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Getting Medications in China

Randy W

By Randy W,
in The Middle Kingdom - 中国

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Randy W

Randy W

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Getting Drugs in China

 

I take Ziac, a beta blocker (generic name bisoprolol), for my blood pressure medication. We couldn't locate any here, so I ordered it from InternationalDrugMart.com. I got a 200 day supply for $70.

 

As far as spam, I had been getting 2 a day before I started looking for this site - that continued afterward (i.e., no change in spam level because of going to this site). The 2 a day were both pharmacy related (and NOT connected with InternationalDrugMart in any way)

 

As far as spam, I have a spam filter which uses SpamCop.net. They report everything that YOU report as spam to both the host of the advertised web site and the host of the site that sent the spam. In the past, I've seen that approach to eventually actually get you off the spam lists. Hopefully, it will soon also work with these guys.

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Randy W

Randy W

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Of course, it's better to work with a doctor with these things. I expect that the drugs ARE available in china and that I'm simply not able to communicate what I'm looking for. I found translations in http://www.esaurus.org/ which didn't ring anyone's bells. In the meantime, I can't afford to be experimenting with different treatments, but if they can understand my condition, then I might feel more comfortable with transitioning to a Chinese treatment.

 

The beta blocker basically controls your blood pressure by slowing down your heart. My American doctor had tried several different blood pressure medications before settling on the Ziac. When I went to Nanning for my check-up for the employment visa, the doctor was ready to send me to another hospital because of my low pulse (46).

 

Can anyone help translate this to something that might be workable with a Chinese medical treatment? Or steer me to a western medical center (hopefully, in the southeast) in China that might know about the beta blockers?

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Randy W

Randy W

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It also dilates blood vessels. My wife tells me that beta blockers are available in Shanghai but that is all she knows. I am sure GDBILL can help you here as far as the southeast.

 

Try jinyinhua. That is what got me off of the ziac.

 

Do you have the Chinese characters for that? Is that honeysuckle (½ðÒø»¨)?

 

What format did you take it in, and how did you transition?

 

and how did your American doctor originally determine that Ziac was appropriate for you?

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
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rogerluli

rogerluli

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This is of interest to me too, I currently take Norvasc which is a calcium channel blocker. It seems that deciding which of the literally thousands that are available is best for you to treat hypertension is largely trial and error. I would much rather do that experimentation in the US where all the meds are readily available before heading off to China. But given that you are already there yeah you really need an English speaking doc who knows the meds and their effects... :lol:

 

Do you need a prescription when dealing with these online sources??? :lol:

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Randy W

Randy W

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This is of interest to me too, I currently take Norvasc which is a calcium channel blocker. It seems that deciding which of the literally thousands that are available is best for you to treat hypertension is largely trial and error. I would much rather do that experimentation in the US where all the meds are readily available before heading off to China. But given that you are already there yeah you really need an English speaking doc who knows the meds and their effects... :lol:

 

Do you need a prescription when dealing with these online sources??? :lol:

 

 

I got this response on ANOTHER board I hang out on (ahem, ahem)

Randy, I take a beta blocker called "AMLODIPINE BESYLATE' which is a generic for NORVASC which slows the heart beat down. After several trips to Peoples Hospital in Nanning the doctor finally prescribed this med I have been taking for years. Then I found out you can buy it over the counter at most drug stores there. This is a very common med and there are many different companies that make it in China. Hope this helps, Don
My American doctor had settled on Ziac some years back - I just need someone here in China who knows what it is, or can turn me on to an equivalent (like Norvasc)

 

As far as the pharmacy sites, I figure you have three choices - go to a reputable site which requires prescriptions, a reputable site in India, or one which makes as much money off SPAM as it does off drugs.

 

Hopefully, I've found a reputable site in India and can find a better long term solution

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
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chilton747

chilton747

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Posted

It also dilates blood vessels. My wife tells me that beta blockers are available in Shanghai but that is all she knows. I am sure GDBILL can help you here as far as the southeast.

 

Try jinyinhua. That is what got me off of the ziac.

 

Do you have the Chinese characters for that? Is that honeysuckle (½ðÒø»¨)?

 

What format did you take it in, and how did you transition?

 

and how did your American doctor originally determine that Ziac was appropriate for you?

 

Yes it is the honeysuckle flower and your characters are correct. For years I had high blood pressure and was mainly taking atenolol which regulates the heart beat. Later I needed more so the doctor prescribed Ziac mainly because of it's diuretic properties.

 

Honeysuckle grows wild here and my wife told me that it was very good for me. I started drinking it and I loved the taste. I had a doctor's appointment a couple of weeks after and he noted that my BP was 95/50. He told me to reduce the medicines a little at a time and then come off if my BP stayed low, which I did. Eventually we ran out of honeysuckle and my BP went back up but not enough for more meds as long as I was a "good boy" and did nothing wrong. :bangin:

Time for it to be growing again soon.

 

I took the bisoprolol/hctz 2.5 mg/6.25mg and took 2 a day along with 25mg atenolol. It was very nice to be drug free after all those years.

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ShaQuaNew

ShaQuaNew

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Posted (edited)

Of course, it's better to work with a doctor with these things. I expect that the drugs ARE available in china and that I'm simply not able to communicate what I'm looking for. I found translations in http://www.esaurus.org/ which didn't ring anyone's bells. In the meantime, I can't afford to be experimenting with different treatments, but if they can understand my condition, then I might feel more comfortable with transitioning to a Chinese treatment.

 

The beta blocker basically controls your blood pressure by slowing down your heart. My American doctor had tried several different blood pressure medications before settling on the Ziac. When I went to Nanning for my check-up for the employment visa, the doctor was ready to send me to another hospital because of my low pulse (46).

 

Can anyone help translate this to something that might be workable with a Chinese medical treatment? Or steer me to a western medical center (hopefully, in the southeast) in China that might know about the beta blockers?

 

 

Yes, it is best to work through a doctor, but I understand your immediate need. My experiences with doctors and hospitals in China has been mostly favorable. It's important to have someone with you that can provide a comprehensive translation; your wife for example. I've found many of the doctors and staff have been educated or interned in the West and have good English communication skills. You'll get better results if you pay the few extra kuai for a specialist at the hospitals. Also, the drugs you get from the hospitals are more tightly controlled than those you buy from a pharmacy.

 

--edit--

 

Try Tongren Hospital. I think they're available in many cities in China. Blood pressure problems are widely treated in China, with beta blockers. I don't think you'll have much problem and probably save a lot of money in buying the medication at a Chinese hospital.

 

http://www.nanning.gov.cn/2463/2004_10_11/...7491397062.html

Edited by ShaQuaNew (see edit history)
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shenzhen

shenzhen

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Posted

Randy,

 

I take Norvasc and see it here in Qingdao at all the pharmacy shops. I have also seen the generic version of Ziac (bisoprolol) in most of the shops.

 

I would think that they have it also were you are at. In my case I usually just wonder about the shop until I find the right area (the blood pressure medicine will all be together in one place usually) and then look at the boxes. They usually have english and chinese for the names but they place the english name side facedown so you have to ask them to let you look at each one.

 

I have SOS insurance here in China and they have main clinics in Nanjing, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Shanghai along with others in Guangzhou, Qingdao, Wuhan, etc) but none close to your area. So I then called my international clinic service for a hospital recommendation in Nanning (closest I could find for you) and they gave me two names:

 

Nanning- First Hospital of Guangxi Medical University

 

 

Nanning - Yan Chai Hospital (http://www.yanchai.org.hk/default_1.asp)

Dr. Liaoning

- 0771-5356703 (0ffice)

- 13978812808 (mobile telephone)

 

I hope this helps. You can always go visit Jesse in Nanjing or myself in Qingdao and go to the SOS clinic there --- :lol:

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