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Hi Everyone,
I am currently living in the U.S. and getting ready to move to CR this year. I just finished my 3rd trip there visiting other areas I had not seen. While on the Pacific coast I stopped into a pharmacy and went over the meds I take in the states and got prices in CR and wasn’t bad, BUT I have RLS and take a prescription called Ropinirole or Requip. The pharmacy told me they dont have that one in CR. I contacted the medical director at Clinica Biblica and he told me the same thing, plus there was nothing equal to it in CR and his suggestion was to have it shipped in from the states. I have a contact in Panama that is telling me they think it can be bought there. My questions to you guys are, has anybody experienced having prescriptions shipped in from the U.S. or gone to Panama for meds? Does anyone out there suffer from the dreaded RLS like myself and had any luck with another drug that CR offers? I wonder if I could just have a family member here in the states fill it for me monthly and just mail it to me in CR? I figure there has got to be other’s out there that has experienced either RLS or needing some kind of prescription from the U.S. that is not in CR. Any help, suggestions, ideas would be greatly appreciated.Until about two years ago, I routinely got all my diabetes oral meds, my hypertension and cholesterol meds, and my glucometer test strips from my mail-in pharmacy service in the U.S. I used Aerocasillas’ mail and freight forwarding service. I have since ceased to use that service for anything but the test strips due to the increased co-pay costs in the U.S. and the shipping costs. Aerocasillas is very convenient but hardly cheap.
What I learned the hard way is that Costa Rican Customs will take a careful look at any large shipment of medications. Once I refilled everything in one order and had a helluva time getting it in. So the key is to order more often in small quantities. I think you’d be safe ordering a couple of months supply of your RLS meds or maybe three.
Aerocasillas charges pretty much flat rates for all their handling services plus a “per gram” charge for weight. Your meds won’t weigh much, so the shipping cost shouldn’t be prohibitive.
I’m not familiar with restless leg syndrome but suggest that you consult the appropriate medical specialist (maybe a neurologist?) to get a definitive answer about the availability of an effective medication here in Costa Rica.
I don’t have a “restless leg” but I do hate it when my leg falls asleep during the day because that means it’ll be up all night …
Scott
PS. Sorry I couldn’t resist…
PPS. Thanks to Stephen Wright for his awesome sense of humour[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Until about two years ago, I routinely got all my diabetes oral meds, my hypertension and cholesterol meds, and my glucometer test strips from my mail-in pharmacy service in the U.S. I used Aerocasillas’ mail and freight forwarding service. I have since ceased to use that service for anything but the test strips due to the increased co-pay costs in the U.S. and the shipping costs. Aerocasillas is very convenient but hardly cheap.
What I learned the hard way is that Costa Rican Customs will take a careful look at any large shipment of medications. Once I refilled everything in one order and had a helluva time getting it in. So the key is to order more often in small quantities. I think you’d be safe ordering a couple of months supply of your RLS meds or maybe three.
Aerocasillas charges pretty much flat rates for all their handling services plus a “per gram” charge for weight. Your meds won’t weigh much, so the shipping cost shouldn’t be prohibitive.
I’m not familiar with restless leg syndrome but suggest that you consult the appropriate medical specialist (maybe a neurologist?) to get a definitive answer about the availability of an effective medication here in Costa Rica.[/quote]
Thanks for the info it is very helpful. I figured trying to ship large amounts in would be a problem. I’m hoping to get it from Panama right now where it may be cheaper and a little easier to get. Thanks again!
[quote=”Scott”]I don’t have a “restless leg” but I do hate it when my leg falls asleep during the day because that means it’ll be up all night …
Scott
PS. Sorry I couldn’t resist…
PPS. Thanks to Stephen Wright for his awesome sense of humour[/quote]Thanks for your help! I hope you never get it because then you will be up all night.
Dear Fellow Requip user:
I can certainly identify about requip and restless leg. It is certainly one medication that I would never think of not using daily. I am curious about what you find out about procuring.
It is funny… I usually can wait till about five pm before I need to take the generic requip. This morning I have been ‘restless’ already….
I am moving to Costa Rica this year. I have my one way ticket for November. I am planning on going to Spanish language school for the first three weeks, get a feel for areas in the Central Valley and then applying for Pensionada status. Have you done that yet? Does the Birth Certificate really have to be issued within six months of application? Do I go to the local State Police barracks and use whatever form they give? Can I apply for residency with just the written confirmation of my Social Security starting in February of 2012? Is the ARCR more helpful or a lawyer to work the process?
I am so excited about the move. Take care and look forward to hearing from you.I knew there had to be somebody out there with RLS! I will try to answer all your questions. The generic of Requip is ALL that has ever worked for me! I take 4mg at bedtime and have for years with no problems. My RLS is bad, but only at night never during the day. The generic for Requip “Ropinirople” “I think” is not in Costa Rica or Panama. BUT I just found out I can get it filled at my pharmacy in the U.S. for a whole year for $200.00 and I had a pharmacy on the Pacific coast tell me they could ship it in and if not I will fly back 1 time a year and get it for the whole year, a small price to pay for peace!
I have not started any residency yet still got a few issues to work out here first. I have heard that about the birth cert. I would suggeest you contact Roger Peterson an attorney at roger.petersen@attyps.com . He is a very respected Costa Rica attorney that can answer all your questions and more, tell him I gave you him info. The ARCR has been of little help to me so far, I asked them for help on my last trip “a month ago” and got nothing! I do think they can be a big help when moving in and getting set up, from what I hear. When I get ready to make the move I will use ARCR but I will ALSO use Roger. I even had ONE that poked fun at me for posted this question, but that’s OK! We all know there is a asshole everywhere. I would love to talk to you more about your RLS and moving, let me know and I’ll give you my private email and even phone #.
Good luck! keep in touch! Ron[quote=”autumnglory”]Dear Fellow Requip user:
I can certainly identify about requip and restless leg. It is certainly one medication that I would never think of not using daily. I am curious about what you find out about procuring.
It is funny… I usually can wait till about five pm before I need to take the generic requip. This morning I have been ‘restless’ already….
I am moving to Costa Rica this year. I have my one way ticket for November. I am planning on going to Spanish language school for the first three weeks, get a feel for areas in the Central Valley and then applying for Pensionada status. Have you done that yet? Does the Birth Certificate really have to be issued within six months of application? Do I go to the local State Police barracks and use whatever form they give? Can I apply for residency with just the written confirmation of my Social Security starting in February of 2012? Is the ARCR more helpful or a lawyer to work the process?
I am so excited about the move. Take care and look forward to hearing from you.[/quote]I replyed probably just not the right way, still trying to figure this site out.
[b]autumnglory,[/b] be aware, you may not be permitted to board your plane, with a one-way tickets.
And yes,the Birth Certificate [i]really does have to be issued within six months[/i] of immigration [b]accepting[/b] your application, as do all the other required papers.Shirley is right on both counts.
Unless your trip begins in Costa Rica or you’re already a resident or citizen, the airlines are liable for your return passage should you be deported. It is for that reason that they will almost certainly require a round trip ticket.
Too, you may find that a round trip ticket is actually cheaper than a one-way ticket. Do check. Nothing says you actually have to show up for the return flight, or you could turn it in for at least a partial refund (I think).
It would be well to be in contact with either ARCR or a Costa Rican attorney who specializes in residency matters before you leave the U.S. That way, you can get the latest information on just what documentation is required and what special processing will be necessary.
It’s not a totally simple matter.
Dear Folks,
Thank you so much for the information…
Does the roundtrip have to be back to the US? Could it be a bus ticket to Nicaragua or Panama with a hotel reservation? Could it be just Ft Lauderdale, which I imagine is the cheapest flight?
Regarding the six month birth certificate. Thanks for the update. I happened to notice one other place where it was stated that about six month issue date. OK.. With respect to the police report is it any form that the local State police give? Do I then get it notarized locally?
Re: the passport photos: I have heard the need for four additional ones, and also 12 with six profile shots.. Any definitive word?
Thanks for the info about Roger Petersen, ESQ. Has anyone used his services for the Pensionada process? What is the going rate for those application services? Any other lawyers that are bilingual and wonderfully helpful and reasonable?
I am looking forward to being in Costa Rica for the Pura Vida and finding a wonderful and very reasonable abode for around $350-400 monthly with internet and utilities near a bus stop in the Central Valley.
Sorry if these questions seem so mundane after you guys are mostly down there living the good life. La cosa asombrosa is that I appreciate your extending yourselves to help … Many thanks…Finding a [i]’very reasonable abode for around $350-400 monthly with internet and utilities near a bus stop in the Central Valley'[/i] may be more difficult than you expect.
the going rate for residency is about $1500, plus all the fees, which are considerable, including the $350 non-refundable deposit to la migra so they can deport you if you screw up. as for the photos, it’s best to get those here when you go for fingerprints at interpol. check with http://www.residencyincostarica.com — they should have all the requirements listed on their site. i used them to get my residency and they are fabulous and do nearly everything for you. they are worth every colon!
i have a friend who just rented a nice tico house for $350. but. . . there is no internet, and she has to pay utilities. tico houses are laid out rather oddly. they seems to build rooms around rooms so often a bedroom will have a window that looks into the newly added laundry room. very strange indeed. she is on a bus line, but she is also more than 20 minutes by car up the mountainside. it’s a nice little town, but a little too remote for me. the closer you are to any of the hilltowns the more expensive it is going to be. Anything under $500 is gonig to be your not so typical place to live and probably won’t come with any appliances at all, or any furniture.
You may be reading some old data regarding the ‘cost of living’ here, so try to find some more recent info on the rising costs associated with residing here.
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