Where to Go in Mexican Border Towns for Pharmacies

Fewer regulations with regard to prescription medications mean lower prices, a fact that has driven thousands to border towns in Mexico with the hopes of saving big on their meds. When doing so, remember that anything bought in Mexico must be declared to U.S. Customs. You must bring a prescription from your U.S. doctor; refer to your state's laws to determine if it is legal to possess specific drugs without a prescription. Be on the alert for counterfeit or poor-quality medications that frequently make headlines. Americans must possess a valid passport to cross into Mexico.

Nuevo Laredo lies on the banks of the Rio Grande across the river from Laredo, Texas, and is connected to the United States by two bridges. Countless pharmacies dot the the city within small and medium-sized commercial complexes, although the downtown Guerrero area is a good place to start.

The border town of Acuña is located just three miles from Del Rio, Texas. Prescription medications and over-the-counter antibiotics are sold here at discounts. Most of the pharmacies are located within a four- to eight-block radius just blocks past the border entry and are nestled together with shopping, restaurants and liquor stores.

Located in Baja California, Algodones is just seven miles south of Yuma, Arizona, off Interstate 8. The border crossing is actually located in nearby Anrade, California, and is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. There are many paved parking lots where people leave their cars for a nominal fee and just walk over. Algadones pharmacies are easy to spot: Just look for the handwritten signs listing prescription drug pricing.