Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

What OTC drugs can you buy in France that you need an Rx for in U.S.?

What OTC drugs can you buy in France that you need an Rx for in U.S.?

Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 05:13 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What OTC drugs can you buy in France that you need an Rx for in U.S.?

I seem to remember getting something from the pharmacy in Venice that I would have had to get a prescription for if I were in the U.S. Don't remember what it was.

Any that you know of in France?
kenav is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 05:21 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is there something that you need? You have asked quite a broad question and there are a number of items that would not require a prescription in Europe that would in the US.
denisea is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 05:55 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And there is an odd reversal - I was using Alegra for allergies while in France earlier this year. I had bought enough with me to last for the entire 5 weeks. But DH needed some towards the end and I shared. I ran out. Went to the village pharmacy and was very surprised to learn that Alegra requires a prescription! The pharmacist was kind enough to sell them to me to get me through the last week or so.

I asked this same question last year. Didn't get many specific meds as reply, I'll look for thread. They do sell OTC cough medicine with codeine. Also, some pain meds with narcotics. I really liked Panadol for aches and pain.
DebitNM is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 07:19 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I read that Panadol is like acetaminophen.
kenav is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 10:42 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cough syrups with a small amount of codeine used to be available in the US not OTC but from the pharmacist instead of 2 teaspoons. without a prescription. They stopped allowing that due to a fair amount of use by kids who would go from one pharmacy to another and drink a couple of bottles per day.

I think tylenol with codeine is available in several countries - but not in the US for the same reason.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 11:02 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,652
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Voltaren is available OTC in France
yestravel is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 11:19 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,974
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
Maitaitom turned me on to Voltaren Emugel, and I make sure to replenish every time I'm in Paris!
amyb is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 11:22 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was able to buy Mobic in Italy this summer.
dorie809 is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 12:29 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,657
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What about Crestor? (Rosuvaststin) There is no generic, and as I lost the health plan my pension provided when I turned 65 and had to switch to Medicare, I was surprised that a 90 day Rx that used to cost me $80 now runs over $300.
uhoh_busted is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 01:26 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My friend got Metformin and Lipitor without a prescription in Spain. You might be able to get them in France.
Pegontheroad is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 02:10 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 4,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Peg - both those rx are OTC in Turkey too.

One of our group 'forgot' his metformin and didn't want his
wife to find out so our leader snuck into a pharmacy and just
bought it off the shelf.
immimi is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 02:53 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What about antibiotics? Sleeping pills?
kenav is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 03:00 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Panadol is nothing special, it's just Tylenol or any other drug with that ingredient (acetaminophen).

Why would you just buy drugs to stock up on if you don't need them, just because they are OTC?
Christina is online now  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 03:44 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I believe paracetamol is panadol with codeine. That is OTC.

Knowing the chemical name is imperative, as brand names sometimes get used for different meds in different countries.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ris-france.cfm

http://www.parisescapes.com/paris_pharmacy_cheat.html
DebitNM is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 04:20 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have always bought Doliprane in France as a painkiller, if I needed one or my kids did - had no idea it had codeine in it. I do love to buy Donormyl, though; it's the only thing that has ever enabled me to sleep on a plane (and I have no idea what's in it, or whether it's something that wouldn't be OTC in the USA).
StCirq is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 04:53 PM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I read that Donormyl is an OTC medication for insomnia in the U.S. It's a "First generation antihystamine".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxylamine
kenav is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 05:20 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Buying antibiotics without having an actual infection is not wise. Different infections require different antibiotics so how would you know what to buy? And taking antibiotics without an infection [for a virus] is a waste of time, money and leads to building up resistance to when you do need one.

I would not mess around with buying things for sleep that are sold OTC in France. Sleep aids can be opening a can of worms.

You aren't starting a second career as a mule, are you?
DebitNM is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 05:39 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Voltaren 2%gel. Great for those aching muscles.
flpab is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 06:05 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Are antibiotics available in Paris without a prescription? Was going to pack some on the chance I would need them but if they are available in Paris, I could leave them at home.
lateinlifetraveler is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 09:31 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 7,960
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Codeine seems to be available in many europeon countries OTC , its available here OTC too ( Canada) , of course not a high dose product though.
lateinlifetraveller not sure how you think you could diagnose your need for an antibiotic.. thats a bit unusual... you aren't one of those people who rush off to doctor to get them if they have a cold that lasts more then three days are you. lol .

I actually am prone to bladder infections,, however I have never packed an antibiotics for Paris,,( but will do so for mexico). In Paris they have excellent health care, clinics, etc,, cheap too, and if I needed to get something I would just go to a clinic. Paris is great that way. Oh yeah,, pharmacists in Paris are far superior to ours,, tell what hurts and they can usually sugggest just the right thing,, they are incredible.
justineparis is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -