Farmacia Olas Altas

Freddy is the best! When it comes to drugs, he is more knowledgeable and helpful than doctors in NY.

We’ve been fans of «Freddy’s» (Farmacia Olas Altas) since first staying in this area of the city. Over the years, this handy to where we stay pharmacy has been a big help with both over-​the-​counter medications and other stuff & such, and prescription medications.
Freddy (Federico Lopez Casco, the owner and pharmacist) has always been there to provide friendly, very informative, and accommodating personal assistance to our questions and needs. We like the personal service we receive, and have never been disappointed with the products purchased.
The store is much bigger than it was a few years ago, and now includes rather decent selections of grocery and household products, as well as all the general and specific pharmaceuticals.
Thumb’s up to Freddy, and how and what he does!

I really had to do some looking to figure out the real name of this place because everyone just refers to it as «Freddy’s» (he’s the pharmacist and something of a local legend) on Olas Altas in Old Town.
I don’t know how many years I’ve depended on him to nurse me through some local malaise (usually just «tourista» but sometimes an exotic bug bite, fungus, or other tropical complaint) but it’s a lot. He’s still not very friendly and just cuts to the chase. He’ll either recommend something or refer you to a doctor if he’s concerned that you might have something more serious that needs an M.D.‘s attention. The good news for me is that he’s saved me a fortune in office visits over the years and, knock on wood, he’s been able to clear up whatever was ailing me without a doctor referral 90% of the time.
So, he’s conveniently located on Olas Altas (Southside), speaks better English than I do, is open convenient hours, he’s almost always there himself, and he stocks a wide selection of both OTC and prescription meds (you may or may not need a script — usually not). The only downside is that this is not a budget farmacia but worth spending a little more if it saves you an office visit. He’s alway my first stop when something health related is bugging me. Most of the time it’s been nothing but do you really want to get SICK in Mexico?