Antibiotics

wifiwildflower · #1 07/05/15, 06:40 PM

Has anyone bought any antibiotics from Thailand? Used them? There are too many cases of Tick related diseases where I live...just wondering so we can be more prepared. Thanks for any opinions.

haypoint · #2 07/05/15, 08:03 PM

Still need to know the specific disease the tick gave you. Some are treated with antibiotics, some aren't. Different antibiotics for different tick borne illnesses.
No, never bought antibiotics overseas.

geo in mi · #3 07/06/15, 07:00 AM

A lot of prescription medicines (generic) are produced overseas these days. If you buy Dole gelatin with fruit in a cup, it will be from Viet Nam. Mandarin oranges are usually from Israel or India. Lots of spices are from China.

I personally wouldn't buy any drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor. Diseases need a diagnosis first, and, in my opinion, a doctor is the best person to do that.

geo

wifiwildflower · #4 07/06/15, 08:12 AM

My brother is a pharmacist and "fish antibiotics" made in the USA are exactly the same as what a Dr. would prescribe. The ones from Thailand are at least 1/2 the price, though.
At this point, I'm sticking to the made in the USA. (just thought I'd ask) Thanks for your opinions!

Tricky Grama · #5 07/07/15, 05:55 AM

You could PM Nevada, he's bought overseas pharmaceuticals w/good luck...not sure about antibiotics tho. You can look up which ones are for what bacteria tho.

doc- · #6 07/07/15, 07:07 AM

There's only two tick-borne diseases that are treated with antibiotics: Lyme disease [easy to diagnose when you get the classic "target lesion;" less obvious when it masquerades as a nondescript rash] and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever [with classic rash on palms of hands, and, ironically, you can pick up anywhere in the US except the Rocky Mountains -go figure?].

Amoxicillin or doxycycline are used to treat Lyme, doxy for RMSF. I have a problem with drugs produced overseas & sold over web: can you trust them for potency or purity? Saving 50% on these cheap drugs only amounts to a few bucks. Is your life worth it?

As geo in mi says above, you need a proper dx. You wouldn't want to mistake the rash of Lupus {"Tell me it isn't Lupus!"--George Costanza} for Lyme disease.

wifiwildflower · #7 07/07/15, 07:53 AM

Thanks...I had ehrlichiosis 20 years ago and it was from a tick bite. Doxicycline takes care of it in double time. I do go to the Doctor, but I also want to be prepared. Thanks, everyone.

JoePa · #8 07/07/15, 10:49 AM

You got to remember that any antibiotic has a shelf life - so keeping some on hand may not be the thing to do -

ldc · #9 07/07/15, 05:40 PM

The overseas pharmacy I've used isn't in Thailand, but India. Never had a problem with shipping or the meds - which seemed to be the exact same formula as meds here, and effective: All Day Chemist.com

Belfrybat · #10 07/07/15, 05:44 PM

I buy from All Day Chemist in India. Both my regular prescriptions since they cost less than the insurance co-pays as well as emergency meds like antibiotics. I know nothing about meds made in Thailand, although I understand that is becoming a destination for medical tourism like India is.

Belfrybat · #11 07/07/15, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePa

You got to remember that any antibiotic has a shelf life - so keeping some on hand may not be the thing to do -

The shelf life is much longer than you'd expect. The Air Force did a study several years ago and the conservative effective shelf life of most antibiotics is in the 8 - 10 year range. See post #12 on this thread: Rx meds for storage ...

doc- · #12 07/07/15, 05:49 PM

Good thing I'm about to retire: I forgot all about Ehrlichiosis.. and typhus, too. I never saw a case of either of those (I don't think? ) in 40 yrs of practice.

Tetracycline (no longer available around here) can actually turn bad after storage and cause problems- I don't know if that applies to doxycycline. Other antibiotics (most drugs in general) maintain potency for about two yrs after manufacture and then start losing potency at characteristic rates , usually about 10% per yr thereafter. Most prescriptions are "overkill" anyways, so age isn't usually a practical concern-- just use more if the stuff is several yrs old. [Exceptions if severe liver or kidney disease is present.]

Use this info in a major SHTF scenario and fresh medicine isn't available. The cost of a course is small enough that the savings from using old stuff isn't worth it.