JeannetteC

I have allergies to pollens and plants and even if I'm not suffering at home, I often suffer when I travel. I haven't seen an allergist in the U.S. for a long time and I'm out of a steroid nasal spray that really helps my allergies without drying me up. I've tried saline sprays and Claritin but neither worked. In some countries you can get U.S. prescription medications over the counter. Will I be able to get steroid nasal spray in Italy or will I have to go to the doctor here for a prescription? Thanks.

Intrepid

There are various types of steroidal inhalants (sprays) which may or may not be available OTC. I think if you're really wise you'll get the Rx here and get it filled here..otherwise take your chances and possibly be miserable. You already KNOW what you should be doing...is it really worth it not to?

kaudrey

Jeannette, I agree with Intrepid, but wanted to add a little anecdote from my last Italy trip.

I went with my aunt, and she caught a terrible cold. I go to a pharmacy and use a lot of hand gestures to try to explain to the woman what I wanted (basically, and anti-histimine/cough suppressent). After a few minutes of miming, she gives me something that I take back to my aunt for her cold.

My aunt said it was the best medicine she had ever taken - even better than any prescription stuff you get here in the US!

janT

But please, I beseech you JeannetteC, do not depend on this as an option. I was in Rome with my kids last year and my son developed a nasty allergic rash all over his body. I went to a pharmacia with an Italian friend, and it took me at least half an hour to explain what I wanted (topical cortico-steroid cream), something you could get here readily. And such a deal was made of it! This all with the help of Italian interpretation.

A few days later I needed some ibuprofen since my supply ran low, and though it didn't take as long to get them to understand me, they were hesitant to sell it to me, warning me not to take more than one a day. These were just your typical 200mg dosage OTC Advils (which I take 2-4 at a time). They are very cautious! (But I'm glad to here your aunt got such good relief, kaudrey.) You never know. Years ago I got some codeine-laced headache tablets in the Caymen Islands...great stuff!

eliztrav

You just never know! I needed a similar topical cream for a rash on my lower legs from dye (I know; it was stupid but I was in a hurry!)when wearing brand new black colored socks without first washing them. The pharmacist in a Duomo piazza store in Milano took one look and instantly handed me a box of the cream. Not a single word had to be exchanged. And, this stuff was EXCELLENT. Worked better than the little tube from home I'd already used up AND it had a nice almond scent.

Calamari

JanT -- That is too funny! big ordeal and stern warnings for one Advil, but they sell syringes to everyone and the locals self injest themselves with all kinds of stuff! That's Italy.

When I was a teenager and before I spoke Italian, I was in Florence on my way to Corfu. One morning I awoke with a terrible ear ache. The lovely pensione owners sent me to an ER close by where people were holding on to their bleeding limbs from motorino accidents etc. I was quickly cast out and sent across town to a large hospital. As I walked in I noticed people walking around in hospital gowns, backs open, bottoms bare and blank looks in their eyes. I told a very cute doctor what I was there for. Apparently, I had been sent to the wrong hospital. He was kind enough to look up my nose (the pain was in my ear). He gave me two perscriptions. One was nose drops and the other I thought was an antibiotic. Those little green pills knocked me OUT! I slept all the way to Brindisi, woke up just long enough to get on the barge to Corfu and take another pill. I slept in Pelikus for another entire day! Two years later, I went back and met my future husband. When I learned how to speak Italian, I found out that he had given me a sedative prescribed for peoplewhe are on the verge of a nervous breakdown or who are suicidal!

gaegrand

I have found the farmacias to be very helpful. Try them first.

Ten years ago my late husband got an abcessed tooth in Italy. He did not want to have dental work in Italy and it was two days before we went home. He went to a pharmacy where he got pain killers and antibiotics. He felt great until we got home and got it taken care of.

Last week in Venice my grown daughter was in severe pain with her left ear. We went to one pharmacy where she got numbing medicine to put in her ear. When it did not get better on its own, she went to another pharmacy and got antibiotics which took care of it. She had been terrified of flying again because of the pain she felt landing in Venice.

All the pharmacists we have dealt with have spoken perfect English. And the medicine is reasonably priced.

Thank you, Italy.

lweber

Last year in Germany I stopped a a pharmacy to pick an inhalor. I have no German and no one in the store spoke German. After the usual gestures, etc, the clerk's eyes lit up and she promptly handed me a battery powered gadget to trim nasal hair!

suze

These are all great stories!! But for JeannetteC, since you know you may need this medication, wouldn't it be aLOT easier to get it taken care of at home, rather than spend valuable vacation time attempting to deal with it?

JeannetteC

To Suze: Yes, it would be better to take care of the nasal spray here but I'm rushing around trying to get all my work done before I go and then come home and run errands. Not to mention a family wedding keeping me busy. So, I really don't have time for a doctor's appointment. If I get into trouble, I'll try getting a nasal spray at a pharmacy because it sounds like it won't be difficult. And, if that doesn't work, I'll use Contac or something like that. Thanks to everyone for your stories but I think I'll avoid mental hospitals and psycho drugs! Jeannette

Giovanna

We too have had good experiences with farmacias in both Italy and Spain. Their pharamacists are trained to diagnose and prescribe to some extent. Pity we can't do that here, as well as pay similar low prices, but that's another story. We have also purchased medications in Italy at a cheaper price than here and without a prescription.

However, we always make sure we have adequate quantities of my husband's prescription medications before we leave and carry them in the containers from the drug store. They are always packed in our carry on bags and never checked for fear of lost luggage.

suze

Sorry, I didn't mean to question your priorities (or maybe I did). My suggestion was made most kindly. I would skip errands at home before a trip, rather than leave unprepared for what -you already know- might become an uncomfortable health problem abroad that could have been prevented. Or a hassle at best trying to find something adequate in a pharmacy where I'm guessing you don't speak the language.

suze

p.s. this observation is based upon personal experience & an emergency hunt for tampax in venice.

AprilA

Jeannette, I realize you say you have not seen you allergist in a long time but just call your regular family M.D. and get them to give you a script for whichever spray you had used previously. I am a pharmacist and quite often I have patients who have not seen a specialist in some time and really want a refill on something the specialist had prescirbed. Most family M.D.s are willing to refill it at least once for you without being seen. This of course is providing you have seen your family M.D. in the past year.

Have a great trip!