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Bare Basics/Necessities of Life Upon Entry - Feedback from Successful DV Selectees In USA Please

If the domestic rules allow pharmacies to sell antibiotics without a prescription (such as in the country where I live) one should consider buying 1-2 packs of antibiotics in the native country and bringing them to US, because it is not possible to buy antibiotics in US without a prescription !
 
ZukotheCat said:
If the domestic rules allow pharmacies to sell antibiotics without a prescription (such as in the country where I live) one should consider buying 1-2 packs of antibiotics in the native country and bringing them to US, because it is not possible to buy antibiotics in US without a prescription !
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Yup I have to agree with you there. Basic medication can sometimes be a headache to obtain in the US because one need's a doctor's prescription. Many people I know order antibiotics from abroad and ask someone to bring it for them.


Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania
Visa Pick up - Hopefully August 11th
Departure Date - August 17th 2013
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles
 
I don't want to sound funny here, but if you're worried about the difference in cost of antibiotics in the US vs elsewhere maybe you should rethink the idea of moving.

I'm also interested to know where you don't need a prescription for them... Where I come from you certainly do. Sounds exceptionally lax, there are very good reasons why certain medications need prescriptions.

Incidentally on my last trip there I was prescribed antibiotics. Got the insurance discount even though my insurance was from abroad. And the cost was pretty similar to back home.
 
SusieQQQ said:
I don't want to sound funny here, but if you're worried about the difference in cost of antibiotics in the US vs elsewhere maybe you should rethink the idea of moving.

I'm also interested to know where you don't need a prescription for them... Where I come from you certainly do. Sounds exceptionally lax, there are very good reasons why certain medications need prescriptions.

Incidentally on my last trip there I was prescribed antibiotics. Got the insurance discount even though my insurance was from abroad. And the cost was pretty similar to back home.
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I have to agree Susie - I find the idea that you should pack some antibiotics "just in case" a bit unsettling, but for different reasons.

There are countries where antibiotics are sold in the streets and that is becoming a problem for world health. The overuse of antibiotics is starting to create antibiotic resistant superbugs that will spill out to all countries including those that have been more discriminate in their use of antibiotics.

http://infochangeindia.org/public-h...ng-critical-levels-warning-for-india-who.html
 
Add to that, the misconception that antibiotics kill viruses so many think they're useful for garden-variety colds and flu. Yes, the world is in trouble with people popping antibiotics like lollies every time they feel a bit unwell.
 
britsimon said:
I have to agree Susie - I find the idea that you should pack some antibiotics "just in case" a bit unsettling, but for different reasons.

There are countries where antibiotics are sold in the streets and that is becoming a problem for world health. The overuse of antibiotics is starting to create antibiotic resistant superbugs that will spill out to all countries including those that have been more discriminate in their use of antibiotics.

http://infochangeindia.org/public-h...ng-critical-levels-warning-for-india-who.html
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Vichel said:
Add to that, the misconception that antibiotics kill viruses so many think they're useful for garden-variety colds and flu. Yes, the world is in trouble with people popping antibiotics like lollies every time they feel a bit unwell.
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Absolutely, and then they stop taking them when they start feeling better rather than finishing the course, which adds to the whole issue.

That's even before you start considering more immediate concerns which I was alluding to, ie taking the wrong antibiotics which can also cause problems. Honestly, some things really should just be done by the book....
 
Oh and arbitrarily off topic, our visas were printed on Monday and the courier delivered them this morning :)
 
The poster above "jiprav" just seems to be spamming. He/she has copied my posts exactly but inserted some link in the post and has links in the sig.

Jiprav. Explain yourself.

Mods - should this user be banned?
 
Jiprav is not a person per se, it's a bot that keeps resurfacing under different user names.

britsimon said:
The poster above "jiprav" just seems to be spamming. He/she has copied my posts exactly but inserted some link in the post and has links in the sig.

Jiprav. Explain yourself.

Mods - should this user be banned?
Click to expand...
 
The bot's done the same to one of my posts in the past. I just report the post (the little button on the bottom left) but like Sm1smom says, it'll regurgitate itself again. An unfortunate blight on many forums.
 
SusieQQQ said:
I don't want to sound funny here, but if you're worried about the difference in cost of antibiotics in the US vs elsewhere maybe you should rethink the idea of moving.

I'm also interested to know where you don't need a prescription for them... Where I come from you certainly do. Sounds exceptionally lax, there are very good reasons why certain medications need prescriptions.

Incidentally on my last trip there I was prescribed antibiotics. Got the insurance discount even though my insurance was from abroad. And the cost was pretty similar to back home.
Click to expand...
I am in the Balkans and you can buy general all duty antibiotics such as Amoxicillin etc. for a good value in each pharmacy. It is used for deeper cold, flu, ear problems and stuff like that. I would not drag myself around all day long just to get a prescription for this
 
ZukotheCat said:
I am in the Balkans and you can buy general all duty antibiotics such as Amoxicillin etc. for a good value in each pharmacy. It is used for deeper cold, flu, ear problems and stuff like that. I would not drag myself around all day long just to get a prescription for this
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And there is exactly the problem britsimon raised.... You shouldn't take antibiotics for colds, no matter how bad they are...
 
ZukotheCat said:
You did not have a cold so fierce and so invincible as I did, nor did britsimon, trust me
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Colds are viral. Amoxicillin's own literature tells you it's ineffective against viral infections. So either you misdiagnosed yourself or took the wrong thing, neither of which supports your self-medication argument....
 
ZukotheCat said:
You did not have a cold so fierce and so invincible as I did, nor did britsimon, trust me
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I have had manflu before - so I KNOW about feeling bad.

SusieQQQ said:
Colds are viral. Amoxicillin's own literature tells you it's ineffective against viral infections. So either you misdiagnosed yourself or took the wrong thing, neither of which supports your self-medication argument....
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Hmmmm.... an idea is forming in my head. If only there were some people who could be trained to diagnose illnesses. They could be the ones to hand out the antibiotics....

Naaah! it would never work. Best just leave it up to everyone to diagnose and treat themselves. What do WHO know anyway....

:D
 
Lol antibiotics are available everywhere in Tanzania but the usual safe bet is to buy them from a good pharmacy and stick to the same medication that worked on previous occasions.

I don't think its so much the cost factor which people look at but more so the convenience of obtaining basic antibiotics without going through the hassle of insurance or doctor's prescriptions, but yes perhaps for some it may be a cost factor.

Things like Ventolin inhalers in Tanzania cost about $15 tops but in America from what I have heard they go up to $150 or something absurd price.

I have no intention of messing about with insurance and medicals and am going for a proper plan which covers everything when I get there.


Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania
Visa Pick up - Hopefully August 11th
Departure Date - August 17th 2013
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles
 
Momo1980 said:
Things like Ventolin inhalers in Tanzania cost about $15 tops but in America from what I have heard they go up to $150 or something absurd price.
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it is not true bro, i already bought ventolin in US, and it is cheap, in morocco it cost 6$ and i think it is the same price in US.
 
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