Exhusted

I am an American traveler currently in the middle of a two week driving tour of Europe. Since I arrived a week ago I have not had a good night sleep. I am so tired but can not sleep.<BR><BR>Going to a doctor in Italy seems like a serious chore with the language, health insurance and payment issues. I was wondering, if I just went into a drug store and asked for a strong sleeping pill, would they give me something like Ambien without a doctors prescription?<BR><BR>Help, I am so tired!

Sue

Go to a pharmacy and explain. They are great about coming up with something.

EP

No, you cannot get prescription sleeping pills without a prescription. You can ask for the strongest one they can sell without a prescription, but if you are used to sleeping pills, I doubt that it will help. It is not a hassle to go to see a doctor, and unless he/she is a very old country doctor, he/she will surely understand enough English. If you have travel insurance that covers doctor´s fees, you don´t even need money, all you do is fill a form for the insurance company. And if you have to pay, just pay. Doctors in Europe don´t cost like the ones in US.<BR><BR>But I really got worried about you. You have obviously overworked, and now you are paying for it at the worst possible time. I wish you would have chosen a more relaxing holiday than driving, you are pushing yourself instead of resting. I wish you good luck and sweet dreams, I know what insomnia is like.

Sleepy

Best to stay off those pills, you will get hooked and it will be impossible to sleep without them!

Suzy

The acvtive ingredient in US OTC sleeping aids like Tylenol PM and Sominex is actually the same as the key ingredient in Benadryl -- the antihitamine officially known as diphenhydramine. Perhaps a presecription-strength sedative is unnecessary and you can use this or another antihistaimine nown for causing drowsiness.<BR><BR>But before resorting to chemistry, perhaps you can identify the source of the problem and fix it -- too much coffee, bedroom not as dark or quiet as you're accustomed to, etc. Take a warm barth before bedtime, don't watch exciting TV shows or news in the evening -- the usual remedies.

j

In Barcelona you can get antibiotics, diflucan...just about anything with no description of your symptoms and no doctors' prescription. Just walk into the pharmacy with your shopping list. Pretty damn scary!!! <BR><BR>Germany is like the US- need a Doctor's prescription for just about everything that you would need one for in the States. <BR><BR>Have no idea about Italy. You can walk into a pharmacy and ask.

Carmen

j, I don't know which pharmacy you walked into in Barcelona but I assure you that in Spain you need a prescription for antibiotics and drugs such as "strong" sleeping pills and others.

j

Nope. You are totally wrong. i went to one on Las Ramblas and one in Poble Sec when I needed a refill. No questions asked...antibiotics given OTC.

Sympathetic

#1) I'm pretty sure you need a prescription from a doctor for the real thing, but could probably get something (like Sominex or Tylenol PM) over the counter).<BR><BR>#2) If I was in your prediciment... I would 'bother' with a clinic or doctor. Perhaps your hotel could suggest one. I can't imagine you need to worry about health insurance for one simple visit & prescription.<BR><BR>#3) Do not listen to the crap posted above that you will become addicted from using sleeping pills for your trip to Europe. Personally, I would NEVER travel without them (after an intial sleepless trip that was "not pretty"!).<BR><BR>#4) Sorry too late for this time, but I always get Valium prescribed and filled at home. And use it for the plane flight over, as well as the first 5 nights, & as needed after that. Not quite the knock-out of Ambien, but really does the trick!