New Petchburi Pete Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 BUPA has an office in Pattaya on Sukhumvit. I/we will be there first thing on monday morning. Having children jacks up the cost. Also, I don't think they cover pre-existing conditions which croaks me ... but still it's probably worth it. I'll let you know what they have to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Ultram works quite well for me. Generic is Tramadol. For me it works better that Vicodin or extra strength Vicodin and better than the NSAID's I have tried. It also has fewer side effects, non addictive, and does not raise your blood pressure (like most NSAID's). I am currently taking it for some acute sciatica. On the downside, it is not an anit-inflammatory, simply a pain killer. Can you get Ultram or tramadol OTC in Thailand or do you need a script? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Quote: "Ultram works quite well for me. Generic is Tramadol." 50 mg Tramadol works great but is rough on my stomach. What I use now is the 100 mg Tramadol retard that cost between 120 to 240 baht for 10 pills. I can take this without food and never have had a problem. For an antiinflamitary, I use diclotenac sodium which cost about 20 baht for 10 pills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Bangkoktraveler said:50 mg Tramadol works great but is rough on my stomach. What I use now is the 100 mg Tramadol... BT, is that a typo or does the higher dosage really not affect your stomach? I avoid drugs like that for exactly that reason, stomach upset. Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Tramadol is available by prescription only at hospital pharmacies. Tramadol use is recommended after meals. Of course, most, if not all pain meds work best on an empty stomach though. I recommend a 150mg tablet of ranitidine (Zantac - cheap) 45 minutes before oral pain meds to avoid gastric upset. A light meal is probably best for those prone to GI upset & one can follow up with antacids (also inexpensive) if upset persists. Warning: tramadol, like codeine (avaialable here only in 15mg doses!) is usually compounded with hefty doses of tylenol; so, avoid alcohol while using these pain meds to avoid possible liver damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwood13 Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 suadum said: Bangkoktraveler said:50 mg Tramadol works great but is rough on my stomach. What I use now is the 100 mg Tramadol... BT, is that a typo or does the higher dosage really not affect your stomach? I avoid drugs like that for exactly that reason, stomach upset. Cheers, SD He's using Tramadol RETARD (the sustained release version) rather than Tramadol. -redwood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 Quote: Tramadol is available by prescription only at hospital pharmacies." Tramadol is available at almost all pharmacies. Tramdol retard is available at only a few pharmacies. I assume that Thais can afford two tramadol 50 mg but can not justify the extra cost for a Tramadol retard 100 mg. After having your stomach eaten away, it does not take much convincing to go with the 100 mg retard. I can take this on an empty stomach without problems whereas the regular version just about kills me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 I leave for the States a week from today for major neck surgery. The pain is intense, and often it prevents sleep. If it seems like I'll not sleep for two nights in a row, I head for Pattaya International Hospital. They give me I.V. injections of morphine (5 mgs) + diazepam if I want it to put me to sleep in ER for a while. The I.V. method completely bypasses the gut, so no gastric upset. I was there yesterday; and, I believe I've been there at least a dozen times for this. I did refuse the I.V. valium, as they'd make me lie down in ER, which jacks up the cost. I.V. morphine gives immediate relief from the suffering. Then they send me home with 30 mg tablts of morphine sulfate. They tell me to take one before the injection wear off. Also, they give me some blue sleeping pills (dormicum - 15 mg/tablet). It's fast acting and effective. They don't want me taking it for more than 12 - 14 nights/month. I only tried the tramadol once ... it did nothing for pain & because I was given it at a hospital, I assumed it was available by prescription only. The pharmacist finally gave me an answer as to how to get prescriptions obtained at a hospital without having to see a doctor. Simply Show your hospital card & ID to nurse at reception, along with empty bottle/plastic bag of medication... it only costs 100 Bt; but, then one can deal directly with hospital pharmacy ... after nurse escorts you there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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