Three steps
- Find the active ingredient. It is on your pack, usually under the brand name, or on your prescription. For example, Xanax is alprazolam.
- Look it up. Search DrugsThailand by brand or ingredient to see every Thai product with that ingredient. You can also use the Thai FDA database directly.
- Match the strength and form. Check the milligrams, and whether it is a standard, extended-release or modified-release product.
Brands sold under other names in Thailand
These international brands aren’t registered in Thailand under their own name, but the same ingredient is available:
| Brand at home | Ingredient | In Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Ambien | Zolpidem | 1 product with the same ingredient |
| Ativan | Lorazepam | 8 products with the same ingredient |
| Postinor | Levonorgestrel | 43 products with the same ingredient |
| Stilnox | Zolpidem | 1 product with the same ingredient |
| Valium | Diazepam | 11 products with the same ingredient |
| Xanax | Alprazolam | 6 products with the same ingredient |
Medicines you won’t find
- Adderall (Amphetamine): Adderall is not available: amphetamine is a Category 1 substance in Thailand
- Strattera (Atomoxetine): No Thai registration or permit found for Strattera
If your medicine isn’t available, see a doctor in Thailand about an alternative before you run out.
Tips at the pharmacy
- Show the pack or prescription. The ingredient name in English is usually enough.
- Combination medicines need every ingredient to match. A Thai product may have a different combination.
- Controlled medicines, such as stimulants, benzodiazepines and strong painkillers, are not sold at ordinary pharmacies. See controlled drugs in Thailand.
- Check the registration number on the Thai pack if you are unsure a product is genuine.
Common questions
How do I find the Thai version of my medicine?
Look up the active ingredient, not the brand. On DrugsThailand, search for your brand or ingredient to see every Thai product with the same ingredient, its legal class and how it is sold.
Are Thai generic medicines as good as the original brand?
Generic medicines registered with the Thai FDA must meet Thai registration standards. Check the strength and form match your usual medicine, and ask the pharmacist if the release type (e.g. extended-release) differs.
Can a Thai pharmacist give me the same medicine as my prescription?
For pharmacist-class medicines, usually yes, if a product with the same ingredient is registered. Prescription-only and controlled medicines need a prescription from a doctor in Thailand.
Sources
- Thai FDA medicine register
- Thai FDA search centre: narcotic and psychotropic product permits
- Thai FDA: FAQs on medicines (Drugs Act B.E. 2510, s.13(4))
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the Thai FDA before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us.
More guides
- Bringing medication to ThailandThe 30-day personal-use rule, what paperwork to carry, and which medicines need a permit.
- ADHD medication in ThailandAdderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin and Concerta: what is legal, what Thai doctors prescribe, and the permits travellers need.
- Ozempic, Mounjaro and weight-loss medicines in ThailandGLP-1 injections are registered but prescription-only; phentermine is controlled. Travelling with pens.
- Phentermine in ThailandA Category 2 psychotropic: legal on a Thai prescription, with permits for longer trips.
- Codeine in ThailandWhy travellers need a permit even for co-codamol, Nurofen Plus or codeine cough syrup.
- Tramadol in ThailandNot a narcotic, but not sold freely: what the Thai register shows and the travel rule.
- Antidepressants in ThailandBringing SSRIs and other antidepressants, Thai brand names and getting refills.
- Viagra and Cialis in ThailandPrescription-only under Thai law: Thai brands, buying safely and bringing your own.
- Buying antibiotics in ThailandWhich antibiotics a pharmacist can sell without a prescription, and using them safely.
- Morning-after pill and contraception in ThailandEmergency contraception and the pill from Thai pharmacists, without a prescription.
- Melatonin in ThailandA registered medicine, not a supplement: where to buy it and bringing your own.
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) in ThailandPrescription-only acne treatment: Thai brands, precautions and travel.
- Xanax, Valium and anxiety medication in ThailandBenzodiazepines are controlled psychotropics: prescription only in Thailand, and the 30-day travel rule.
- Sleeping pills in ThailandZolpidem and zopiclone are controlled; melatonin is a pharmacy medicine. What you can buy and bring.
- Painkillers in ThailandWhat pharmacies sell without a prescription, and which opioids need a permit to bring in.
- Leaving Thailand with medicationPermits on the way out, and taking medicines bought in Thailand home.
- Doctor’s letter for medication in ThailandWhen you need one, what it should say, and a template.
- Controlled drugs in ThailandHow Thai narcotic and psychotropic categories work, and what each means for patients.
- Is cannabis legal in Thailand?Weed, THC and CBD rules in 2026: prescriptions, tourists, bringing products in, and the new medical-only bill.
- Prescription medicine in ThailandWhat pharmacies can sell over the counter, and when you need to see a doctor.
- How to search the Thai FDA databaseLook up a registration number, Thai trade name or active ingredient yourself.