Is hydrocodone OTC in Mexico?

[alumni]

Obviously this is an ancient thread regarding the 2012 availability of buying controlled prescription drugs in Mexico.
The situation has evolved and changed over the years since.
As an example, I'm sharing some information from a recent peer-reviewed UCLA study about pharmacies selling controlled medications in tourist areas of Northern Mexico.

A brief recap of the results:
Of the 40 different pharmacies surveyed, 70% sold controlled drugs OTC with no prescription required.
But, of the 45 samples purchased, 40% were determined by lab analysis to be.... counterfeit.
7 of 11 sold as Adderall contained methamphetamine.
8 of the 27 sold as oxycodone contained fentanyl.
3 other pills sold as oxycodone contained heroin (diamorphine).

I guess a shorthand conclusion might be: There are now more pharmacies in Mexico selling controlled drugs without a prescription.
However, odds are 1 in 3 the "oxycodone" tablet purchased was actually laced with fentanyl!
And 40% of the drugs acquired in these samples were counterfeit!!

 

[jaders]

Obviously this is an ancient thread regarding the 2012 availability of buying controlled prescription drugs in Mexico.
The situation has evolved and changed over the years since.
As an example, I'm sharing some information from a recent peer-reviewed UCLA study about pharmacies selling controlled medications in tourist areas of Northern Mexico.

A brief recap of the results:
Of the 40 different pharmacies surveyed, 70% sold controlled drugs OTC with no prescription required.
But, of the 45 samples purchased, 40% were determined by lab analysis to be.... counterfeit.
7 of 11 sold as Adderall contained methamphetamine.
8 of the 27 sold as oxycodone contained fentanyl.
3 other pills sold as oxycodone contained heroin (diamorphine).

I guess a shorthand conclusion might be: There are now more pharmacies in Mexico selling controlled drugs without a prescription.
However, odds are 1 in 3 the "oxycodone" tablet purchased was actually laced with fentanyl!
And 40% of the drugs acquired in these samples were counterfeit!!

There was a local kid in my city who purchased oxycodone while on a trip with his parents there, and he died from an OD a few days after returning home. Very very sad…

 

[Gullible]

The laws are that only certain doctors can prescribe narcotics and you have to go to a special pharmacy to get them. What has been described is illegal and they could be arrested by mexican police. Or pay them some money and they go away lol

 

[alumni]

@Gullible
According to this 2023 UCLA research, 70% of the dozens of Mexican pharmacies visited were found to be selling controlled drugs over-the-counter without a prescription, including oxycodone, Adderall, Xanax, etc.
Based on that study, it sounds like the Mexican authorities aren't very active at enforcing the laws you reference.
Worse yet are the examples of prescription pills purchased that were counterfeit and adulterated with meth, fentanyl and even heroin.
There may be strict pharmacy laws on the books in Mexico but apparently enforcement continues to be a whole other story.

 

[infamousryan]

on google images i randomly saw some stores over there that had these meds. also there is some woman that charges money and tells you how toget whatever med delivered to your door or something like that i forget where in south america

 

[Gullible]

When I was there I was told its very illegal to do that and harsh punishment. It may be that law and order are breaking down in mx. The new president is said to be a communist, that doesn't sound good. Hopefully we will dodge that same fate here in the states

 

[floppydisc]

I've got some awesome neighbors from Mexico. I've watched their kids grow into awesome adults with their own youngins. They've offered a million times to grab anxiety meds and even pain meds once when I got hurt at work. But there is no way in hell I'd let them risk getting into trouble with the either countries "justice" system just because our health care system is broken

 

[Juju62861]

I've got some awesome neighbors from Mexico. I've watched their kids grow into awesome adults with their own youngins. They've offered a million times to grab anxiety meds and even pain meds once when I got hurt at work. But there is no way in hell I'd let them risk getting into trouble with the either countries "justice" system just because our health care system is broken

exactly this…especially when you dont even know WHAT theyre getting as far as actual vs fake meds. unless you have a GSGC equipment or similar its not worth it to anyone.

 

[Roccobigs]

I buy tramadol and rits in Mexico quite often. But I wouldn't trust anything heavier. Oxy and addy are sometimes offered from behind the counter. I wouldn't touch those things. Stick to mild meds from Mexican drug manufacturers

 

[floppydisc]

I don't have any sort of testing apparatus and don't really feel the need for them as I'm not and haven't been in the market for any pain meds. I was just making the point of how kind people can be even if the law might not be in their favor.

 

[Gullible]

The rule of law is weak in mx. Cops will give you a ticket and they will say something like "for 200 pesos no ticket" the ticket is for 400 but they lie and give tickets when the person has not done anything wrong. Bribery is commonplace in government. When even a mx citizen goes to the govt for services, the worker will demand a bribe or you don't get the service, gringos pay more

 

[floppydisc]

Jeez that sounds rough. I've always heard from fellow gringos that's how it works down there but never visited myself. Never questioned my neighbors about the levels of corruption either. They're from the mountains/rural parts and loved it just really wanted education/opportunity up here for their children

 

[jlorx]

Went to MX for dental tourism and walked into any pharmacy and could buy 100 caps for $3 usd. They would tell you put them in baggies & put in pocket as they do not search people only bags & cars. Even had a family member pad their bra for me. It's fun too. It's just trams people. Like 50 MG tiny happiness pills I've taken since the Ultram days maybe 15 years ago.

 

[Babygoats]

@Gullible This is absolutely true. Happened to me and friends a couple times years ago.

Things have changed in Mexico like everywhere else. Ill go right over border for a dental appointment but I trust pharmacies less and less over there.

 

[cheesencrackers]

i've seen it at sketchy pharmacies in mexico but i am not sure if they are legit or not.
they wanted like 120$ for 30 pills.

 

[Roccobigs]

Many of those pharmacias are owned by a cartel and in absolutely no way would I touch anything that isn't both manufactured and legal in Mexico. That under the counter crap is the same stuff we find in any urban center in the States....probably close to the same price.

 

[Roccobigs]

If you're buying that stuff South of the border make sure you are packing fent strips

 

[jaders]

If you're buying that stuff South of the border make sure you are packing fent strips

Your advice sounds very good!

Last summer on the local news a kid in my city bought oxy at a Mexican pharmacy and later od’d/died due to them being fentanyl instead. Boy, fentanyl is the scourge of our times…

 

[cheesencrackers]

@jaders This is why when i go to mexico and the little lady pulls out the "special sheet" with all of the strong meds, I am like ummm no thank you. Not worth the risk.

 

[jlorx]

Funny about other countries when I was in Peru they literally every other store on the street is a pharmacy, at least in the district I was in which was San Martin details porres but anyway I asked in every pharmacy if they had oxycodone or methadone and not one of them had even heard of it. The local I was with family are nurses and they had never heard if those drugs either I guess they mostly use morphine for pain there. My point is I was just surprised how other countries don't use the same meds but on the other hand a corner pharmacy will sell you diazepam with no script. Third world countries ahhh.

But isn't India & middle east the poppy heroin capital of the planet? You would think they would have more opiates?