Medications in France?

I haven't purchased those two items but for a long time I purchased a Flonase-type allergy spray in Europe. It was about $130 a little bottle back then (no generic available at that time) and I bought it in England and Italy for about $8 per bottle. I'd buy a few and bring them back and it would get me though an entire allergy season. I've also purchased albuterol over there. The price different is significant on a lot of drugs.

I purchased Retin A in gel form over the counter in Portugal for 10 euros last year, and then took the nearly empty tube to pharmacies on my last trip to France and Italy. In France the pharmacist said that the product was "suppressed" and that I would need a prescription anyway, and in Italy I was told I would need a prescription.

As the above two replies indicate, availability and pricing of medications in Europe vary greatly from country to country and from here. Some that are prescription only here are otc there and vice versa. In general, prescription drugs are cheaper than here; and otc meds are more expensive, sometimes a lot more expensive. Some that are readily available here are banned there. For example, a friend couldn't get Peptobismol in Vienna. A pharmacist explained that bismuth is banned in Austria. I don't take any prescription drugs, but I always bring the otc's that I take regularly or think I might need, like ibuprofen, antihistamines, sudafed. The few times I forgot, it cost me lots of euros. You should also keep in mind that otc meds, for the most part, will only be sold in pharmacies. You probably can't even get aspirin in a supermarket. Very different from here. My advice is to bring what you think you'll need. If you see a bargain price on something, you can always stock up for the future.

So what are the chances of taking a prescription from here and having it filled there? Likely depends on the country and its particular regulations as well as the drug, yes?

There is no country that I know of that would fill a prescription written here. You would most likely have to see a local doctor to have a new prescription written.

Marty, are you concerned that you won't have enough of your medication to last the trip? Your pharmacist can accommodate you by giving you extra, or even a second full prescription, if you explain your situation. At any rate, my pharmacy does that for me.

I agree with Nancy on the question about whether you could get a U.S. prescription filled here in Europe. I wouldn't think it very likely. You would have to get a local doctor to issue you a prescription in order to be able to get it filled.