Prescription medication
Hi there , we are thinking of relocating to the Dominican Republic now I have a question, I’m on an antidepressant named Effexor (Venlafaxine) does anybody know if they have this medication there?
I tried a search on the Carol Farmacia website for both the brand and generic names and nothing came up.
It might be something that could be ordered through a local pharmacy or you might have to ship it in.
We had stocked up on the one med we each take daily. I’ve had no problem getting my Synthroid here, but no one seems to carry the right dosage for Dave’s blood pressure med. He’s planning to meet with the doctor to get a substitute.
A couple of suggestions: The spanish name is Venlafaxina.  You can search for it here:
Also called Lafaxin.
You could also ask your Doctor for a list of suitable alternatives. You will probably find that your Doctor can suggest a few maybe even from the same family.
Good luck.
You can get this medication at farmacia carol. I had to go through page by page but its there.
I’m so happy to hear this, since I’m on it since close to 20 years and don’t want to change it! Does it need to be prescribed by a doctor in the Dominican Republic?
When my husband and I moved here in January we just brought our empty bottles to the pharmacy and they just refilled them. No prescription needed on any of them.
Can you tell us what medicined these were?
Were they prescription meds in the DR too?
In my experience, psychiatric meds do need a prescription. Yes they do.
Pain meds, stomach, antibiotics, muscle relaxers, erectile disfunction, corticosteroids, allergy meds... do not.
I was told that no narcotics are available in the country at all, so if you are prescribed Flexarill, Vicodin, Norco, Codeine, Oxycontin, Methadone, or any other narcotic pain meds you have to get them elsewhere. All they have are Tramadol and Fentanyl (go figure!).
Told that by the pharmacist when I tried to get pain meds refilled by bringing in the bottles for refill.
Does anyone know if medical marijuana (CBD's) is allowed into the country
or is it available to purchase here with a doctors letter ?
Strong pain meds are available here by special prescription only.
Medical marijuana is not permitted yet.
Uncadoo wrote:I was told that no narcotics are available in the country at all, so if you are prescribed Flexarill, Vicodin, Norco, Codeine, Oxycontin, Methadone, or any other narcotic pain meds you have to get them elsewhere. All they have are Tramadol and Fentanyl (go figure!).
Told that by the pharmacist when I tried to get pain meds refilled by bringing in the bottles for refill.
Did you ask for Flexiril specifically? It is not a narcotic, it's an anti-spasmotic/muscle relaxant.
goinforit wrote:Does anyone know if medical marijuana (CBD's) is allowed into the country
or is it available to purchase here with a doctors letter ?
I've imported CBD oil for my dog several times without issue. It has zero THC, and is clearly marketed as a pet supplement. I'm not sure if anything containing THC would trigger anything?
@Uncadoo hey I’m chris so which pharmacy told you that you can get fentanyl. I take ms cotton. Don’t look like I can get it there. My health insurance works at any carol. So I could change to the lowest dose of fentanyl. I’m between puerto plata and Santo Domingo area. Thank you for your advice!
Hi Jean,
@planner I had tramadol from my pain doctor for my back surgery but I am not working now so my insurance ran out I do not have refill on my bottle and I am heading to santo domingo can I show the bottle and receive tramadol there?
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