Our fallback preparations are coming along nicely. One worry I have is my nephew who needs enzymes to treat his cystic fibrosis. His parents are not listening to all this Y2K scare mongering and will probably not do anything about it till its too late. Does anyone have any ideas how to secure such prescription items in large quantities without breaking the law? I am sure there are others who need prescription medications to stay alive or even more difficult, who have loved ones who need said medicines and who refuse to find a way to stock these up for themselves. HELP.

Timothy

-- Timothy Rebman (trebman@megavision.com), July 12, 1998

Answers

Timothy,

I faced the same problem with my fathers medicine. I sat down with the doctor and voiced my concerns. He was very receptive and provided me with the necessary precriptions. I made it very clear to him that this medication would only be used in an emergency situation and even then proper medical attention would be sought. My friend attempedt the same with his physican and got a serious rejection.

I guess what I am trying to say, talk to your physican. If he/she says no, talk to another. I used the natural disaster approach and worked in some y2k.

Hope this helped.

j

-- j (yada@yada.com), July 12, 1998.

Hi Timothy,

Here is the URL to an on line pharmacy in Mexico that ships all over the World, no prescription needed.

http://www.vic.com/bajamex1/

Blessings, Candice

-- Candice (Cansas@aol.com), July 12, 1998.

Candace I tried the web address for the mexican prescription service and came up with some company in Tennesee. Could you check that address again? Thanks

-- charles Michael (charliecmt@hotmail.com), July 13, 1998.

Candace, Can you double check the web address for the Mexican pharmacy? I tried it and ended up with some company in Tenn. Thanks

-- charles michael (charliecmt@hotmail.com), July 13, 1998.

You may have to manually add "bajamex1" to the end of the URL - it came up fine for me.

-- Chana Campos (chana@campos.org), July 13, 1998.

I know nothing about the company mentioned above. However, anyone considering buying medicines from an out-of-country supplier should know the following:

1. This country (and many others) have extremely stringent regulations and enforcement regarding the manufacturing process for pharmacuticals. These regulations help insure that a specified dose actually delievers the intended amount of drug, that the drug is free from outside contaminants, and that the drug is actually what the package says it is. I can't speak from first hand knowlegdge about the Mexican regulations or their enforcement, but I do know that in other areas such as foodstuffs, the Mexican track records isn't very good.

2. At one time (as recently as four years ago) it was illegal to import any controlled substances into this country without a permit, whether they were contolled in the country of origin or not. As an example, my bottle of Seldane, an antihistimane that is sold Over The Counter (OTC) in Canada but is still prescription only in the States was confiscated at the border on my way back home one time. (Dopey me forgot to stuff the bottle in my pocket. Oh well.) Using the U.S. Mail to import a controlled substance may not only put you afoul of the drug laws, it could get the Postal Inspectors on your case as well.

Check with a lawyer and/or the Post Office and/or Customs first.

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), July 13, 1998.

I live in Texas, not too far from the border. I called the Customs office in the area, and asked point blank, "If I purchase antibiotics in Mexico, can I bring them across the border?" He said as long as they were for my personal use, then, yes, I could bring them across.

This is not advice, only information.

-- zerad (zerad@my-dejanews.com), July 13, 1998.

It sounds like either

a) The laws have been changed (certainly possible), or

b) I ran into an overzealous BP officer coming back from Canada that trip (also possible). Having grown up in Texas I always found the BP along the Mexican border to be much more zealous than the folks along the Canadian border, but I haven't been to Mexico in nearly 20 years, so a lot of things could have changed.

Still, my advice is to be carefull about quality control of foreign products. Do as much research as possible before betting your health or your life on these drugs.

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), July 14, 1998.

I have lived in Mexico extensively off and on for the last 12 years. The drugs are manufactured by the same companies that make them here. I have taken allergy medications, thyroid medication and others when necessary with no ill effect. I also worked as a nurse with the Cruz Roja Internacional in Chiapas during a two year period there --- no problems there either.

I am not suggesting that someone *couldn't" have a problem -- but that could happen here as well. I live in Texas now and routinely visit the border for my personal medications and will continue to do so. I'm offering a personal opinion here, not a medical one - everyone will need to decide for themselves....

-- Chana Campos (chana@campos.org), July 14, 1998.

Has anyone ordered from this pharmacy? I've purchased my prescriptions in Mexico before (in person) with no problem (with the medication or with customs), but before I send a money order to a post office box in another country, I'd like some assurance I'm going to receive a product. I'm too poor to gamble! Ideas, anyone?

-- Polly Morrell (pollyanna90@hotmail.com), July 17, 1998.

Is it also possible to buy medications cheap in Canada?

-- Ann Sunderland (Anncats1@USA.net), July 19, 1998.

I HAVE ASKED THE FORMER HEAD OF CUSTOMS OF ATLANTA AIRPORT WHAT IS OR IS NOT ALLOWED AS REGARDS TO BRINGING DRUGS IN FROM EITHER MEXICO OR ENGLAND. IN ENGLAND YOU CAN GET ASPIRIN WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF CODIENE IN IT. AND MEXICO I HAVE PURCHASED ANTIDEPRESSANTS, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS, AND DARVON AND AND AS LONG AS THEY ARE FOR YOU AND YOU ARE NOT BUYING THEM FOR SOMEONE ELSE YOU ARE OK.

NOW, CAN SOMEONE HELP ME GET IN TOUCH WITH MAIL ORDER PHARMACY IN MEXICO? I AM NOT HAVING ANY LUCK WITH CANDICE'S EMAIL ADDRESS.

PKELLY9638@AOL.COM

-- PAT kelly (Pkelly9638@AOL.COM), October 23, 1998.

My boyfriend and I live in S. California...we have fore years bought both prescription asthma and heart medication in Tijuana. We will be going again real soon. Always buy at least 10 months supply. Anyone in border areas of US/Mexico might consider this option. To my knowledge if your medication is for personal use there is nothing "illegal" about it. If you have a doctor that is not Y2K compliant...I would look into this.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 23, 1998.