Need The Collective Experience Of The Forums....

[cwo4uscgret]

Hello - I, (probably) like some others take prescription medication on a regular basis. Without too many details I suffer from chronic pain and take 4 different meds throughout the day. After a month in Colombia and 2 weeks here I don't have two of the four meds - and I don't think they are available in Argentina: Norco (hydrocodone and acetaminiphen aka Vicodin) and MS Contin, a time release morphine. I can get Tramadol (aka Calmadol) but without the other two I am basically screwed. The other day we went to Sanatorio Trinidad and got a scrip for the Calamdol.

Here's where I need your advice and counsel. I have written scrips from the US but the DR at Trinidad said neither were available; recommended seeing a Pain Management Doctor for help. I spoke with my pharmacist in the states - if I overnight them the scrips I can have someone pick them up for me, overnight them to me but...what to do about Argentine Customs; I used to be a US Customs Officer - know that almost 100% of incoming to the US express shipments are X-Rayed.

Would it help to have a prescription from a DR here in BA, that matches the ones I am sending to the states? Should I take the chance and have them sent express to me at the apartment I am in or to my step-son's office? Anyone recommend an English Speaking Pain Doctor in/near Palermo?

If I can't figure out a solution I'll have to return to the states, refill the scrips, and then return.

 

[BaltRochGirl]

Not all medications legally available in the US will be available in others countries. I would check with the customs website to see if the Spanish name version of your medications are legal to bring into Argentina.

 

[Bajo_cero2]

Vicodyn is the blend of 2 drugs. This is illegal here. But you can get those drugs separated. You need to talk with a pain control specialist so, if he agree, he can calculate the doze of the separated drugs.

Not knowing yoyr health issue, perhaps the advice is useless, but there is a pain control specialist based on accupunture i can recommend. He is Chinese.

 

[jbeas176]

pain management is viewed very differently in Colombia and in argentina. I have experienced both. pain medications are just not available outside the hospital. I had surgery in Colombia and was given a pain control medicine that worked fine but was not from the opiate family. was recovering from back surgery and visited Buenos aires. tried to fill a vicodin script and was not successful. I was told to try one of the out of the way small pharmacy's but never did. good luck

 

[nlaruccia]

Hello - I, (probably) like some others take prescription medication on a regular basis. Without too many details I suffer from chronic pain and take 4 different meds throughout the day. After a month in Colombia and 2 weeks here I don't have two of the four meds - and I don't think they are available in Argentina: Norco (hydrocodone and acetaminiphen aka Vicodin) and MS Contin, a time release morphine. I can get Tramadol (aka Calmadol) but without the other two I am basically screwed. The other day we went to Sanatorio Trinidad and got a scrip for the Calamdol.

Here's where I need your advice and counsel. I have written scrips from the US but the DR at Trinidad said neither were available; recommended seeing a Pain Management Doctor for help. I spoke with my pharmacist in the states - if I overnight them the scrips I can have someone pick them up for me, overnight them to me but...what to do about Argentine Customs; I used to be a US Customs Officer - know that almost 100% of incoming to the US express shipments are X-Rayed.

Would it help to have a prescription from a DR here in BA, that matches the ones I am sending to the states? Should I take the chance and have them sent express to me at the apartment I am in or to my step-son's office? Anyone recommend an English Speaking Pain Doctor in/near Palermo?

If I can't figure out a solution I'll have to return to the states, refill the scrips, and then return.

My Argentine friend has a friend in the States Fed-ex him his HIV cocktail and they got held up at customs even though the prescription form the North American doctor was inside the package. He had to get an Argentine doctor write a prescription for the exact same medication and I think he might have had it stamped at the Ministerio de Salud. It took him two trips to Ezeiza and many days to get his medication. If you explain to a GP medico clinico and explain your issue and diagnosis I don't think they'd have a problem writing your a prescription for the medication that is being faxed to you. They understand the difficulty of getting much needed medication into Argentina.

I had intestinal surgery and was prescribed Supragesic which has codeine in it. I had to take a double prescription to the pharmacy in order to buy it. They're very strict about selling about strong pain-killers and anti-depressants. Supragesic isn't even available anymore in Argentina. Codeine is the most widely used narcotic used for medical treatment in the world, alas we can't get it down here anymore. I would definitely see a doctor and see if they can write a prescription for something that has similar components to the meds you need.

 

[cwo4uscgret]

Thanks for the replies. This my first trip (as a retired military/federal LEO) outside the country for an extended period of time. I didn't research the pain med issue as well as I should have but then again I suspect arriving at El Dorado Airport in Bogota or here in BA with a three month supply of time released morphine, Norco (Vicodin), and Tramadol might have raised some eyebrows! I have a couple of chronic pain issues the worst being degenerative lumbar disc disease; throw a couple of bulging discs; a pair of artificial knees...

I have the US prescriptions and we will try at Sanatorio Trinidad (1/2 block from the apartment) to see a Pain Specialist. Although I don't speak Spanish well enough to convey my message - my wife is Colombian and is also fluent in English.

I will have to check the Argentine Customs website for prohibited meds; I suspect the time released morphine will be on that list - fortunately I've gotten away with not taking it but I'd love to get a good nights sleep!

Bajo_cero2 please PM me your accupuncture contact information - I had terrible migraines on one visit to Bogota and my sister-in-law sent me to her MD who also was a holistic medicine practitioner....accupunctured those migraines right away! It works.

 

[jbeas176]

cwo4 I have a suggestion. if you are familiar with a tens unit, try it on the affected area to sleep. its a muscle stimulation sensation. you will get used to the shocking treatment, forget about the pain and fall asleep. its not a cure all but will certainly help. I used it for six months with success.

 

[cwo4uscgret]

jbeas176 - I still have a fairly unused TENS unit at home; I used it for 2 months with no joy. I've had several different types of injections into the spine - to no avail.

Thanks all for the advice.

 

[RodalfoWalsh]

As mentioned, you won't get Vicodin here but you can get hydrocodone and paracetamol separately. Find a pain specialist don't just go to guardia. Try the Fleni

 

[Bajo_cero2]

This Chinese Dr. Makes accupunture with tens.
Dr. Mao Du, Riobamba 343.