Ambien

Unlikely... it's an analogue of a benzodiazapine, so I doubt you can get it in Europe without a prescription.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't doubt it, but I don't know the cost and you'd have to ask for it by it's generic name, Zolpidem. My friend was able to buy an albuterol inhaler OTC in Paris, and that's a prescription drug in the US

I don't claim to know the answer to the question asked, which is a matter of law in the various countries, and I'm not a health professional. But I'm with Tom (1st post), the only physician on the Helpline, AFAIK.

I think Ambien is classified per US drug law as a Class 5 Controlled Substance; a controlled substance is regulated by the DEA, it's more regulated than a prescription drug that isn't a controlled substance (this is under US law, not European law).

But the reason for it being classified as a controlled substance in the US--which I assume is because it cam potentially be addictive and/or potentially be abused to the detriment of the patient--argues against the likelihood that it's available, without a prescription, in Europe.

I'd be interested to see whether anyone will claim they have personal experience buying ambien in Europe without a prescription. Technically, if you were to ask the DEA (and I'm not recommending that), they would probably tell you they better not catch a US citizen bringing a Controlled Substance into the US without it having been prescribed by someone legally authorized to do so.

No experience with Ambien, which as earlier posts note, but travelers should note that there are over the counter drugs and supplements in the US--like many cold remedies and supplements like melatonin--which are either unavailable or non-OTC in Europe, and other prescription drugs--such as low level codeine and some antibiotics, which may be OTC there. I can vouch for getting nitrofurantoin, an antibiotic, over the counter in Istanbul after describing my symptoms to the pharmacist.

Also, be careful about taking drugs legal in one place over the border--people are always getting caught accidentally taking tylenol with codeine from Canada into the US...

Diphenhydramine works for sleep inducement. Unisom or even Benadryl. Its what I use when travelling.

JER, I always bring back Ibuprofen with codeine (Solpadeine, an over the counter migraine drug, $5 for 24 tablets!) from Britain and have never had it confiscated. I thought you are allowed to bring in medicinals that are available here as long as it isnt large amounts. I just use it for bad sinus migraines. Never have been stopped by customs on 3 trips abroad.

Tami,

people react differently to different medications. Antihistamines are a case in point: for some people they have a sedative effect, for some they do nothing - and some people may feel hyper-active ...

Just my opinion, but if you're going to Europe & you anticipate sleep problems, why not talk to your own U.S. doctor and let him prescribe something for you? I don't think self-prescribing is ever a good idea.