Atomoxetine in Vietnam: Import Rules, Strattera Supply

Atomoxetine (Strattera) is prescription-only in Vietnam. Bring a full supply with a doctor's letter and keep original packaging at customs.

Quick reference

Drug class: Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Controlled substance: No: not scheduled under Vietnam's narcotics or psychotropics legislation
Prescription required: Yes
Available locally: Limited: no catalog-verified brand available; imported generic or Strattera may be found at specialist hospital pharmacies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Storage: Room temperature, below 25°C, keep away from moisture and direct light
Max supply to carry: No statutory cap confirmed; carry your full trip supply plus a buffer; declare if over 30 days
Key document: Doctor's letter on clinic letterhead with INN, brand, dose, quantity, and Vietnamese translation
Emergency alternative: Contact your travel insurer's emergency line and visit a private hospital in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for a specialist consultation to obtain a local prescription.

Taking atomoxetine to Vietnam: what changes when you travel

Atomoxetine, sold globally as Strattera, is prescription-only and not scheduled as a controlled substance in Vietnam^[1]. Local pharmacy availability is limited and unreliable, so bring your full supply from home. Vietnam's tropical heat and humidity require careful storage planning throughout your trip.

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 Vietnam with atomoxetine

Vietnam's Ministry of Health requires travellers importing personal-use prescription medication to carry a doctor's letter and the original prescription^[2].

Because atomoxetine is not widely stocked in Vietnamese pharmacies, your letter serves both as a customs document and as the primary reference if a local doctor needs to assist you. Carry a Vietnamese-translated version alongside the original. See our ADHD medication in Vietnam guide for a full document checklist.

Pre-travel paperwork timeline

T-30 days
Book a prescriber appointment to review your supply needs for the full trip and obtain a renewed prescription covering your travel period.Renewed prescription
T-14 days
Request a formal doctor's letter on clinic letterhead. The letter must include your full name, atomoxetine INN and brand name (Strattera), dose, frequency, quantity carried, your diagnosis (one word: ADHD), and the prescriber's registration number and signature.Prescriber letter
No import permit is required for atomoxetine in Vietnam, but the letter expedites any customs inquiry.
T-7 days
Commission a certified Vietnamese translation of the doctor's letter. Ask the translator to include a statement that the document is a true translation.Translated letter
T-1 day
Print both the original and translated documents. Pack medication in original packaging with the pharmacy dispensing label intact. Store documents and medication together in your hand luggage.
T-0 (border)
Present your doctor's letter and prescription at customs if asked. Declare the medication on your arrival form. Keep documents accessible without unpacking your hold luggage.

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What your doctor's letter must include

Full name; medication name as both INN (atomoxetine) and brand (Strattera); dose and frequency; quantity carried; diagnosis (ADHD); doctor's signature, registration number, and clinic letterhead. A Vietnamese translation is strongly recommended. Notarisation is not required for personal-use quantities, but a clinic stamp adds credibility at customs.

Notarisation or apostille is not a documented requirement for bringing prescription medication into Vietnam for personal use. A certified translation into Vietnamese is sufficient alongside the original letter.

How much atomoxetine to bring

Vietnam has not published a statutory import cap for atomoxetine specifically. As a general rule, the Ministry of Health advises carrying no more than a reasonable personal-use quantity^[3], typically interpreted as up to 30 days for prescription medicines. Bring at least 150% of your planned-trip supply to cover delays or itinerary changes. Local refills are not reliably available, so do not rely on sourcing atomoxetine in Vietnam.

Split your supply

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

Packing and storing atomoxetine for travel

The EMA-approved product information for atomoxetine (Strattera) specifies storage below 25°C with no special refrigeration requirement^[4]. Vietnam's average daytime temperatures frequently exceed 30°C, so avoid leaving medication in a car, by a window, or in checked luggage on a hot tarmac.

Keep the original blister packs or bottles intact, as the pharmacy label and lot number serve as documentation. During long layovers, store your medication in a cool, shaded section of your carry-on bag.

At the airport and border

Airport security with atomoxetine

Atomoxetine capsules are solid-dose medications and are not subject to the liquid restrictions that apply to carry-on baggage. The relevant national aviation security authority at your departure airport governs what documentation to present; most security agencies permit prescription medications in carry-on bags^[5] when kept in original labelled packaging.

Have your doctor's letter ready to show to officers if asked, but you are not required to volunteer it unprompted. Vietnam's Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) follow standard international screening procedures for oral medications.

Customs and medication import rules for Vietnam

Under Vietnam's Circular 06/2013/TT-BYT and subsequent Ministry of Health guidance, travellers may bring personal-use prescription medicines for their own treatment^[6]. Atomoxetine is not classified as a narcotic or psychotropic substance under Vietnamese law, so no advance import permit is required.

Declare the medication on your customs form and present your doctor's letter if an officer requests clarification. Carrying an amount clearly beyond personal use (for example, multiple months without documented medical justification) may prompt further questioning.

Keep original packaging

Customs officers verify medication identity by matching the pharmacy label, lot number, and package insert. Transferring capsules to an unlabelled pillbox makes identification harder and can delay clearance. Keep atomoxetine in its original blister pack or bottle throughout your journey.

While in country

Atomoxetine availability in Vietnam

Brands of atomoxetine sold in Vietnam

Brand name	Indication	Formulation	Supply note
Strattera (atomoxetine)	ADHD	Hard capsule, multiple strengths	Not reliably stocked; occasionally available at specialist hospital pharmacies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on request. Do not rely on in-country supply

No catalog-verified local brand of atomoxetine is registered for retail sale in Vietnam. Strattera is not listed in the Drug Administration of Vietnam's approved medicines database^[7] as a routinely stocked product.

Some major private hospital pharmacies in Hanoi (such as Vinmec Times City) and Ho Chi Minh City (such as FV Hospital) may hold limited imported stock, but availability cannot be guaranteed. Consultation fees at private hospitals typically range from 500,000 to 1,500,000 VND (~$20 to ~$60 / ~€18 to ~€55) for a specialist appointment.

Finding a doctor who can prescribe atomoxetine in Vietnam

English-speaking psychiatrists are available at international private hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vinmec International Hospital and FV Hospital both operate psychiatry departments with English-language consultations.

A specialist outpatient consultation costs approximately 800,000 to 2,000,000 VND^[8] (~$32 to ~$80 / ~€29 to ~€74) at private facilities. Telemedicine services registered in Vietnam can issue a local prescription, though the ability to dispense atomoxetine locally still depends on pharmacy stock.

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

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Storing atomoxetine while in Vietnam

The approved product label specifies storage below 25°C, protected from light and moisture^[4]. Vietnam's tropical climate means hotel rooms without air conditioning can exceed this threshold at any time of year; always use the room's air conditioning or request a cool storage area from hotel staff.

Do not store the medication in a bathroom, near a window, or in a bag left in direct sunlight. In the event of a power outage lasting more than a few hours in extreme heat, move your supply to an air-conditioned lobby or ask hotel reception for a cool storage option.

Emergencies

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

If your medication is lost, stolen, or damaged, file a police report immediately at the nearest station, as this document is required by most travel insurers. Contact your travel insurer's emergency assistance line, then go to a private hospital psychiatry department in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City with your prescription copy and police report.

If you run out of atomoxetine unexpectedly, visit the psychiatry department at Vinmec Times City (Hanoi) or FV Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) with your original prescription and doctor's letter. A local psychiatrist may issue a Vietnamese prescription if they can verify your existing diagnosis. Do not attempt to obtain the medication from street vendors or unlicensed sources.

“Tôi cần thuốc Atomoxetine (Strattera). | Tôi có bệnh ADHD. | Vui lòng gọi bác sĩ cho tôi. | Hiệu thuốc gần nhất ở đâu?”

I need Atomoxetine (Strattera). | I have ADHD. | Please call a doctor for me. | Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Vietnam's national emergency number is 115 for medical emergencies^[9]. For non-emergency specialist care, the international patient departments at Vinmec and FV Hospital both have English-speaking staff available during standard clinic hours.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I bring atomoxetine into Vietnam without a permit?

Yes. Atomoxetine is not a narcotic or psychotropic substance under Vietnamese law, so no advance import permit is required^[6]. Carry a doctor's letter in English and Vietnamese, your original prescription, and keep the medication in its original packaging to present at customs if asked.

What happens if I run out of atomoxetine while travelling in Vietnam?

Go to the psychiatry department of a private international hospital in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City with your original prescription and doctor's letter. A local psychiatrist may issue a Vietnamese prescription after consultation, but stock is not guaranteed, so plan to bring surplus supply from the outset.

Is Strattera available in Vietnam pharmacies?

Strattera (atomoxetine) is not reliably stocked in Vietnamese retail pharmacies and is not listed in the Drug Administration of Vietnam's standard approved medicines register. Limited imported stock may be held at specialist hospital pharmacies such as Vinmec or FV Hospital, but you should not depend on finding it locally and must bring your full supply.

Is Strattera the same as generic atomoxetine sold in Vietnam?

Strattera is the originator brand of atomoxetine produced by Eli Lilly and is the name used in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, and Canada. No locally manufactured generic brand of atomoxetine is currently verified as registered in Vietnam. Any available supply is likely to be imported Strattera or an unlisted import; confirm the source with the dispensing pharmacist. For broader context on ADHD medications in Vietnam, see Nomedic's ADHD in Vietnam guide.

Do I need a Vietnamese prescription to buy atomoxetine locally?

Yes. Atomoxetine is prescription-only in Vietnam, and a foreign prescription cannot be dispensed directly by a Vietnamese pharmacy. A local psychiatrist at a private hospital would need to issue a Vietnamese prescription before any in-country dispensing could take place.

How should I store atomoxetine during a long trip through Vietnam's hot climate?

The approved product label requires storage below 25°C. In Vietnam's tropical climate, keep the medication in an air-conditioned room, never in a car or next to a window, and avoid leaving your bag in direct sunlight during outdoor activities. Original blister packs or bottles provide better protection against humidity than loose storage.

Related practical guide

10 Things You Must Do Before Travelling Abroad with ADHD Medication

ADHD stimulants are banned outright in some countries and tightly controlled in many others. Here is the practical checklist every traveller needs before setting off.