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AIBU?

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Original poster

Melatonin from Mexico

119 replies

Filbertfishlips · 03/12/2022 22:07

Going on hols to Mexico in January.
I have a child who would benefit from melatonin for help in getting to sleep.
I can but it over the counter in Mexico.
Is it a more harmful version than what is prescribed in the UK?

OP posts:
TrashyPanda · 03/12/2022 22:11

We always stock up when we are in the US

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 22:38

I wouldn't be medicating a child with a drug bought from a third world country

frozengoose · 03/12/2022 22:42

I would ask for Melatonin for kids. It will have a strength suitable for your dc.
We used to live in Mexico the medication is fine.

Sirius3030 · 03/12/2022 22:44

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 22:38

I wouldn't be medicating a child with a drug bought from a third world country

Funny, the Mexicans say that about the uk.

Xomega · 03/12/2022 22:46

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 22:38

I wouldn't be medicating a child with a drug bought from a third world country

🙄 Mexico is in the G20

Passthecheeseboard · 03/12/2022 22:48

I find drugs abroad are usually better (and cheaper) than the ones in the UK, they won’t be the brands you recognise but if you know the name of the actual medication, you will be able to find it in the pharmacy… also the naturally occurring sleep hormone is milder than other drugs, I see it as more of a supplement than a medication , I think it’s seen that way in America anyway …

IAmTi · 03/12/2022 22:49

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 22:38

I wouldn't be medicating a child with a drug bought from a third world country

Such an offensive term.

HairyKitty · 03/12/2022 22:49

I would order it from America but I wouldn’t buy it from Mexico unless you are very familiar with the country and it’s health system

greenhousegal · 03/12/2022 22:51

You can get melatonin from Promofarma Spanish Pharmacy online. All legit but I don't know about customs charges and so on with Brexit. My friend in Ireland buys it from there it is not sold otc in Ireland and is so cheap compared to her prescription cost (no NHS in Ireland). EU to EU though.

wadiwalker · 03/12/2022 22:52

I don't know much about Mexico but surely if you go into an actual pharmacy it should be ok. We have melatonin on prescription for DD here but the UK only offer liquid or tablets neither of which she will accept easily so we order these from US which are a godsend.

https://www.biovea.com/uk/product/detail/14917/melatonin-gummies-5mg--mixed-berry---60-gummies/?deptid=0&cid=0&mid=0&kw=Melatonin+Gummies

CherryBlossom321 · 03/12/2022 22:54

Do it. It took four years for us to get a prescription in the UK for our autistic child who doesn’t produce enough melatonin naturally. It instantly changed our family life. I look back in anger now. Instead we were referred onto parenting and sleep hygiene courses 🤦‍♀️

Jumpinginwithbothfeet · 03/12/2022 22:55

I bought some for my son (who suffers with anxiety and struggles to sleep) from America. I assume no different than buying from Mexico providing from a propwr pharamay etc. It worked well for a week and now we are back to no sleep though. Has anyone had better success with Melatonin?

wadiwalker · 03/12/2022 22:55

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wonderstuff · 03/12/2022 22:56

I buy melatonin for myself from US online pharmacy, in US it seems to be in same category as vitamins. Lots of kids get melatonin on prescription in the UK. I would recommend talking to your GP rather than MN though.

AccioChocolate · 03/12/2022 22:56

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 22:38

I wouldn't be medicating a child with a drug bought from a third world country

So you're never able to travel abroad then? Or will you just not medicate your kid if they get sick?

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 22:56

Mexico is still technically a third world country.
But that aside, personally I wouldn't feel happy giving my child a drug that was prescription only in my home country. Maybe I'm being over cautious.

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 23:00

@AccioChocolate I prefer to use the phrase "get ill" rather than "get sick" because I'm English not American.

And of course I've taken my kids abroad. If they needed anything more than what I'd brought (eg paracetamol, antihistamine etc) then I'd be seeing a doctor so they could have a proper prescription given by someone with medical knowledge.

ideamining · 03/12/2022 23:03

greenhousegal · 03/12/2022 22:51

You can get melatonin from Promofarma Spanish Pharmacy online. All legit but I don't know about customs charges and so on with Brexit. My friend in Ireland buys it from there it is not sold otc in Ireland and is so cheap compared to her prescription cost (no NHS in Ireland). EU to EU though.

There won't be any customs charges. If Customs intercept it they will either return it to sender or destroy it because melatonin is prescription-only in the UK (unfortunately).

TheVikingGirl · 03/12/2022 23:04

This reply has been hidden

This reply has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

FrenchBoule · 03/12/2022 23:06

Do your research (dose for age, ask hcp) and buy it.
People from US go to Mexico or Canada to stock on insulin.

Jemimapuddleduk · 03/12/2022 23:08

Just take your prescribed melatonin from the Uk in your hand luggage with paediatrician letter.

travailtotravel · 03/12/2022 23:11

Stock up on other drugs you can get OTC too. Mexico make good drugs.

Kitcaterpillar · 03/12/2022 23:12

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 23:00

@AccioChocolate I prefer to use the phrase "get ill" rather than "get sick" because I'm English not American.

And of course I've taken my kids abroad. If they needed anything more than what I'd brought (eg paracetamol, antihistamine etc) then I'd be seeing a doctor so they could have a proper prescription given by someone with medical knowledge.

I prefer to use the phrase "developing country" rather than "third world" because it isn't 1987.

AccioChocolate · 03/12/2022 23:17

Sarahcoggles · 03/12/2022 23:00

@AccioChocolate I prefer to use the phrase "get ill" rather than "get sick" because I'm English not American.

And of course I've taken my kids abroad. If they needed anything more than what I'd brought (eg paracetamol, antihistamine etc) then I'd be seeing a doctor so they could have a proper prescription given by someone with medical knowledge.

And I prefer to say "get sick" because I am American and not English.

I wasn't asking how you would phrase it though, so were you making a point or just illustrating your general xenophobia?

You needn't have bothered we got the gist from your first post.

Emilizz34 · 03/12/2022 23:21

I regularly buy it in the US for an adult relative but I wouldn’t buy it in Mexico as I don’t know anything about their process for monitoring the safety of drugs etc.