Atomoxetine in Thailand: Import Rules & Pharmacy Access

Quick reference

Drug class: Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Controlled substance: No, not scheduled under Thai narcotics or psychotropics law
Prescription required: Yes
Available locally: Limited. Strattera has been available at some private hospital pharmacies, but supply is unreliable; bring a full supply
Storage: Room temperature, 15–30°C, away from heat and moisture
Max supply to carry: No statutory import quantity cap for non-controlled prescription medications; customs officers may question large quantities without documentation
Key document: Doctor's letter on clinic letterhead stating medication name (INN and brand), dose, quantity, and clinical necessity
Emergency alternative: Contact a private hospital psychiatry department in Bangkok or Chiang Mai; a local consultation is required before any refill can be dispensed

Atomoxetine in Thailand: what changes when you travel

Atomoxetine, sold internationally as Strattera, is a prescription-only medication in Thailand^[2] and is not listed as a controlled narcotic or psychotropic under Thai law. Local pharmacy availability is limited and unreliable, so carrying a full supply from home is the safest approach. Thailand's tropical climate requires careful storage to protect capsules from heat and humidity.

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Before you travel

Documentation for travelling to Thailand with atomoxetine

Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that imported prescription medications be accompanied by a valid prescription or doctor's letter^[1]. The letter must be in English or Thai and should appear on clinic letterhead. No import permit is required for atomoxetine because it is not scheduled under Thailand's Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 or Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518.

Pre-travel paperwork timeline

T-30 days
Book an appointment with your prescribing doctor to obtain an updated doctor's letter and ensure your prescription is valid for the duration of your trip.Prescriber letter
T-14 days
Confirm with your pharmacist that you can dispense a supply sufficient for your full trip plus a buffer. No Thai import permit is required, but verify your home country allows export of that quantity.Dispensing record
Check your home country's export rules for prescription medications; no Thai Ministry of Public Health permit is required for atomoxetine.
T-7 days
If your doctor's letter is in a language other than English, arrange a certified English translation. Thai customs officers generally accept English-language documentation.Translated letter
T-1 day
Print all documents. Keep medication in original pharmacy-labelled packaging. Photograph your documents and store them in a cloud folder as a backup.
T-0 (border)
Have your doctor's letter and prescription accessible at customs. Declare the medication if asked; atomoxetine is not controlled, but presenting documentation proactively avoids delays.

Carry every doc to the border

Store your prescriptions, certificates, and emergency card in an encrypted record you can pull up offline.

Set up your encrypted record

What your doctor's letter must include

Full name, medication name (atomoxetine and Strattera), dose and frequency, quantity carried, diagnosis (one word or ICD code is sufficient), doctor's signature and medical registration number, clinic letterhead and date. The letter does not require notarisation or an apostille for Thailand.

No notarisation or apostille is required for a doctor's letter presented at Thai customs. An English-language letter on clinic letterhead is accepted; a Thai translation is helpful but not mandatory for most travellers.

How much atomoxetine to bring

Thailand sets no statutory maximum quantity for importing non-controlled prescription medications, but quantities exceeding a 30-day supply may attract scrutiny at customs^[1] without clear documentation. Bring your exact trip supply plus a 20% buffer to account for delays, losses, or extended stays. Local refills are difficult to obtain and require a private consultation, so do not rely on sourcing medication in-country.

Split your supply

Carry your main supply in hand luggage and a backup in checked luggage. If one bag is lost or delayed, you still have medication. Keep both portions in original pharmacy-labelled packaging.

Packing and storing atomoxetine for travel

According to the EMA product information for atomoxetine, capsules should be stored below 25°C^[3]. Thailand's average ambient temperatures in Bangkok and resort areas regularly exceed 30°C, so keep your medication in an air-conditioned bag or room and avoid leaving it in a car or direct sunlight. Use an insulated travel pouch during outdoor activities or transfers between air-conditioned spaces. Keep capsules in the original blister pack or bottle with the pharmacy label visible throughout the journey.

At the airport and border

Airport security with atomoxetine

Atomoxetine capsules are solid oral medications and do not trigger special liquid or sharps rules at airport security. Keep your medication in hand luggage in its original labelled packaging to allow quick inspection if requested. Your departure country's airport security authority sets the cabin-baggage rules for what you carry on board; Thai airport security follows the same standard screening process for solid medications.

Customs and medication import rules for Thailand

Thailand's Food and Drug Administration governs medication imports^[1]. Atomoxetine is not scheduled under the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 or the Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518, so no import permit from the Thai FDA is required. Thai customs officers may ask to see a prescription or doctor's letter^[4] for any prescription medication, particularly in quantities exceeding a short-stay supply. Have your documentation ready but you are not required to declare the medication proactively if it is for personal use and within a reasonable quantity.

Keep original packaging at customs

Carry atomoxetine in its original manufacturer packaging with the pharmacy dispensing label attached. This confirms the medication identity, your name as the patient, and the dispensing date. If customs question the medication, present your doctor's letter immediately alongside the packaging.

While in country

Atomoxetine availability in Thailand

Brands of atomoxetine available in Thailand

Brand name	Indication	Formulation	Supply note
Strattera	ADHD	Capsule	Intermittent availability at select private hospital pharmacies in Bangkok; not reliably stocked at community pharmacies

Strattera has been stocked at some large private hospital pharmacies in Bangkok, such as those at Bumrungrad International and Bangkok Hospital, but supply is inconsistent and cannot be guaranteed^[5]. Community pharmacies and provincial hospitals are unlikely to carry it.

A local psychiatrist's prescription is required to dispense any supply found in-country, and an out-of-pocket consultation at a private hospital typically costs ฿1,500–3,000 (~$41–$82 / ~€38–€76).

Finding a doctor who can prescribe atomoxetine in Thailand

Private hospitals in Bangkok and Chiang Mai have English-speaking psychiatrists who can assess and prescribe atomoxetine. Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, and Samitivej Hospital are among the facilities with established psychiatry departments. A first consultation typically costs ฿2,000–4,000 (~$55–$110 / ~€51–€102), and the medication, if available in the hospital pharmacy, is priced separately. For details on private hospital networks, see the Bangkok healthcare guide.

Search for providers near your destination

Use Nomedic's provider search to find doctors and pharmacies in Thailand.

Find a provider

Storing atomoxetine while in Thailand

The EMA summary of product characteristics for atomoxetine specifies storage below 25°C with no refrigeration required^[3]. In Thailand, where outdoor temperatures regularly reach 33–38°C and hotel rooms without air conditioning can exceed 30°C, store capsules in an air-conditioned room and never leave them in a vehicle, beach bag, or exposed to direct sun. During power cuts, which can occur in rural areas and islands, move your medication to a cool, shaded location as quickly as possible. Humidity can degrade capsules over time; keep them in the original sealed packaging and add a silica gel sachet if the container is not airtight.

Emergencies

What to do if something goes wrong with your atomoxetine in Thailand

If your medication is lost, stolen, or damaged, file a police report immediately at the nearest station, as your travel insurer will require this document for a claim. Contact your insurer's emergency assistance line to ask whether a replacement supply can be authorised at a local private hospital pharmacy.

If you run out of atomoxetine, go to the psychiatry department of a large private hospital in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Bring your original packaging, your doctor's letter, and any medical records. Because atomoxetine is not a controlled substance in Thailand, a local psychiatrist can prescribe it if satisfied with your clinical history, but stock availability at the dispensing pharmacy is not guaranteed.

“ฉันต้องการยา atomoxetine / ฉันมีใบสั่งยา / กรุณาช่วยโทรหาแพทย์ / ร้านขายยาที่ใกล้ที่สุดอยู่ที่ไหน”

I need atomoxetine / I have a prescription / Please call a doctor / Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Thailand's medical emergency number is 1669 for ambulance and emergency medical services^[6]. For non-emergency psychiatric support, contact the psychiatry outpatient department of a private hospital directly; most major Bangkok hospitals have 24-hour emergency departments staffed with English-speaking doctors.

Your medication details, ready to share

Nomedic stores your medication name, INN, dosage, and frequency in your IPS so any clinician worldwide can read it.

Go to my record

Frequently asked questions

Is atomoxetine legal in Thailand?

Yes, atomoxetine is legal to bring into Thailand, as it is not scheduled under Thai narcotics or psychotropics law. A valid prescription and a doctor's letter on clinic letterhead, stating the medication name, dose, quantity, and clinical necessity, are the key documents to carry, particularly if travelling with a large supply.

Can I bring atomoxetine into Thailand without a permit?

Yes. Atomoxetine is not listed under Thailand's Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 or Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518^[3], so no import permit is required. Carry a doctor's letter and keep the medication in original packaging to satisfy any customs inquiry.

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with atomoxetine?

A doctor's letter is not legally mandatory at Thai customs for atomoxetine, but it is strongly recommended. It confirms the medication's legitimacy, your identity as the patient, and clinical necessity, preventing delays or confiscation if an officer questions the medication.

What if I run out of atomoxetine while in Thailand?

Go to the psychiatry department of a large private hospital such as Bumrungrad International or Bangkok Hospital, present your original documentation, and request a local consultation. The psychiatrist can issue a Thai prescription, but stock availability varies and cannot be guaranteed.

Is atomoxetine available at pharmacies in Thailand?

Strattera (atomoxetine) is occasionally stocked at private hospital pharmacies in Bangkok, but supply is unreliable and community pharmacies rarely carry it. A local psychiatrist's prescription is required before any in-country supply can be dispensed.

Is Strattera available in Thailand?

Strattera is the brand name for atomoxetine used in markets including the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Japan, and Australia. In Thailand, Strattera has appeared at selected private hospital pharmacies in Bangkok, but it is not reliably available nationwide. Bring a full supply rather than depending on finding it locally.

How much does a psychiatrist consultation cost in Thailand for an atomoxetine prescription?

A private psychiatry consultation at a Bangkok hospital typically costs ฿2,000–4,000 (~$55–$110 / ~€51–€102) before medication costs. Check with your travel insurer whether outpatient specialist consultations are covered under your policy before seeking in-country care.

Sources

More guides in Thailand

Country guide

CountryHealthcare in Thailand

Atomoxetine in Thailand: Strattera, Import Rules, and Pharmacy Access