Filling a Prescription in Paris???
Jan 14th, 2014, 11:34 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Filling a Prescription in Paris???
I will be studying abroad in Paris from January until June of this year. I take a birth control pill for reasons unrelated to the birth control part, so I need to keep taking them. I have enough pills to get me through April and then I need another 3 month refill. (I am an American citizen by the way, since I know countries have different laws)
How do I pick them up while in Paris? I have a photocopy of my prescription and the pill packets, but will a French pharmacy give me a new pack of pills?
How do I pick them up while in Paris? I have a photocopy of my prescription and the pill packets, but will a French pharmacy give me a new pack of pills?
Jan 14th, 2014, 11:36 AM
#2
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You shouldn't have a problem. French pharmacies are just great--I once left thyroid pills at home, had a friend fax me a copy of the bottle label, and got what I needed without any trouble--and at half the price at home, too.
Jan 14th, 2014, 11:53 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree with suze, hopefully your own dr can help organise this before you leave home. Here in Australia birth control pill prescriptions are usually issued with enough repeats for a 6 or 12 month supply. Do you have to see your dr every 3 months for a new prescription?
Otherwise,yes, french pharmacy staff are very helpful.
Otherwise,yes, french pharmacy staff are very helpful.
Jan 14th, 2014, 12:47 PM
#5
if you have to get them in France, I would suggest going to the pharmacy at least 2 weeks before you need the new prescription in case there are any problems. then if necessary you can get a new prescription sent over from the US.
Jan 14th, 2014, 01:27 PM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If it an insurance issue and you can only get a 3 month supply, ask your local pharmacist to contact the insurance company to explain your situation and, hopefully, get their permission to dispense the extra 3 months before you leave.
Jan 14th, 2014, 01:47 PM
#8
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Our own experience with this (admittedly a few decades ago) was that French pharmacies WOULDN'T hand over contraceptive pills without a LOCAL prescription, so we had to go to a local hospital to get one.
As it happened, it was what we then called a lunatic asylum, and thereby hangs a tale...
Things may well have changed since - and it was merely a PITA to get a prescription. But it's a good reminder not to accept vague assurances about "leniency" .
As always: without real data, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
As it happened, it was what we then called a lunatic asylum, and thereby hangs a tale...
Things may well have changed since - and it was merely a PITA to get a prescription. But it's a good reminder not to accept vague assurances about "leniency" .
As always: without real data, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Jan 14th, 2014, 01:57 PM
#9
I am not being vague at all. At my office we had to go to local pharmacies all the time to get prescription drugs for our overseas colleagues even though we had no documentation. And news reports have shown that (perhaps unfortunately) it only takes visits to about 3 different pharmacies in Paris to obtain medication that should absolutely not be given without a prescription. I didn't want to believe it until I was sent to buy some stuff myself.
Jan 14th, 2014, 02:40 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
kerouac, I can vouch for that. I use prescription eye drops for glaucoma and frequently carry them with me and stop in pharmacies in Paris to see if they'll sell them to me ( cheaper to but outright in Paris than pay the co-pay on my insurance at home) I can generally score a 6 month supply just by stopping in while touring around the city.
Jan 15th, 2014, 12:52 PM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't imagine any doctor not giving a prescription to get filled ahead of time if you are going abroad for 6 months. I used to get BC pills and I got a lot more than 3 months at a time, I wonder if this is just insurance reimbursement rules, not really any other reason that you couldn't get more than 3 months.
Jan 15th, 2014, 01:45 PM
#16
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Typically, all you'll need is a copy of your prescription or the name of the drug you are using. In some cases it will turn out to be an over-the-counter drug, no prescription needed.
The pharmacy will try to match it and in most cases, it will be far cheaper than what you pay at home, i.e. a prescription that sets you back $200 in the States can be a little as €20 in France.
The pharmacy will try to match it and in most cases, it will be far cheaper than what you pay at home, i.e. a prescription that sets you back $200 in the States can be a little as €20 in France.
Jan 15th, 2014, 07:01 PM
#19
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Contrary to all that I have always heard about how easy it is to get meds in France, a pharmacy in Paris refused to sell me Aleve w/o a script!"
That's rather hard to believe since Aleve is an over-the-counter drug in the States, but, thinking about it, probably not sold in France. Not strong enough.
Aleve is a trade name for a very common pain medicine, naproxen sodium. The readily available 400 and 600 mg ibuprofen tables are much more effective and available over-the-counter in France, neither of which are available in the States without a prescription
That's rather hard to believe since Aleve is an over-the-counter drug in the States, but, thinking about it, probably not sold in France. Not strong enough.
Aleve is a trade name for a very common pain medicine, naproxen sodium. The readily available 400 and 600 mg ibuprofen tables are much more effective and available over-the-counter in France, neither of which are available in the States without a prescription
