- Antidepressants that are not on Thailand's controlled lists fall under the general rule: up to 30 days' supply, in original packaging, with a doctor's letter or prescription.
- Some medicines often prescribed alongside them, such as benzodiazepines and some sleeping tablets, are controlled psychotropics with their own rules.
- The UK government says hospitals and pharmacies will usually accept UK prescriptions, but some medicines may not be available in Thailand.
- For a long stay, see a psychiatrist in Thailand before your supply runs out.
- In a crisis, call 1669 or the Department of Mental Health's 1323 hotline.
If you need help now
If someone's life is in danger, call 1669 for an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. The Department of Mental Health runs the 1323 hotline for emotional support, and the UK government lists Samaritans of Thailand on +66 (0)2 113 6789, pressing 2 for English.
If you are worried about running out of medicine, contact a doctor rather than stopping it suddenly or changing the dose yourself.
Bringing antidepressants into Thailand
Start by checking the generic name of each medicine on the Thai FDA's traveller site, permitfortraveler.fda.moph.go.th. The commonly prescribed antidepressants we checked do not appear among the narcotic or psychotropic examples in the Thai FDA's traveller guidance, but the Check the Drug tool is the place to confirm.
For prescription medicines that are not controlled, the Royal Thai Embassy in London says travellers can bring up to 30 days of prescribed use, in original labelled containers, with a doctor's letter or prescription. If you need to bring more, the embassy directs enquiries to the Bureau of Drug Control at the Thai FDA; ask well before you travel.
Medicines taken alongside antidepressants
Treatment for depression or anxiety sometimes includes other medicines, and some of these are controlled in Thailand. The Thai FDA's 2020 traveller guidance lists alprazolam, zolpidem and zopiclone among Category 2 psychotropics, and clonazepam, diazepam and lorazepam among Category 4.
For these, the Thai FDA's current guidance allows up to 30 days' supply with a doctor's certificate and no permit, and 31 to 90 days with an FDA permit applied for at least 15 days before travel. The certificate should include your name and address, your condition, each medicine's details and total amount, and your doctor's name, address and licence number. Our guide to sleeping pills and benzodiazepines covers these rules in more detail.
Keeping your prescription going in Thailand
The UK government says hospitals and pharmacies across Thailand will usually accept UK prescriptions, and that carrying a copy of your prescription can help doctors find the same or a similar medicine. It also notes that some medicines prescribed in the UK may not be available or legally sold in Thai pharmacies, and suggests asking your GP about alternatives before you travel.
For a repeat or replacement prescription, the UK government suggests asking a local government or private hospital which doctor to see. For antidepressants, that is usually a psychiatrist. Private hospitals in the main cities have psychiatry clinics, and our mental health support guide explains the difference between psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors.
At the first appointment, bring your prescription, a summary from your doctor at home and the packaging of your current medicine. The Thai doctor will make their own assessment. The locally available version of your medicine may look different, so ask the pharmacist to confirm the active ingredient and strength.
Costs and insurance
Psychiatry at a private hospital is usually charged as a doctor's fee plus medicines and a service charge. The UK government notes that brand-name medicines can cost more than locally produced versions, and that pharmacies at major hospitals may charge more than outside pharmacies. If cost matters, ask the doctor whether a locally produced version of the same medicine is suitable.
Many health insurance policies limit mental health cover, exclude pre-existing conditions or cover inpatient care only. Ask your insurer what is covered, and in what form it needs receipts and medical reports, before your first appointment. Our guide to therapy costs in Bangkok has more on fees.
If you are moving to Thailand for a year or more, it can help to agree a plan with your doctor at home before you leave: how long your current supply will last, what records to bring, and who to contact if a Thai doctor wants to change your treatment.
Keeping antidepressant treatment going
- Check each medicine's generic name on the Thai FDA's Check the Drug tool.
- Carry no more than 30 days' supply of non-controlled medicines unless the Thai FDA confirms otherwise.
- Check separately whether any other medicine you take is a controlled psychotropic.
- Bring a copy of your prescription and a letter from your doctor.
- Book a psychiatrist in Thailand well before your supply runs out.
- Save 1669 and 1323 in your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring antidepressants to Thailand?
If the medicine is not on a controlled list, the Royal Thai Embassy in London says up to 30 days' supply, in original packaging, with a doctor's letter or prescription. Check each medicine on the Thai FDA's traveller site.
Do I need a permit for sertraline or fluoxetine?
Neither appears in the Thai FDA's examples of controlled substances, but confirm on the Check the Drug tool. Permits apply to controlled narcotic and psychotropic medicines.
Will a Thai pharmacy fill my UK prescription?
The UK government says hospitals and pharmacies will usually accept UK prescriptions, though some medicines may not be available in Thailand.
Who can prescribe antidepressants in Thailand?
Doctors, usually psychiatrists for ongoing treatment. Ask a hospital which doctor to see for a repeat prescription.
What if I run out?
Contact a doctor in Thailand as soon as you can rather than stopping your medicine suddenly. In a crisis, call 1669 or 1323.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy, London — Bringing medications to Thailand
- Thai FDA, Narcotics Control Division — Permits for travellers (Check the Drug, permit requests)
- Thai FDA — Guidance for travellers under treatment carrying personal medications (Ministerial Regulation B.E. 2567)
- Thai FDA — Guidance for travellers carrying medications containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances into Thailand (version 3, June 2020; hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- GOV.UK — Healthcare and medical services in Thailand
- GOV.UK — Thailand travel advice: Health
- Hfocus — Department of Mental Health statement citing the 1323 hotline (1 September 2026)
