My boy fried and i will be in Rome, in the fall. We have both heard that you can get things like valium, and perscription, drugs right in there cvs type stores.With out a perscription. Is this true, and if it is to what extant. Thanks, Chris

To what "extant" do you and your boy "fried" require drugs? Have you considered just writing or phoning in your own perscriptions in your home town? This is a TRAVEL FORUM. NOT a junkie resource. When you get to Rome, just check out all the resources. Not to be overlooked are folks on the street who do not ask for "perscriptions" or who can, for a fee, direct you to a poosher.

Hi Chris, <BR>I don`t know and I`m not sure if I really want to know for what reason you need Valium. But I`m sure that you`ll never get Valium without prescription throughout Europe. Most countries have a "red list" and you`re being checked-even with a prescription and Valium is certainly on it! <BR>Stay awake and enjoy your vacation! <BR> <BR>Miriam

The above posters are absolutely correct. Furthermore, Italians are not as prescription-drug dependent as Americans. For most maladies--insomia (I am sure that is what you want the valium for, right), allergies, sinus infections--the pharmacist will be happy to prescribe a natural or homeopathic remedy.

Sigh..... Everyones so quick to judge.I am 22 and have been to Europe on 3 different occasions.Each time was worse then the other regarding....... jet lag. Valium works best for me. PERIOD!! Thank you so much for your angry judgemental replys. Maybe you should try some valium.

Chris: Let me be quite blunt with you. <BR>The way you phrased your message, and the way you misspelled several common words opened the door for the type of attacking responses you received. <BR>Perhaps you did not check your spelling carefully, or perhaps you are unaware that "I" is commonly capitalized. Reversing the "e" and the "r" in prescription could be the result of untidy typing, and the use of "extant" rather than "extent" is perhaps a typographical error. <BR>Taken as a whole, the subject you addressed, plus the wording you used, plus the misspellings that crept in, all combine to give the inquiry a poor tone. <BR>You can blame us for sharply worded responses, but I think a more appropriately worded message with correct spellings would have elicited a more friendly response. <BR>One lesson I learned in life the hard way is this: the picture depends on the frame. <BR>Words not only present the written picture of your ideas, but, correctly spelled, they are also the frame and fabric of what you intend to convey. <BR>So rather than deny that you are partly responsible for the type of response you received, I suggest that you take a look at how you approached the problem, not only here on this forum but on future occasions when you need to author a written inquiry. You will get a much better response if you do, and avoid hostile rebuffs.

Yawning.... Picturing Bob the prattler going thru his neighbors garbage, looking for out going mail to grade. What are you the forum police? If you dont like a post, don't respond. Old busy body. &lt; guaranteed to elicit a responce from Bob the official forum securty guard.

I don't take criticism well either, Chris, but often, looking back, I realize there was a valid point. In the end I'm grateful that someone made the effort to give me a bit of a kick that was needed.

Got the reaction you wanted, didn't you, Chris. Anyone else notice how suddenly erudite s/he became? Valium is easily prescribed by a doctor, so there's no need to score it in a foreign country. Pretty obvious this was a really poor troll. Good for a laugh, but not much else.

Jetlag drugs - please note you cannot buy melatonin in most of Europe, though it is available in most US airports. <BR>I find that this works well, though some on this forum have recently reported side effects.(vivid dreams)(try search) <BR>I can understand that people often don't want to bring drugs across borders unless they need to. <BR>Many people are given Valium specifically against fear of flying. <BR>Pharmacists operate under different regimes all over Europe - in Spain until recently you could buy almost anything including barbiturates & amphetamines over the counter, but thats been changed as they're trying to harmonise the regulations across Europe. <BR>Don't know what the current position is in Italy, probably more relaxed than in Northern Europe. <BR>It's surprising how many people can offer you a Valium if you ask!If you get more than you need please send some to Fodor's, some of us obviously need them.......

Valium for jetlag???? Are you serious??? Cure for feeling vague and out-of-it is to be more vague and out-of-it?

I do alot o' travelin' and suffer from memory lapses at times (I can't recall any o' the 1970's). Hours on the aeroplane seem to make me feel e'en worse. Can ye tell me where I might score some 'orse? Trust me, it's fer medicinal purposes Luv!!

I sorry - this is ridiculous. I take Valium for the plane ride and it does help me sleep at night when I am jetlagged. I have a Ambien perscription as well - it does not work as well. I cannot answer the question for Italy, but I do know that in Mexico you can get Xanex (sp?) at the local pharmacy OTC. I am not a drug addict either. Did like Keith's response - lol. Some people still do have a sense of humor. Proselytizing is not required.

Chris- Most countries sell many more drugs over the counter than does USA. We have to Mexico, Canada and Saudi Arabia and always bring back those things which we know we need but hate to pay a doctor a $50 and up office visit for. We stock up on penicillian, and pain bills and now that we have arthritis we get anti inflammatory medicine as well. When my husband was in Saudi Arabia he brought back so much medicine I still have some and its been 3 years. We aren't drug addicts, we just don't like paying a doctor an office visit for a sore throat or a migraine headache. I was in the E.R. room the other night for a bladder stone and I was there 7 hours and they still had not given anything for the pain. A man next to me had a migraine and he left and went home- after 3 hours they had still not given him anything and the bright lights and noises really affected him. If only he had been able to get some Vicatin over the counter!

here is a website where you can buy a little handbook on where to buy your Rx parmaceuticals in Europe and Mexico. <BR>www.kirknews.com <BR>purchasing pharmaceuticals abroad is perfectly legal and you will see a savings of 35-50% because here in the US there is no regulation or price setting whereas in Mexico there is price setting by the government. Many people on social security and fixed incomes who need a certain Rx can buy them much cheaper abroad. I found a website wherein you order them directly from Europe but you have to pay to get in- I think these books are better and more on the up and up

So you stock up on penicillin whenever you're in another country? Is this so you can dose yourself whenever you have one of the sore throats that you mention? Ever think that there may be a reason that prescription drugs require a prescription in the U.S.? Guess why antibiotic-resistant strains are becoming such a problem.

being in the medical profession (psychologist) I do not recommend Valium for jet lag or any other unprescirbed reasons. It is an addictive medication and shouldn't be used lightly. People were mentioning that it would be easier if drugs like this were sold over the counter here but you have to realize that if they are your insurance wouldn't pay for it and you would be shelling out a lot more money for your medications if they were over the counter.

April, I was puzzled by your comment re being able to buy drugs in Canada or Mexico that you can't get without a doctor's visit in the US. I live in Canada, and I thought our laws were as strict (or stricter in some cases) than those of the US. For example, we can't buy melatonin here - I always buy it and stock up in the States or Mexico. (Some stores may sell it here, but it's not legally for sale.) Also Primatene mist (which I sometimes use) can't be bought over the counter here, but I have bought it in the States.

Thanks everyone for all the advise. heres some back. 5mg of valium at bedtime for about 3 days is great for treating jet-lag. Its what worked for me best my last trip to England. Funny, the mention of "valium" ilicits such response. Some idiots called me junky. LOL Relax you nasty busy buddies. Dont be so quick to judge. Thank you to all the nice non-judgementel folks. See you in Italy.

I just hope Chris was trying to sound like a moron on purpose. We all make a lot mistakes on here, but she's writing on a sub-second grade level. Actually, that's an insult to first graders. <BR> <BR>Although, I do have to point out that you can get Seldane and Claritan over the counter in Europe (at least in the UK). I don't go to the doctor for this, as my allergy attacks don't occur often enough to warrant it. But it's great to have this stuff on hand when I do need it. <BR> <BR>Chris-lay off the hard stuff.