What can't I buy in Colombia?

[Mar]

Hello folks

Wondering what you recommend I definitely walk with on my first trip

Whats not readily available for a reasonable price?

Trying to not weigh myself down

Pepto?
Aspirin?
Good shaving cream?

Guidance would be most appreciated!!!

Also, are mosquitos an issue?
Any dengue concerns?

[JimD]

All the things you mention (except maybe pepto but probobly equivalent) are available. You didn´t say where you are going but if it´s to the North Coast then yellow fever shot should be condidered imperative for peace of mind. There was a big out break around Santa Marta about four years ago. As to dengue well (sh#t) and dengue happen. Not too much you can do about it unless you want to lather youself in OFF but cases for foreign travelers are very few. You hear more about dengue in Cali than Barranquilla for some reason. For temporary stay there´s probobly nothing you´ll need that you can´t get locally. If your first time in Colombia do NOT come without a point and shoot camera (for your frieds back home) and don´t worry, nobody´s going to steal it. Theives will be much more interested in a high end cel phone.

[CROW]

Hello folks

Wondering what you recommend I definitely walk with on my first trip

Whats not readily available for a reasonable price?

Trying to not weigh myself down

Pepto?
Aspirin?
Good shaving cream?

Guidance would be most appreciated!!!

Also, are mosquitos an issue?
Any dengue concerns?

Good comfortable condoms.....colombian condoms SUCK BIG TIME!!!!

I don't even think that the women here like them either .....as most never as you to put one on.

[Dan Las Vegas]

just about anything you can buy in the usa is also available in colombia, most likely at a premium.  Mosquitos will be the least of your issues

[Mar]

Thank you fellas!

And yellow fever never even came into consideration now i'm having a slight panic

Anyone know where i can get vaccinated in Miami?

just read this on the Aussie government travel website

"Colombia is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Airlines require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline."

yiiiiikes

[whitey]

I've been to Colombia 8 times and never been asked for a Yellow Fever certificate.

You can buy virtually anything you need for a short visit in Colombia - don't worry. 

However, every traveller should bring whatever basic toiletries and medicines you need in case you have a problem in the middle of the night or it's otherwise not convenient to make a trip to the store.

 

[Mar]

Immodium is 1/2 price this week at Rite Aid
Check
(thanks to the old posts here that put the idea in my head to buy and bring)

Is there anyone here without their Yellow Fever shot?

I'm spending quite a bit of time on the coast - i'm kinda rethinking that gameplan!

[Gato4Astrid]

I have been to Colombia 6 times and also never been asked for a Yellow Fever Certificate.

You need to go to local doctor and check for medical requirements.  It is always better safe than sorry!

[Dave H]

Good comfortable condoms.....colombian condoms SUCK BIG TIME!!!!

I don't even think that the women here like them either .....as most never as you to put one on.

Hey CROW,

I was thinking descent condoms too!   The only thing that I knew Colombians used condoms for was drugs! Fill with cocaine, tie shut, swallow, and smuggle it into the US...hoping that the cheap things didn't break! I have had some patients whose condoms broke, leaving them quite dead!

Dave

[CROW]

Hey CROW,

I was thinking descent condoms too!   The only thing that I knew Colombians used condoms for was drugs! Fill with cocaine, tie shut, swallow, and smuggle it into the US...hoping that the cheap things didn't break! I have had some patients whose condoms broke, leaving them quite dead!

Dave

I didn't know you were an ER doctor in Miami.

[Jeff S]

He was an EMT.

[Dan Las Vegas]

I've been to colombia a few times now and have never been asked for any vacination records. 

[Chris F]

Hello folks

Wondering what you recommend I definitely walk with on my first trip

Whats not readily available for a reasonable price?

Trying to not weigh myself down

Pepto?
Aspirin?
Good shaving cream?

Guidance would be most appreciated!!!

Also, are mosquitos an issue?
Any dengue concerns?

You would be wise to go to your doctor and get the antbiotic for travelers diarrhea. I am telling you from exerience that I wish I had done that on my first trip to Cali.

[Dave H]

I didn't know you were an ER doctor in Miami.

Hey CROW,

Dr. Death not Dr. House...I worked the mean streets! Firefighter/Paramedic for 20 years...although I did work in a major emergency room at a Level 1 trauma center on my days off.  

Dave

[Kiltboy1]

SECNIDAL

You will need to buy this medication as you leave Colombia as we do not have a strong enough version approved by the FDA  here. It is an anti parasite drug and you take 2 pills and it will kill the parasites you will most likely get in Colombia like Cadilia or worms. Trust me, if you never had a parasite, you do not want one. Colombian people have an immunity to most, but we do not, so take the pill.

KB

[CROW]

SECNIDAL

You will need to buy this medication as you leave Colombia as we do not have a strong enough version approved by the FDA  here. It is an anti parasite drug and you take 2 pills and it will kill the parasites you will most likely get in Colombia like Cadilia or worms. Trust me, if you never had a parasite, you do not want one. Colombian people have an immunity to most, but we do not, so take the pill.

KB

I have been  living in Cali for years and have never even had a case of diarrhea let alone worms and what not.

I have heard of locals getting an ameoba type parrasite from drinking tap water....but I don't drink tap water in the US so why would I drink it here.

I'll ask a couple of the older expats living here longer than me if they have ever gotten a parasite of any type....could be my stomach acid can kill just about anything.

[Researcher]

   Go to the CDC's website to get all the info you need for vaccinations.


   Researcher

[kojak]

I have been  living in Cali for years and have never even had a case of diarrhea let alone worms and what not.

I have heard of locals getting an ameoba type parrasite from drinking tap water....but I don't drink tap water in the US so why would I drink it here.

I'll ask a couple of the older expats living here longer than me if they have ever gotten a parasite of any type....could be my stomach acid can kill just about anything.

Good advise about the tap water, when I was living in Cali about 4 years ago my ex-wife sister got hepatitis b from drinking tap water. Hell even using ice freak me out, My ex told me even to make ice they had to boiled the water. I don't know if that was all over Cali but in La Floresta Vieja where my ex-wife's family lives definitely couldn't drink the water.

Only real problem I had in Cali was changing Dollars for counter fit Colombian peso, pissed me off. Here I was thinking I was making a extra $20 turns out I got ripped off  lost $800.

[Dave H]

I have been  living in Cali for years and have never even had a case of diarrhea let alone worms and what not.

Hey CROW,

They usually wait until you come back to the US...then crawl out of various orifices looking around to see why things suddenly became so so clean.    I have seen some weird creatures, some that have come out of  people's bodies. I think by far my favorite from LA  is the 1 foot long, white round worm crawling out of one nostril and back into the other! It is not that gross to look at, but what make it so cool is that the people remain so calm as the worm goes on it's journey. In the meantime, the hair is standing up on the back of my neck, as I am madly searching for hemoststs, lidocaine, etc...

Dave

Snake Manu goes even beyond my wildest nightmares! http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2006/12/snake-manu.html

[Kiltboy1]

I have been living in Cali for years and have never even had a case of diarrhea let alone worms and what not.

I have heard of locals getting an ameoba type parasite from drinking tap water....but I don't drink tap water in the US so why would I drink it here.

I'll ask a couple of the older expats living here longer than me if they have ever gotten a parasite of any type....could be my stomach acid can kill just about anything.


My Doctor is a specialist in Internal Medicine and spent 20 years in the Peace Corps and most in Latin America. He was the only Doctor to correctly diagnose my stomach problems  as having a Parasitic infection and at the time, Colombia was the only other country I had traveled to outside of the US, so I trust him over anyone else .Do not drink the tap water is correct, but remember that most of the food is washed in that tap water too and lime juice does not kill everything. I still say get the Secnidal and ayer on the side of caution. it is only like $5.

KB

[Dave H]

Hey KB,

Even being cautious...I have had parasitic GI infections quite a few times over the years...NO DAMN FUN! I have taken Flagyl and Secnidal which are GREAT!

Dave

[Mar]

Do I need a prescription for Flagyl and Secnidal?

How many people do not have a Yellow Fever shot out of curiouslity?

[CROW]

Do I need a prescription for Flagyl and Secnidal?

How many people do not have a Yellow Fever shot out of curiouslity?

I don't know if you need Flagyl or Secnidal...I have never been sick here in over two years and the two older gringos that I know that have lived in Cali for over 5 years have never suffer any type of parasite that they are aware of.

I guess some people are predisposed to this type of illness so I guess you should bring some just to be on the safe side.

I had a yellow fever shot about 15 years ago...I have no idea if it is still affective have such a long time. Seems to me that most people in the city of Cali don't have a problem with it.

[Dave H]

Do I need a prescription for Flagyl and Secnidal?

How many people do not have a Yellow Fever shot out of curiouslity?

Hey Mar,

Not in the Philippines. If farmacias in LA are like the ones in Miami...then no.

I  had a Yellow Fever vaccination about 25 years ago...never had a booster. Check out this page for more vaccine info. (some are a bit of overkill IMHO). http://www.traveldoctor.info/

Dave

[Mar]

thank you fellas
are Flagyl or Secnidal available in Colombia?
trying to not spend $75 for a doc consultation in Miami if i can avoid it