck there. I did no see any other pharmacy. Just out of curiosity, what is a European aspirin? Aft Cabins Rule 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted November 16, 2014 #9 Share Posted November 16, 2014 It was a chewable aspirin produced by Bayer in Germany. I bought a similar one in Australia. I know they have it in France as well, but not in any pharmacy in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe. In the USA, chewable aspirins are only sold in baby aspirin sizes. The advantage is that it can be taken without water, it's not bitter and it works fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tercar Posted November 17, 2014 #10 Share Posted November 17, 2014 In the UK you cannot buy most drugs, any prescription drugs prescribed by a doctor can not be bought over the counter. If your 60 years or over all your prescribed drugs are free of charge. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted November 17, 2014 #11 Share Posted November 17, 2014 In the UK you cannot buy most drugs, any prescription drugs prescribed by a doctor can not be bought over the counter. If your 60 years or over all your prescribed drugs are free of charge. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app There is no free. :) One pays it in taxes or assessments or premiums but the government never provides free. The whole budget comes 'from the people.' Same as a cruise ship...... there is nothing free. You either pay for it included in your fare or you pay for it at the time of use/consumption. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awhcruiser Posted April 9, 2015 #12 Share Posted April 9, 2015 And some of the drugs in Mexico are not manufactured in the USA and are much better. Have you ever been to Mexico? The types of drugs you see in Mexico you do not see blatantly displayed in St. Maarten. I would be very leery of buying these drugs in Mexico because you don't always know what you are getting and if it is precisely what has been described for you by your physician but that is an entirely different story. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langley Cruisers Posted April 9, 2015 #13 Share Posted April 9, 2015 OP never came back to read the answers. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT Trips Posted April 9, 2015 #14 Share Posted April 9, 2015 There is no free. :) One pays it in taxes or assessments or premiums but the government never provides free. The whole budget comes 'from the people.' Same as a cruise ship...... there is nothing free. You either pay for it included in your fare or you pay for it at the time of use/consumption. There my be no "free," but a lot of things are available "free of charge," i.e. no payment due. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxoocruiser Posted April 10, 2015 #15 Share Posted April 10, 2015 OP never came back to read the answers. . OP doesn't have to sign in to read the posts so how do you know he/she never came back ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ducklite Posted April 10, 2015 #16 Share Posted April 10, 2015 It was a chewable aspirin produced by Bayer in Germany. I bought a similar one in Australia. I know they have it in France as well, but not in any pharmacy in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe. In the USA, chewable aspirins are only sold in baby aspirin sizes. The advantage is that it can be taken without water, it's not bitter and it works fast. I find it horribly bitter to the point that it makes me wretch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95south Posted June 30, 2015 #17 Share Posted June 30, 2015 To all: please stop answering questions with your own question. The OP asked a question and is looking for answers not your opinion. If you can't reply with an answer please don't reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calliopecruiser Posted June 30, 2015 #18 Share Posted June 30, 2015 To all: please stop answering questions with your own question. The OP asked a question and is looking for answers not your opinion. If you can't reply with an answer please don't reply. Why not? Isn't this a discussion forum? Seriously - this is not your mother's house and we are not children told not to say anything if we can't say something nice. Real life conversations and discussions are not a question-and-answer script - they are flowing mix of comments, questions, opinions, answers, and rebuttals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calliopecruiser Posted June 30, 2015 #19 Share Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) In most countries of the world other than the USA, virtually any drug (except narcotics) can usually be purchased without a prescription. Wow, that so very, very wrong. In many countries in the world other than the US, prescriptions for non-narcotics are still required for many drugs. They may not be the same drugs as in the US, but then, in some places in the world, prescriptions are required for drugs that can be had OTC in the US. (well, wrong from conventional, legal sources.....there's always a black market source somewhere) Edited June 30, 2015 by calliopecruiser black market comment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langley Cruisers Posted June 30, 2015 #20 Share Posted June 30, 2015 To all: please stop answering questions with your own question. The OP asked a question and is looking for answers not your opinion. If you can't reply with an answer please don't reply. Wow, you bumped this thread for a reprimand?? LOL. Oh my. :p . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted June 30, 2015 #21 Share Posted June 30, 2015 To all: please stop answering questions with your own question. The OP asked a question and is looking for answers not your opinion. If you can't reply with an answer please don't reply. Please take running jumps at yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted June 30, 2015 #22 Share Posted June 30, 2015 It was a chewable aspirin produced by Bayer in Germany. I bought a similar one in Australia. I know they have it in France as well, but not in any pharmacy in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe. In the USA, chewable aspirins are only sold in baby aspirin sizes. The advantage is that it can be taken without water, it's not bitter and it works fast. Aspergum chewable aspirin is generally available in the US Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted June 30, 2015 #23 Share Posted June 30, 2015 And some of the drugs in Mexico are not manufactured in the USA and are much better. Have you ever been to Mexico? "Much better"? Are you speaking as a pharmacologist? "Been to Mexico"? Or as a travel agent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langley Cruisers Posted June 30, 2015 #24 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Aspergum chewable aspirin is generally available in the US Oh my gosh, I remember Aspergum from my childhood! One can never quite forget that taste! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted June 30, 2015 #25 Share Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) Philippsburg in St. Maarten has an international pharmacy in the center of town. They did not have the over the counter European aspirin that I wanted, but you can try your luck there. I did no see any other pharmacy. There my be no "free," but a lot of things are available "free of charge," i.e. no payment due. :rolleyes: Oh yes, there is payment due. Do you pay taxes, do you have VAT taxes, do you have sales tax, county taxes? Of course, you do. You make your payment through any number of assessments and think you are getting a free prescription...... I am sure we all recognize there is no free. Who do you think is paying for that Rx? Same as on a cruise ship. When someone asks is there free ice cream on the ship. No, there is no free ice cream on any cruise ship. The difference is on some ships it is included in the fare you pay and on others, you pay at the time of consumption or use. As to the question about Pharmacy in St. Maarten. I have been in the pharmacy referenced above in the center of Philipsburg and saw few of the Rx bottles on shelves such as we see in Cozumel. However, it is possible you could purchase by asking. I didn't try and cannot say for sure. Edited June 30, 2015 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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