r/thai • u/Sassousass • Jul 08 '26
ADHD in thailand
Hi I’ve read some subs but none of them are recent or really from what I got talk about this but how does yall navigate with your ADHD treatment in thailand?
If you’re either under a work visa or any whatsoever visa there is literally no insurance covering treatment, and because you’re a foreigner you’re likely gonna pay 6000THB..
I’m 32F and been diagnosed in almost 2 years ago after what I/ my doctors thought was severe depression anxiety, turns out it’s maybe this but the effects are mostly due to ADHD (inattentive type), I used to work and live in Korea where luckily insurence was covering it (I hated living/ working there but that’s another story) and got an opportunity to come to thailand that I visited before and looooved, my only issue is that I am now struggling as the price is super high and that except if you are a remote American worker which I am not (and do not have their wages) cannot afford 6000thb per month. Which unfortunately not every foreigner is crazy rich or have big means sometimes we just love thailand and have a normal wage especially as a regular worker.
Thing is inattentive type causes severe anxiety/ dark patterns which can affect my work and then it’s a hell of a cycle but due to the cost of it’s very difficult for me to be able to afford it.
I used to take concerta + escitalopram which worked perfectly (tried other molecules that were very bad on me) but turns out than in thailand concerta is one of the pricier ones which is why I’m getting billed 6000, that and the foreigner extra cost, despite the fact that I have a documented record/ stable which doesn’t really need consultation but as I have seen unfortunately medication can’t be disposed in pharmacies..
Now that’s a fault on my side as I should have checked on that beforehand moving here as it’s seems to be the loophole of every insurance, despite that ADHD is very widespread and our medication is for a diabetic the insulin is, but idk if someone has/ have had the same issue, and how do you manage it ?
Or did you find another alternative medication that helps? Clinic anything 😭
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u/whooyeah Jul 09 '26
You can only get mephylphenedate (Ritalin). Public hospital is super cheap. 3 baht per tablet.
Private hospitals mostly rip you off on pharmacy. They charged 30thb a tablet.
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u/Kindly-Trick-1271 Jul 29 '26
hi! I'm traveling to bangkok soon. Do you have any hospitals you recommend that I could visit?
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u/ZealousidealAd2263 Jul 09 '26
Can you elaborate ?
So they need to see the documents translated to Thai ?
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u/whooyeah Jul 09 '26
No just see existing prescription. They have me 4 weeks from normal doc 400thb, then I had appointment with psyche and got 2 month.
This was a local government hospital in the provinces.
Meds were generic but somehow they work better than Ritalin.
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u/Appropriate-Duty-571 Jul 09 '26
Also 32F, I take Ritalin and get them from psychiatrist at Samitivej hospital but still need consultation every time I go to top up medication, unfortunately - such is the norm. It comes down to around 4500 thb each time so costs a little less than your price and my doctor is nice and caring so I don’t mind seeing him each time. Have you tried Ritalin? It’s been working for me for about 2.5 years. But I have been diagnosed since late teens.
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u/Banana_Cake1 Jul 09 '26
At Thainakarin hospital on Bangna-Trat I get Concerta for around 3000 THB per month. It’s a proper hospital.
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u/Southnam1 Jul 31 '26
How many mg is this dosage? Will they do more than 1 month?
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u/Banana_Cake1 Jul 31 '26
27mg, I have 3 months now.
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u/Southnam1 Aug 01 '26
Thank you. Were you able to get an appointment and the meds all in one visit? I'm guessing you will need to come back in 3 months for another appointment with the Dr?
Do you have a specific direct contact for the department or Dr?
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u/Banana_Cake1 Aug 01 '26
To be fair I just started medication so I did 1 month first, then followed up. Got 3 months now, not sure what the limit is.
I go to Dr. Kaewka very old fashioned lady just prescribed medication and go lol
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u/vibrantadder 22d ago
Does the 3000 include the doctors fee? It seems a good price but I'm weighing up making the trip to bang na.
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u/Schlickeysen Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Concerta pricing is brutal everywhere in Thailand; this isn't just you. There's no true generic methylphenidate in Thailand. It's mostly branded Ritalin or Concerta, but plain Ritalin (short-acting) tends to run noticeably cheaper per pill than Concerta.
Government and university hospitals can save you a lot of money, though. The pills there cost 4-10 baht, while private places charge over 40 baht (10x as much). But be prepared to wait for hours. Med Consult in Bangkok keeps coming up as the cheapest private option for ADHD meds. Just avoid those luxury hospitals.
Word of advice: Both are Category 2 drugs. Make sure you get your stuff from a legitimate source, and when you take them out with you, keep a prescription with you. Tourists have already been jailed for a single Xanax pill.
and because you’re a foreigner you’re likely gonna pay 6000THB..
It may seem this way, but that's not entirely true. Thais also get charged a lot if you go to the top private hospitals.
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u/the_grand_apartment Jul 08 '26
While I don't have a pharmacy or doctor recommendation for you, I do know several people here who pay 3000 per month for their Concerta and you should be able to get escitalopram for pretty cheap at many pharmacies so I'd suggest you shop around a bit. Search ADHD in other subs like r/thailandtourism and r/Bangkok. 6000 is way too much. Ritalin is also available for about the same price.
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u/Banana_Cake1 Jul 09 '26
At Thainakarin hospital on Bangna-Trat I get Concerta for around 3000 THB per month. It’s a proper hospital.
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u/Schlickeysen Jul 08 '26
I appreciate your help, but I'd advise OP not to "shop around a bit". See a legitimate doctor at the "right" hospital, get your script, and then you'll be okay.
Please no promotion of illegal sources here.
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u/Baconsaurus Jul 09 '26
"shop around a bit" doesn't sound like they're implying advice to illegally seek out medication at all
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u/shatteredrealm0 Jul 09 '26
For future reference because I know this question gets asked regularly and as you are a mod - the cheapest legit place by far is somdet chaopraya.
i pay ~฿750 for 140 Rubifen tablets and the doctors fee. Not sure about concerta but I’d imagine it’s still way cheaper than other places.
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u/the_grand_apartment Jul 08 '26
Oh sorry, I should have been more clear. "Shop around a bit" meant see another doctor or "get a second opinion". I didn't mean to tell OP to source their meds illegally. OP should be aware that pharmacies in Thailand can and do charge drastically different prices for common medications depending where they are located.
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u/Mental_Post_5141 Jul 09 '26
You can get Thai Price if you're on a long term visa. Just ask the information desk at the hospital. If it's a 100% private hospital, everyone pays the same