Southeast Asia forum

Purchasing malaria tablets in Thailand

drutherford

motodop
Posts: 22

Hi folks

We've just been to the travel doctor in Sydney and the malaria tablets are so expensive. Does anybody know if you can purchase them over the counter in Bangkok and if so is it cheaper there?

Thks in advance
Debbie

#1 Posted: 30/3/2007 - 14:05
somtam2000

admin
mahout
Posts: 5884
Located in:

Private message

Yes, you can buy generic malarials in Bangkok for a fraction of the cost of Sydney.

#2 Posted: 30/3/2007 - 17:14

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kittenpooh

newbie
Posts: 3

BUT...you cannot buy Malarone in Thailand as it is not yet licensed here, so if that was your choice, buy them before. Yes, they're expensive but malaria can kill you in 24 hours...you do the maths :)

Have fun.
kittenpooh

#3 Posted: 7/4/2007 - 15:18
jella82

longtail driver
Posts: 9

hey everyone, whereabouts do you need malaria tablets for or is it just better to take them for the whole time in SE Asia?

#4 Posted: 21/6/2007 - 06:13
somtam2000

admin
mahout
Posts: 5884
Located in:

Private message

hi jella,

For malarials, it depends on where you are going. If you're in Thailand and only going to the major tourist destinations, you do not need to take malarials.

#5 Posted: 21/6/2007 - 18:56

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Gorey

tourist
Posts: 58
Located in:

i thought id mention, since i bought mine in bangkok two weeks ago, that for doxycycline from a Watsons Pharmacy the price is 40baht for 10 pills, i havnt found any hightened sensitivity to light at all. Even in the most out of the way Watsons, is very broken english i was told not to bother unless is was going to the cambodian border or into laos and cambodia for an extended time.

#6 Posted: 28/6/2007 - 17:51
sonicbum

backpacker
Posts: 14

Does that mean going ANYWHERE in Cambodia???? Im in Thailand now and will be going to Cambodia, can i buy pills there?????

#7 Posted: 2/8/2007 - 15:36

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jayne2402

backpacker
Posts: 12

i am going to cambodia, thailand, vietnam and laos. should i take malaria tablets? im going to phnom penh and angkor wat in cambodia. in laos vientiane, mekong river cruise. i'll be in each country for about 5 days on tours.
im worried about the side effects of taking these tablets.

#8 Posted: 2/8/2007 - 18:12
Guernseystu

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 108

You can buy malaria tablets in any pharmacy in Thailand very easily.

Many people suffer side-affects from them.

Many people don't even need them (I haven't taken one for ten years) and don't get malaria. The risk (in Thailand) is nowhere near as high as Western Doctors would have us believe.

#9 Posted: 3/8/2007 - 15:45
Discombobul-
ated

longtail driver
Posts: 9

As said above, malarials are readily available and cheap in Thailand. Was taking doxycycline when I first got here and ran out on Kho Phan Gan. Got a re-supply at one of the small pharmacies there.

Took me a while using my very bad Thai to get them to understand what I wanted (judging by the looks I was getting I was probably asking if I could eat their suitcase!). When I'd finally made myself understood the pharmacist hauled out an unmarked 20 litre clear plastic container half-full of pills and said "how many you want?"

Do you bother taking them or not? Have heard countless arguments for and against ranging from "Whats this Malaria stuff anyway?" through to "Oh my god! You'll be dead before you step out of the airport!"

For a short term visit or going out into the boondocks I'd probably err in favour of taking something.

Long term I wouldn't bother.

Which ever course you choose, take or don't take, read up on the symptoms and if you get ANY fever up around 38 degrees or higher get to a clinic for a blood test ASAP.

Medicos in this part of the world are very familiar with malaria and it usually only takes an hour or two at the most for them to take a blood sample and determine if you've been infected.

#10 Posted: 4/8/2007 - 14:25
rhymeandrea-
son

longtail driver
Posts: 8
Located in:

I notice that this thread is over a year old. We've been recommended Malarone for our forthcoming trip but you have to get a private prescription and that + cost at chemist takes it to £70 for just a few weeks.

Anyone know if Malarone is available in Bangkok yet? (I hear there's a Boots in Khoa San Road!!) - and do we need prescription or is it just over the counter?

cheers, R&R

#11 Posted: 29/9/2008 - 01:17
gedmeechan

newbie
Posts: 1
Located in:

I am in Bagkok (travelling onto Laos, Cambodia, Vietna and Malaysia) and can confirm you cannot buy Malarone anywhere in Thailand even from hospitals. All the other prevention tablets are available so suggest if you really want Malarone then get it before you come out here

#12 Posted: 14/1/2010 - 11:45
HippySunshi-
ne

newbie
Posts: 1

Are doxycycline safe to take? Just trying to find out about the side effects.
Im getting some Malarone for my trip but dont want to get too many extra that i dont need as they are so expensive. So just reading up on getting some doxycycline in Bangkok. Are they genuine and has anybody had any bad side effects from these?

Thanks x

#13 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 23:23