Job Discussion Forums

[Sweaty Ted]

Just curious. Someone told me that they sell stuff like Valium, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Xanax and other groovy meds over the counter in KSA. If this is true, is this another means of coping used by the western teachers? I'll try to rely on exercise and meditation and immersing myself in language studies, but if I really get unraveled, I suppose strong drugs are an option, especially if they're sold over the counter.

[lcanupp1964]

Hey there Sweats,
In my experience, I was able to find a pain killer in tablet form that had a very little amount of codeine. I was very surprised, but it was OTC. I asked the same question you did at a few places and you can't get much of anything without going to see a doctor first. What a lot of people do is bring copies/scans of your medical records and/or copies of past prescriptions to show a record of usage if you need to get something filled. Of course, you can always use good ol' 'Sid" to help you.

[veiledsentiments]

Most prescription drugs are OTC in the Gulf. Those that are controlled are usually those that are addictive and/or narcotic, and Testosterone and steroids that are abused by the body builders.

That said... it is cheap and easy to go to a doctor and get a prescription for the restricted meds. (always easiest if you have something from your doctor at home showing a history of usage)

But seriously, it is better to learn to cope by using something natural like yoga or meditation. Chemicals are not your friend...

VS

[lcanupp1964]

I should have more clear. I was writing about the addictive and/or narcotic stuff. They do have a lot of other meds that you can get OTC that you can't get in the states. But... I thought Valium and Xanax was addictive (??).

[KME0050]

I had two pharmaceutical surprises when I arrived in KSA, one pleasant, and one dreadful. That I could get muscle relaxers OTC was really great and I imagined that the pharmacy across the street from my apartment would take good care of me.

However, a prescription painkiller that I can't function without was totally and completely unavailable. Actually, it IS available, but only in the hospitals, and only if you are an in-patient. It is not even available by prescription. And this is NOT a heavy-duty narcotic that would sell in the streets. In the U.S., most people haven't even heard of it.

I had to have a family member fill my prescription in the U.S. and then FedEx it to me. Sometimes it made it to me ok, and sometimes it got confiscated by Customs, and sometimes it got opened and dumped out and sometimes I had no idea what happened to it, but it never arrived.

I asked about the availability of this medication before I left the U.S. and was told, "If it's available in the U.S., it's available in Saudi Arabia." NOT TRUE. This part of my experience in KSA was a real nightmare, and I would warn anybody who needs prescription medication to be 100% certain before you leave your country that your medication is available OTC or by prescription.

I learned (too late) that this information is available from the Ministry of Health. I'm not sure how one would go about accessing it, but, if I had to do it over again, I would move heaven and earth to get this information before I made the decision to accept a job offer in KSA.

[scot47]

Psychotropic drugs NO WAY, but antibiotics etc by the suitcase.

[shebab]

What about crystal meth? I thought it was required to be on that in order to get a Saudi driving license!!!

[desertdust]

Oh Sweaty! You are really beginning to bore, my man. Always so many questions and no action. When are you going to get off your bum and get a job?