For the African diaspora and visiting family
Visiting Texas from Africa and Ran Out of Medication?
Medically reviewed by Nicholas Atudonyang, MD
Board-Certified Physician · Last reviewed October 2026
Texas pharmacies generally can’t fill prescriptions written in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, or other countries. If you or a visiting relative is physically in Texas and taking an established, non-controlled medication, a MedRefillCare clinician can evaluate the request online and, if appropriate, send a new U.S. prescription to a Texas pharmacy. The review is $39, and no U.S. insurance is needed.
Adults 18+ physically in Texas at the time of the visit. Prescriptions are not guaranteed and are issued only when medically appropriate. Not for controlled medications or emergencies. Tunazungumza Kiswahili
When mum or dad is visiting for a few months
Parents and relatives from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, South Africa, and elsewhere often stay in Texas for weeks or months, and long-term medicines for blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol run out before the trip ends. You can message us on WhatsApp, help your relative complete the intake, and choose a pharmacy near your home. The clinician speaks with new patients by phone or video before any prescription is issued.
What to bring
- The box, strip, or label showing each active ingredient and its strength
- How the medicine is taken each day
- The prescription or clinic note from home, if available
- Recent blood-pressure or blood-sugar readings
- The Texas pharmacy you want to use
Brand names from home
Many medicines in Africa are sold under brands made in India, Europe, or locally, so the name on the box may mean nothing to a U.S. pharmacist. What matters is the active ingredient and strength.
- Glibenclamide is called glyburide in the U.S.
- Salbutamol inhalers are albuterol in the U.S.
- Nifedipine “retard” tablets may not be sold in the same form in the U.S.; the clinician may consider an extended-release U.S. form, which is dosed differently
- Some combination tablets aren’t sold in the U.S. and may need to be prescribed as separate medicines
See the full foreign prescription guide.
About U.S. medicine prices
Prices can be a shock if you are used to medicines at home. Many common generics have low cash prices, but brand-name medicines can cost far more. Before the pharmacy fills, ask for the cash price, and tell the clinician if cost is a concern so a generic can be considered when appropriate. The $39 review fee does not include medication.
Malaria and fever: important
Fever in anyone who has recently been in a country with malaria needs same-day, in-person medical care. Go to an urgent care or emergency department and say where you traveled; call 911 for severe illness. Malaria prevention for a trip home is a new prescription, not a refill, so it is not handled through MedRefillCare. A travel medicine clinic can help.
What we can’t help with
MedRefillCare does not prescribe controlled substances, start new medications, or handle urgent symptoms. Visitors who are no longer in Texas should contact a clinician where they are.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer interpreters?
Yes. If you prefer a language other than English, we connect you with a certified medical interpreter by phone during your clinical evaluation, at no cost to you. Our staff also speaks Spanish and Swahili.
Can I pay with a Nigerian, Kenyan, or other non-U.S. card?
Major credit and debit cards issued outside the U.S. are accepted for the $39 review. Many African banks block international online payments on local cards unless you enable them first, so check your banking app. The family member you are visiting in Texas can also pay with their card.
Can a Texas pharmacy fill my prescription from Nigeria, Kenya, or another African country?
Generally no. U.S. pharmacies need a prescription from a U.S.-licensed prescriber. If you are physically in Texas, a Texas-licensed clinician can evaluate you and, if appropriate, write a new U.S. prescription for an established, non-controlled medication.
My medicine has a different brand name at home. Is that a problem?
No. Bring the box, strip, or label showing the active ingredient and strength. The clinician works from the active ingredient, not the brand name, and decides whether a U.S.-available equivalent is appropriate.
Can you prescribe malaria tablets for my trip back home?
Malaria prevention for an upcoming trip is a new prescription, not a refill, so it isn't handled through the MedRefillCare refill pathway. A travel medicine clinic or your primary care clinician can advise you before you travel.
I have a fever after arriving from Africa. Can I use MedRefillCare?
No. Fever in someone who has recently been in a country with malaria needs same-day, in-person medical evaluation. Go to an urgent care or emergency department and tell them where you traveled. For severe illness, call 911.
Will U.S. medicine be very expensive without insurance?
It depends on the medicine. Many common generics for blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol have low cash prices; ask the pharmacy for its cash price before it fills. Brand-name medicines can cost much more, and the clinician can consider whether a generic is appropriate.
Related: Foreign prescriptions in Texas · Kiswahili · Blood pressure refills · Diabetes refills · Newly moved to Texas
Sources: CDC: Malaria
Ready to start?
⚡ Most completed requests receive clinician review within minutes during business hours.
Not sure your medication qualifies? Check it before you pay. Controlled medications are never eligible.
See pricing and refunds. Certified interpreters are available at no cost.
Sources: CDC: Malaria