Someone posted about a website 'Abler'

[thoroughbred-]

Hello, I saw somewhere on here someone posting about a site called Abler.

I have had a nosy round and wondered if anyone was familiar with it?

I was under the impression that Omeprazole was a POM-V? How are they able to sell Omeprazole products without a prescription?? Or is it a hoax?g

 

[Shay]

Its a US site. The rules are probably different. However I had understood that importing medication which requires a prescription in the UK without one was an offense - as is administering it with out a license to practice. Their website doesn't make this entirely clear - although they do say they cannot export to SA and NZ both of which will prosecute the shipper not the recipient. It might become clearer if you try to order.

 

[thoroughbred-]

I wouldn't like to risk it - thanks for the input.

If it looks too good to be true it probably is!

 

[JillA]

I did *looks furtively over shoulder* - you can import prescription medicines for your own use, quite whether that encompasses your animals is a moot point. I told my vet after the event (he was away at the time anyway) and he said he needed to know because of what medication the horse had had, and any possible side effects. It cost me considerably less than Peptizole, the cheaper alternative to Gastroguard and did the trick. It arrived very promptly as well. The other alternative is Nexium which is an over the counter drug, which tends to make me think it is considerably lower strength. The Abrazole was a 28 day course with a few days on a maintenance dose afterwards, Janet George was using Nexium on her horse and I think needed considerably longer than that.

 

[popsdosh]

Its a US site. The rules are probably different. However I had understood that importing medication which requires a prescription in the UK without one was an offense - as is administering it with out a license to practice. Their website doesn't make this entirely clear - although they do say they cannot export to SA and NZ both of which will prosecute the shipper not the recipient. It might become clearer if you try to order.

It is not a USA site another person deceived they are based in India and the Drugs are sent from Vanu Atu .

The laws on omeprazole are exactly the same in the States as UK you most certainly cannot import omeprazole into the UK or USA legally without a prescription

 

[PorkChop]

I have used the Abler site before with no problems.

 

[ycbm]

I know dozens of people who have used the site. I've used it four times over ten years. I had one lot go missing in transit and they replaced them immediately. Two different vet practices knew, because I told them.

Omeprazole is POM for horses but not for humans. It's an OTC medication in this country freely available on eBay. It is legal to buy it, it's possibly[SUB][/SUB] legal to administer it to a horse, too.The bit that's illegal definitely is diagnosing ulcers, only a vet can do that. And technically it's illegal to import it, but if you can buy it legally on eBay and in Boots in this country, who is going to prosecute you?

 

[ycbm]

It is not a USA site another person deceived they are based in India and the Drugs are sent from Vanu Atu .

The laws on omeprazole are exactly the same in the States as UK you most certainly cannot import omeprazole into the UK or USA legally without a prescription

I remember that it was a USA site, but they got bought out by the drug supplier several years ago. I believe it was legal in the US. The company got done, but only ever for using Gastrogard's name in their advertising, I think.

 

[Melody Grey]

I have used the Abler site before with no problems.

Likewise- only good experiences to report here.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I too have used Abler and had no problems at all. Received the Omeprazole quickly and with no hassle. It was recommended to me by a Racehorse owner who very regularly used them.
I used it as it was cheaper than scoping and a damn site cheaper than gastroguard.

 

[Brummyrat]

Same here, used them when I needed some about four years ago for my old boy and was given the company name by a local racehorse rehab person, so easy to buy and came within days.

 

[Wagtail]

Very reputable company that also gives quick full refunds. A friend of mind sent a whole batch back as her horse had fully recovered and they paid her back straight away. Another friend has been using them for four years now as her horse has to stay permanently on a maintenance dose. She has never had a problem. It takes between 10 and 21 days to arrive though.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

How strange, I have been given Omeprazol by my GP [After googling my symptoms , I told her I had either GORD / a mild heart problem , and my heart is 100%] she was non to pleased, but since taking it, i have had no acid/stomach problems, which is remarkable, after banging on for four years and requesting specialists etc.

 

[ester]

Very reputable company that also gives quick full refunds. A friend of mind sent a whole batch back as her horse had fully recovered and they paid her back straight away.

Now that I would consider a bit dodgy tbh.

 

[amycamycamyc]

I've been looking into all the options recently. Abler is certainly on my option list, but the FDA issued a warning about it (and others) back in 2014: http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2014/ucm422545.htm

Basically they are saying that it's not officially approved, and that the AbGuard medication (the tube one, not the granules) actually had more than the stated dose of Omeprazole in it (111% of the stated amount).

I would of course be really annoyed if I'd spent £100's on medication that didnt have enough of the active ingredient, but from what i've read, Omeprazole is a very safe medication and quite hard to overdose on, so I can't imagine many horse owners would be too offended by having extra active ingredient? That said, the fact its not been thoroughly tested is of course a bit of a concern...as even if the Omeprazole is safe I suppose you don't know what fillers are in there.

So hard to know what to do!

 

[thoroughbred-]

I know dozens of people who have used the site. I've used it four times over ten years. I had one lot go missing in transit and they replaced them immediately. Two different vet practices knew, because I told them.

Omeprazole is POM for horses but not for humans. It's an OTC medication in this country freely available on eBay. It is legal to buy it, it's possibly[SUB][/SUB] legal to administer it to a horse, too.The bit that's illegal definitely is diagnosing ulcers, only a vet can do that. And technically it's illegal to import it, but if you can buy it legally on eBay and in Boots in this country, who is going to prosecute you?

Actually, Omeprazole is a POM. You are only allowed to purchase a maximum of 14 tablets of 10mg in one go. (May only be 7..) which is what made me think something a bit suspect was going on.

 

[thoroughbred-]

May keep my eye on it and do a bit more research. Thanks for all inputs - good and bad!

 

[hc123]

I thought the whole point of Gastrogard and Peptizole vs plain Omeprazole was that they had an acid resistant coating that prevented them being destroyed before they could do any good. So even if you are thinking of buying from there for ulcer treatment it might be a waste of money.

 

[only_me]

I thought the whole point of Gastrogard and Peptizole vs plain Omeprazole was that they had an acid resistant coating that prevented them being destroyed before they could do any good. So even if you are thinking of buying from there for ulcer treatment it might be a waste of money.

Omeprazole works by blocking the channels that let the acid into the stomach so it gives the mucus membrane a chance to heal the ulcer in it, but it's only meant to be given for a short time as the stomach makes new channels so acid can come in again. So it's only effective for a short length of time, usually 4 weeks.

I've no idea how gastroguard works but other types of acid reflux drugs block the cells from actually producing acid so maybe that works, presume it can be given over a long time then and probably more useful for severe ulcers. I'm not a vet nor doctor though so this is just how the drug works in body, but helps understand which drugs are prescribed and why

 

[Wagtail]

Now that I would consider a bit dodgy tbh.

Erm...why? Does giving refunds mean a company is dodgy? Strange opinion. Usually, people complain if they DON'T get refunds. Those of us who have seen the product work well and have first hand experience of it for several years should know if something is dodgy or not.

 

[irish_only]

I've used Abler. Good company to deal with and absolutely no complaints from me.

 

[Pigeon]

I asked my vet! It is Omeprazole and it does work, but it's from the US and is illegal to import into this country.

He said he did know some people who had been prosecuted (though they had bought quite large amounts) so that is a real possibility and not just scare-mongering.

 

[bluedanube]

Actually, Omeprazole is a POM. You are only allowed to purchase a maximum of 14 tablets of 10mg in one go. (May only be 7..) which is what made me think something a bit suspect was going on.

Omeprazole is NOT a prescription only medicine it has been reclassified to pharmacy medicine status.

(If in doubt go to the rpharms website)

 

[EQUIDAE]

Erm...why? Does giving refunds mean a company is dodgy? Strange opinion. Usually, people complain if they DON'T get refunds. Those of us who have seen the product work well and have first hand experience of it for several years should know if something is dodgy or not.

Drugs have strict temperature and humidity controls when in storage. If they have been transported and stored in sub optimal conditions the shelf life may be severely reduced.

 

[ester]

Erm...why? Does giving refunds mean a company is dodgy? Strange opinion. Usually, people complain if they DON'T get refunds. Those of us who have seen the product work well and have first hand experience of it for several years should know if something is dodgy or not.

Because giving refunds on batches of medical product to potentially sell it on again when you know nothing of it's storage etc in between is dodgy and very much not normal practice, which is why you cannot return wormers/flea treatments etc in this country.

 

[Wagtail]

Because giving refunds on batches of medical product to potentially sell it on again when you know nothing of it's storage etc in between is dodgy and very much not normal practice, which is why you cannot return wormers/flea treatments etc in this country.

But yet they would send them through the post in the middle of summer. I spoke to a popular UK online pharmacy about some worming sachets that I was under the impression came in a box of ten. I only had five (picture on website showed box of 10 but description said 5). They offered to refund me if I sent them back. In the end I couldn't be bothered and so kept them.

 

[ester]

Post is limited time risk, we make quite a lot of stuff that requires specific temperature requirements but fly it to the USA at ambient because that is built into the risk. It isn't necessarily heat that is the issue!
I was only explaining why it is dodgy, and why it isn't something usually done as did equidae.
In your sachets example they likely offered a refund because of the slightly ambiguous description situation (so partly their fault) but I would have been surprised had they resold them. Taking back unused stock would make me think they were just going to sell it again.

 

[thoroughbred-]

Omeprazole is NOT a prescription only medicine it has been reclassified to pharmacy medicine status.

(If in doubt go to the rpharms website)

Sorry - it is. I work in a pharmacy.. The only P classified Omeprazole is the packs of 7 or 14 tablets. No more than that is to be sold. So yes, it is a POM.

 

[ycbm]

I thought the whole point of Gastrogard and Peptizole vs plain Omeprazole was that they had an acid resistant coating that prevented them being destroyed before they could do any good. So even if you are thinking of buying from there for ulcer treatment it might be a waste of money.

The Abler product is also enteric coated. So are the ones for humans, but I have no idea if that choosing is strong enough to resist horse stomach acid. The Abler stuff does.

 

[hc123]

The Abler product is also enteric coated. So are the ones for humans, but I have no idea if that choosing is strong enough to resist horse stomach acid. The Abler stuff does.

Do/have you used it then with a gastroscopy to confirm results? I'm very interested - looks like it works out about a quarter of the price of the Peptizole.