Question on buying medicines in Spain (and it is a bargain if u can!)

Snake Plisken

Does anyone know if you can buy some medicines that you need a prescription for here over the counter in Spain, e.g. Asthma inhalers, Antibiotics for kids adults, etc? I know that if you have a prescription from a doctor over there you get like 60 percent discount, but even at full price its a whole lot lower then what you pay here. Can anyone clarify this for me?

Thanks

Snake

JoeBaz

You can get some medicines that you need a prescription for here, over the counter in Spain. It depends on what kind of medicine it is and also how eager the pharmacist is to turn a blind eye if a prescription is needed. You definitely should be able to get Asthma inhalers and anti-inflammatories, but as for other medicines, I don't know for sure.

shabbyroad

You can get pretty much most regular medicines over the counter in Spain. It would be useful to find out some of the generic names and it will save confusion (and risk) to make sure you know the actual name of the medicine (not the brand name).
I got a few inhalers and things when in Spain and saved quite a few euro but didn't go mad ... I was on holiday after all.

hansov

mrs h got her inhalers and diffene (anti inflammatories !) over the counter in Lanzarote. But as somebody else said bring the generic name or even the box/instruction notes as the pharmacist ( spelling?) can match it exactly with a Spanish brand. And boy are they so much cheaper :eek:

Snake Plisken

Cool thanks for your inputs guys, I wonder if you went into a chemist and asked for 10 inhalers would they sell them to you?

nava

Hi

If you can let them know the reason why you want 10 they might sell them to you.

Google the brands in Google.es that should give you an idea.

As mention before bring the ingredients of the medicine as they have the same or very similar names for them, so in the chemist they should know what to give you.

Some of the brands are the same over here and over there, as the pharmaceutical companies are the same in both countries.

I think they only look at the main ingredient, normally is on the box just under the brand name.

gonker

Yes def stuff is cheaper in spain just back from there and my daughter had a sore throat and temp for 3 days didnt want to give her an antibiotic but went to the chemist he said yes she needs one gave her a supply and an extra supply just incase the first batch didnt work and incase she needed another course which sometimes happens.

The other half got really badly sunburned the pharmacist gave us some cream that you can only get in hospitals over here for the burning.............. total €14 huge savings.

I know also that zovirax stuff for cold sores is really cheap in spain too there was a nurse staying at our hotel and she was passing on the info on what to buy to the rep who was passing it on to the other guests it was interesting but yes def savings to be had.