How to get Budesonide 9 mg tablets in Spain?

[viajera]

Hi All! New issue, lol! I've got Crohn's, but post in your group, since it's much larger, and you have experience with many of the same medications.

I'm home in the US for the summer, but returning soon to Spain to teach. My US doctor took me off prednisone, and put me on Budesonide (9mg tablets, not the inhaler). I cannot switch back to prednisone due to long-term side effects. I contacted my friend there (in Spain) who spoke to her pharmacist, and she says they don't sell Budesonide tablets in Spain. Any suggestions?

[Barrister]

Maybe under a different name? When I was in Saudi, I was prescribed Nudesonide but the medication was called Budendofalk ( I think.) Clemmie

[viajera in reply to Barrister]

Thanks, Clemmie! I'll check it out. Luckily, my brilliant doctor just sent in a 90 day prescription and doubled the dose-so now I have six months worth to take with me (there's more than one way to skin a cat)! The idea is to take me off of it sooner rather than later if the azathioprine I'm now starting works well. So things are looking up-at least for the moment

[Loura in reply to viajera]

Make sure you keep your prescription with you. With that amount of drugs. You will have to prove it's for personal use. Maybe ask for a letter to state this. Not that in reality you would be deemed to traffic steroids! Good luck with your job. Sounds a fab adventure.

[viajera in reply to Loura]

Thanks Loura!

I’m here in Spain now, and for those who need to know, you can’t get the 9 mg tablets, but you can get 3 mg capsules. Some pharmacies will even sell them without a prescription. I was worried switching to capsules that it might cause gastric upset, but I haven’t had any problems after all.

Since I’m American & have private insurance which doesn’t cover prescriptions I have to pay out-of-pocket. For an equal amount here (9mg/daily) it costs me about €50 for two weeks-so not cheap!

[Loura]

That's good. I was on budesonide for a few years for my ulcerative colitis and never had a problem. Fingers crossed you'll fine. Hope the weather is better in Spain the in England.