Thailand Pharmacy Price List: Common Medicine Prices and What You May Pay

There is no single nationwide retail pharmacy price list in Thailand. The price you pay can differ according to the active ingredient, brand, manufacturer, pharmacy, pack size and whether the medicine is purchased from a hospital pharmacy or a community pharmacy.

Thailand does, however, publish official drug reference prices through its National Drug Information system. These prices are useful for understanding the underlying cost of many medicines, but they should not be confused with the final retail price charged to a walk-in customer.

For example, Thailand's official reference price currently lists:

• paracetamol 500 mg at THB 0.45 per tablet
• metformin 500 mg at THB 0.40 per tablet
• cetirizine 10 mg at THB 0.60 per tablet or capsule
• amoxicillin 500 mg at THB 1.71 per capsule
• omeprazole 20 mg at THB 0.62 per capsule
• amlodipine 5 mg at THB 0.90 per tablet
• sildenafil 50 mg at THB 16 per tablet
• atorvastatin 20 mg at THB 15.15 per tablet

Those figures are official reference prices, not promises that a pharmacy will sell one tablet at exactly that amount.

The actual pharmacy bill can be higher because of brand selection, packaging, dispensing and retail margins.

Thailand does not have one retail medicine tariff

Pharmacies in Thailand operate in a competitive retail market.

Two pharmacies on the same street can quote different prices for the same active ingredient.

Differences can come from:

• generic versus original brand
• Thai-made versus imported product
• pack size
• wholesaler
• pharmacy location
• pharmacy chain versus independent store
• hospital pharmacy versus community pharmacy

A tourist-area pharmacy in central Bangkok, Phuket or Pattaya may not charge the same amount as a neighborhood pharmacy used primarily by Thai residents.

For this reason, any article claiming that one fixed amount is the Thailand pharmacy price for a medicine is oversimplifying the market.

Official reference prices are still useful

Thailand's National Drug Policy Division publishes central drug prices for thousands of medicines.

These prices are primarily used as official reference points within Thailand's health and procurement system.

They can help travelers understand whether a medicine is intrinsically inexpensive or relatively costly.

The current official list includes more than 2,500 entries and states that listed prices include 7% VAT.

The reference price is particularly useful for generic medicines because it shows how inexpensive many common active ingredients can be before retail markups.

Common medicine prices in Thailand

The following table uses current official Thai reference prices.

Again, these are official drug reference prices, not guaranteed retail shelf prices.

They are best used as a baseline rather than as a quote from a pharmacy.

Paracetamol is extremely inexpensive as a generic

Paracetamol is one of the most widely available pain and fever medicines in Thailand.

The current central reference price for paracetamol 500 mg is THB 0.45 per tablet.

The database also lists pediatric formulations such as:

• paracetamol syrup 120 mg/5 ml, 60 ml: around THB 12
• paracetamol oral suspension 120 mg/5 ml, 60 ml: around THB 15

A retail pack will normally cost more than simply multiplying the per-tablet central price because pharmacies sell packaged products rather than loose government reference units.

Amoxicillin is cheap, but it is still an antibiotic

The official reference price for amoxicillin 500 mg is THB 1.71 per capsule.

Amoxicillin combined with clavulanate costs more. Current central prices include:

• amoxicillin/clavulanate 500 mg/125 mg: THB 6.56 per tablet
• amoxicillin/clavulanate 875 mg/125 mg: THB 7.13 per tablet

The low underlying price does not mean antibiotics should be purchased casually.

Thailand regulates antibiotics, and they should be used appropriately because unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to resistance and can cause adverse effects.

For more detail, see Antibiotics in Thailand.

Metformin is one of the cheapest chronic medicines

Metformin is widely used for type 2 diabetes.

Thailand's current central reference prices include:

• metformin 500 mg: THB 0.40 per tablet
• metformin 850 mg: THB 0.60 per tablet
• metformin 1,000 mg: THB 0.80 per tablet

Prolonged-release formulations are substantially more expensive:

• metformin PR 750 mg: THB 6.13 per tablet
• metformin PR 1,000 mg: THB 7.13 per tablet

This illustrates why two products containing the same basic medicine can have very different prices depending on formulation.

Cholesterol medicines can vary much more

Atorvastatin provides a useful example of a common medicine with a larger price step as strength increases.

Current reference prices are:

• atorvastatin 10 mg: THB 10.50 per tablet
• atorvastatin 20 mg: THB 15.15 per tablet
• atorvastatin 40 mg: THB 25 per tablet
• atorvastatin 80 mg: THB 50 per tablet

The retail cost can differ substantially depending on whether the pharmacy supplies a Thai generic or an imported brand.

Always compare the active ingredient and dose, not only the brand name.

Allergy medicine is generally inexpensive

Thailand's reference prices include several commonly used antihistamines.

Examples include:

• cetirizine 10 mg: THB 0.60 per tablet or capsule
• chlorpheniramine 4 mg: THB 0.10 per tablet
• fexofenadine 60 mg: THB 3.06 per tablet
• fexofenadine 180 mg: THB 7.38 per tablet
• desloratadine 5 mg: THB 9.10 per tablet or capsule

The final retail pack price depends on the manufacturer and pharmacy.

Imported branded antihistamines can cost far more than basic Thai generics despite containing the same or a similar active ingredient.

Omeprazole can cost less than one baht per capsule at reference level

The official reference price for omeprazole 20 mg enteric-coated capsules is THB 0.62 per capsule.

Other proton-pump inhibitors can cost much more.

For example, official reference prices include:

• esomeprazole 20 mg: THB 29.08 per tablet
• esomeprazole 40 mg: THB 43.93 per tablet
• pantoprazole 20 mg: THB 29.12 per tablet
• pantoprazole 40 mg: THB 41.60 per tablet

This is a good reminder that medicines used for the same broad condition are not automatically similar in price.

Blood pressure medicines range from very cheap to moderately priced

Thailand's official list includes many hypertension medicines.

Examples include:

• amlodipine 5 mg: THB 0.90 per tablet
• amlodipine 10 mg: THB 1.31 per tablet
• valsartan 80 mg: THB 4.60 per tablet
• valsartan 160 mg: THB 6.50 per tablet
• telmisartan 40 mg: THB 13.28 per tablet
• telmisartan 80 mg: THB 20.17 per tablet

A traveler trying to replace a foreign brand may be able to find the same active ingredient under a Thai generic name, but the exact product and dose should be confirmed with a pharmacist or doctor.

Sildenafil is inexpensive at generic reference prices

Thailand's central drug price currently lists:

• sildenafil 50 mg: THB 16 per tablet
• sildenafil 100 mg: THB 30.40 per tablet

That does not mean branded Viagra costs THB 16.

Original branded medicines can cost significantly more than the generic reference price.

Thailand also has registered generic sildenafil products.

For legal and regulatory details, see Can You Buy Viagra Without a Prescription in Thailand? and Is Kamagra Legal in Thailand?.

Neuropathic pain medicines show the effect of the active ingredient

Current reference prices include:

• gabapentin 100 mg: THB 2.59 per capsule
• gabapentin 300 mg: THB 3.50 per capsule
• gabapentin 400 mg: THB 4.35 per capsule
• pregabalin 25 mg: THB 10.60 per capsule
• pregabalin 75 mg: THB 17.20 per capsule
• pregabalin 150 mg: THB 32 per capsule

These prices show why a switch between related medicines can materially change the monthly cost.

Patients should not change between gabapentin and pregabalin simply according to price because they are different drugs and dosing is not interchangeable.

Generic versus branded medicines in Thailand

Generic medicines are a major reason pharmacy costs can be relatively low in Thailand.

The Thai FDA database contains multiple manufacturers for many common ingredients.

For example, searches for medicines such as:

• paracetamol
• metformin
• ibuprofen
• cetirizine
• atorvastatin

return numerous registered products.

A pharmacist may therefore be able to offer different manufacturers at different prices.

If cost matters, ask:

Do you have a registered generic with the same active ingredient and strength?

Do not accept a substitution when you are unsure whether the formulation is equivalent, particularly for modified-release medicines.

Hospital pharmacies are often more expensive

A medicine dispensed by a private hospital may cost more than the same active ingredient purchased at an independent community pharmacy.

The hospital bill can incorporate:

• hospital pharmacy pricing
• dispensing
• medical consultation
• facility costs

That does not necessarily mean the hospital is overcharging. Hospital pharmacies operate within a different healthcare setting and may supply specific brands selected by the hospital.

For routine long-term medicines, foreigners sometimes compare the hospital's prescription with prices at licensed external pharmacies.

Before doing so, make sure the medicine, strength and formulation are identical.

Brand names create confusion for foreigners

A medicine you know under one trade name at home may have a completely different brand in Thailand.

The most useful information to carry is:

• generic active ingredient
• strength
• formulation
• dosing schedule

For example, asking only for your European or American brand may lead the pharmacist to say it is unavailable even though multiple Thai equivalents exist.

A written medication list using generic names can make replacement much easier.

How do you know a medicine is registered in Thailand?

Thailand's National Drug Information database allows users to search by:

• active ingredient
• brand name
• registration number

A registered product should have a Thai registration record.

This is particularly useful for medicines sold online or products whose packaging you do not recognize.

If a seller cannot explain what the active ingredient is or whether the medicine is registered, avoid buying it.

Cheap medicine does not automatically mean over-the-counter medicine

Price and legal classification are separate issues.

A medicine can be inexpensive while still being regulated.

Thailand uses categories such as:

• household remedies
• ready-packed medicines
• dangerous drugs
• specially controlled drugs

The terminology does not map perfectly onto prescription-only and over-the-counter classifications used in other countries.

Some medicines can legally be supplied by pharmacists without the same physician prescription process a foreign traveler is used to, while specially controlled medicines require stricter oversight.

Always ask a licensed pharmacist rather than assuming that a low price means unrestricted sale.

Prescription drug prices and pharmacy prices are not the same topic

A pharmacy price list answers:

What might medicines cost inside Thailand?

An international prescription-drug comparison answers a different question:

How do medicine prices in Thailand compare with countries such as the United States, UK or Australia?

Keeping these topics separate prevents confusion and makes it easier to compare like with like.

This guide therefore focuses only on the Thai medicine market and official Thai reference prices.

Why retail prices can be much higher than the reference price

Suppose the government reference price of a tablet is THB 1.

That does not mean a pharmacy can economically sell you a single tablet for THB 1.

Retail prices can incorporate:

• manufacturer and wholesaler costs
• packaging
• retail margin
• imported brand premium
• stock availability
• location

A box of 10 or 30 tablets is therefore the more relevant unit for consumers.

The government central price is useful mainly as a baseline for comparing active ingredients.

Tourist areas can be less predictable

Pharmacies in areas with large foreign populations may stock more international brands and imported products.

This can be useful when you need a familiar medicine, but it can also mean higher prices.

If you are buying a routine medicine in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya or Chiang Mai, you can ask more than one licensed pharmacy for the price of the exact same generic and strength.

Do not compare different brands or pack sizes as though they were identical quotations.

You should not choose medication only by price

The cheapest product is not automatically the best choice for every situation.

Factors that matter include:

• correct diagnosis
• correct active ingredient
• correct dose
• contraindications
• interactions
• modified-release versus immediate-release formulation
• product registration

This is particularly important with antibiotics, psychiatric medicines, anticoagulants and drugs affecting blood pressure or heart rhythm.

For chronic disease treatment, changing medication without understanding the formulation can create more problems than the price difference saves.

What to ask at a Thai pharmacy

For a routine medicine, useful questions include:

1. What is the active ingredient?
2. What is the strength?
3. Is this a Thai FDA-registered product?
4. Is this the original brand or a generic?
5. Do you have a less expensive registered generic?
6. Is the formulation immediate-release or extended-release?
7. How many tablets are in the pack?
8. Does this medicine require medical supervision?

When comparing prices, write down the exact product rather than remembering only the total bill.

Carry your medication details when traveling

If you regularly take prescription medicine, keep a list showing:

• active ingredient
• strength
• dose
• formulation

This is more useful than carrying only a photograph of the front of the box.

If you are bringing medicine into the country, separate customs rules also apply.

See Customs Rules for Prescription Medications in Thailand for personal import rules.

The practical answer

Thailand does not have a single retail pharmacy price list, but the country's official drug database provides central reference prices for thousands of medicines.

Those figures show that many common Thai generics are inexpensive. Current examples include:

• paracetamol 500 mg: THB 0.45 per tablet
• metformin 500 mg: THB 0.40
• cetirizine 10 mg: THB 0.60
• amoxicillin 500 mg: THB 1.71
• omeprazole 20 mg: THB 0.62
• sildenafil 50 mg: THB 16
• atorvastatin 20 mg: THB 15.15

Your actual pharmacy price will normally be higher and will depend on brand, pack size and seller.

The safest comparison is to ask licensed pharmacies for the same active ingredient, strength, formulation and pack size, and to verify unfamiliar products through the Thai FDA database rather than choosing solely according to the cheapest headline price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Thailand National Drug Policy Division - Drug Prices
2. Thai FDA - Sildenafil, Tadalafil and Neuropathic Pain Drug Reference Prices
3. Thai FDA - Metformin Registration and Reference Prices
4. Thai FDA - Atorvastatin Registration and Reference Prices
5. Thai FDA - Cetirizine Reference Prices