Are common prescription medications available in Colombia?
When we asked expats in Colombia if common prescription medications are available in Colombia, they wrote...
"yes and no...I took Nexium in the US for many years. Here, I can only get the generic . but, it seems to work just as well. prescriptions or "formulas" as they are known here, are a joke, any pharmacy will sell you whatever you need as long as you have the money. Lots of the popular brand meds are not available here, such as Tums, Tylenol, but the local replacements once again, work well. meds are definitely not expensive.. My generic Nexium costs me 9.100 Colombian pesos a month...about $4.50 US," said a member in Colombia.
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"Many USA prescriptions are over the counter in a multitude of pharmacies throughout the country. This is changing and medicines are coming under more control by the government. I pay $1/copay for my prescriptions. Most medicines I have needed are available here, either by prescription or over the counter. Prices for over the counter medicines are compared 2 to 10 times cheaper than the USA," remarked another expat who made the move to Bucaramanga, Colombia.
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Are common prescription medications available in Colombia?
If you live in Colombia, newcomers to Colombia would love to hear your answer to this question:
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.