Any toiletries/pharmacy type items that you couldn't find in Italy?

Epsom salts can be widely found in the UK, pharmacies are not the best place to go for them, think more along the lines of shops selling beauty supplies.

Sunscreen can be found everywhere, why wouldn't it be?

Menstrual supplies? Of course, why wouldn't there be?

Aloe? Absolutely.....everywhere.

Forget about brand names. Most US brands won't be available overseas, you need to look for the generic drug name. Ibuprofen can be found everywhere, some countries it can be found in supermarkets and the supermarket own brand will be significantly cheaper than a branded one. You'll find the same major types of OTC medicines in Europe that you will in the US but the brands will be different.

Is there anything specific you have in mind? Europe isn't some third world backwater, you'll find the same medicines and toiletries as you will in the US, you just need to understand that you're unlikely to find your favourite brands.

And in Europe in general, items may not be where you expect them to be based on US experience. I always bring whatever I think I might need for that reason, although sometimes unexpected things happen. Then finding things can be part of the adventure.

Lots of nice options for shampoo, conditioner, soap and sunscreen in Italy. I love their soaps that have a little olive oil in them for moisturizing. I’ve seen menstrual supplies in stores.

For medicine, I would take at least a small supply - in case you need some when the stores are closed.

Enjoy your trip! Sounds like a wonderful summer planned!

The only things we can't find are (separately) original flavor Listerine and K+Y jelly.

These are items that I've not found or that have been widely reported not to be available in many European countries:

• high-zinc lozenges like Cold-eeze (personal experience)
• Pepto-Bismol
• travel-size solid anti-perspirant (I have looked in many places. I have ended up with small aerosols and full-size roll-ons. A large drug store is obviously more likely than a small one to have a selection of travel-size items.)

I remember reading warnings about the difficulty of obtaining decongestants containing pseudoephedrine in Europe, but perhaps they are available at pharmacy counters--which I think may be the way they are now handled in the US??

Some OTC meds may be a lot more expensive than in the US. Part of that is related to our tendency to buy the large bottles at home and use them over a year or two, whereas in Europe you won't need all that many and will be looking for a smaller package at a higher per-pill cost. I found acetaminophen (Tylenol/Paracetamol) at a very reasonable price at Boots in the UK, but I had to pay something like 50 cents per pill somewhere on the continent when I need ibuprofen (Advil). Pricing definitely varies by country, and I cannot say whether either of those two experiences would be likely in Italy.

You might have to ask in Italian, but you should find everything.
Some brand names may actually be the same as in America (for example ibuprofen or Imodium, both widely available), but it is best to describe the generic itam, in case the same brand is not available. For example asking for Bengay or Tylenol won’t get you far, because those brands aren’t sold there.
The best places to buy those things are the pharmacies, in the absence of a nearby large store.
Pharmacy=FARMACIA (pr. PHARMA-cheea). They all have a lighted green cross.
You can find beauty products in both pharmacies and regular stores (or profumerie), but OTC medications will be in pharmacies only. Due to pharmacies having the quasi monopoly on OTC meds, and since only few pharmacies licenses are given in each area, prices of products sold in pharmacies are higher than the equivalent in the US. I would bring a few sample meds in travel size from the US, just in case of need, rather than buy, for example, a full pack of Imodium there at a pharmacy.

Shampoo=SHAMPO
Conditioner=BALSAMO
Bodywash=BAGNOSCHIUMA (pr. Banio Ski-Yuma)
Anti fever Med like Tylenol=ANTIPIRETICO (ibuprofen and Tachipirina most common)
Decongestant=DECONGESTIONANTE NASALE (Rinazina most common)
sunscreen=CREMA SOLARE (Hawaiian tropic, Garnier, Nivea, etc)
Aloe=ALOE VERA
salts for feet bath=SALI PER PEDILUVIO (Epson salts is called SALI DI EPSON)
Tampons=ASSORBENTI INTERNI
Dental wash=COLLUTTORIO DENTALE (Colgate and Listerine are widely available brands)
Toothpaste=DENTIFRICIO (many brands, incl. Colgate)
Dental floss=FILO INTERDENTALE (several brands incl. OB)
Anti diarrhea meds=MEDICINALI ANTIDIARROICI (Imodium is the most common brand)

I have always been able to find anything I needed in a pharmacy, convenience or grocery store. Make sure you know generic names and brand names specific to the country. I would bring my own supply of items that you have a sensitivity to, or allergies. I am allergic to Imodium. So I bring my own product just in case, and would avoid purchasing an antidiarrheal in a foreign country where I may not understand translations, etc. For the most part, its the thrill of the hunt, I love going into grocery stores, etc., to poke around.

In addition to the information suggested, I found an informative link by googling "The Essential Guide to over the counter medicines in Italy." I recently went to a Pharmacy searching for throat lozenges and after describing what I needed, the pharmacist said, "candy!" and handed me a box of throat lozenges. The great thing about European Pharmacies is their wealth of knowledge. Helpful when traveling abroad.

When I lived in Italy 10 years ago, it was very hard to find deodorant with anti-perspirant. I’m not sure if they sell that in the stores now, but I always take my own when I travel there.

I can't find it now, but I remember reading a post here that Benadryl (diphenhydramine) was not sold in at least one European country.

As for menstrual supplies, while something will always be available, it may not be the kind you want or are used to. Since many women have very strong preferences in this arena, many prefer to bring all they will need from home.

If you absolutely need a specific brand of something, take it with you. As others mentioned the brands you are used to herein the US simply do not exist in most of Europe.

When I needed Tylenol in the UK, I did not know it was called paracetamol, took me forever to find it and that was only with the help of a pharmacist. For that drug, the cost there per tablet was half of what I spend for the generic acetaminophen I buy in the US, but they would only sell 12 tablets at a time. So make sure you know the generic, non brand, name for things you think you might need more of after arrival. And don't look for bottles of 100+ like we can get at home.

Eleanor,

I usually travel with a fairly well equipped kit, but have had to buy local supplies at times. With items like toothpaste, shampoo or whatever, the usual brand names seem to be available. However, the formulation and ingredients are sometimes slightly different than the North American versions. On one occasion, I had to buy some antacids in London and couldn't find my usual brand but the Chemist suggested a product and it worked fine.

Here's what you won't find in American pharmacies.

We went to a farmacia somewhere in Liguria last month because the medical tape I had used to tape up my foot for plantar fasciitis caused both a long ugly blister and a severe allergic reaction to the tape's adhesive. It was kind of an ugly mess, and we wanted some cortisone ointment and cotton gauze and some extra large bandaids.

The woman at the farmacia really, really wanted to SEE it so she could help us better to get what we needed. I might have shown her, too, except that I had just spent a lot of time carefully wrapping up my foot with all the bandaids, etc. that we already had, plus I was a bit embarrassed to take off my shoe and sock. But can you imagine someone at CVS wanting to actually look at or even talk about whatever your gross problem is? It must be great to have a sort of mini-ER in every farmacia. On another trip, the pharmacist and my husband had a lengthy talk about exactly what my cough sounded like.

Anyway, the only products we haven't been able to find in Italy are scent-free soap, shampoo, sunscreen, and laundry detergent. Almost all apartments we have rented (mostly Airbnb) have provided all of these things (but perfumed) so you may not need to buy these things right away.

Haven't seen anything like Mucinex (but didn't ask for it either) and still find it kind of hard to figure out the kind of sanitary products I want just from looking at all the packages and asking my husband to translate all the words (really a fun activity!). Ibuprofen seemed kind of expensive but each pill was twice the usual American strength.

The downside of buying products while traveling is that you will probably have to buy larger sizes than you really need and then carrying them around for the whole trip. We usually take very small amounts of the "might need it in the middle of the night " OTC medications in tiny plastic labeled ziplock bags.

I know that Europe isn't a 3rd world country :) It just surprised me on our last trip that, even describing those items and what they were used for, the pharmacy clerks were baffled by our requests, making me realize that things we take for granted here, may not be common there. In particular, with sunscreen- are Italian's sunworshippers and it would be hard to find anything more than SPF 15? And for menstrual supplies- do most Italian women prefer tampons, making pads hard to find? Things that wouldn't seem obvious, until you get there and spend too much of your time looking around.

Epsom salts can be widely found in the UK, pharmacies are not the best place to go for them, think more along the lines of shops selling beauty supplies.

Sunscreen can be found everywhere, why wouldn't it be?

Menstrual supplies? Of course, why wouldn't there be?

Aloe? Absolutely.....everywhere.

Forget about brand names. Most US brands won't be available overseas, you need to look for the generic drug name. Ibuprofen can be found everywhere, some countries it can be found in supermarkets and the supermarket own brand will be significantly cheaper than a branded one. You'll find the same major types of OTC medicines in Europe that you will in the US but the brands will be different.

Is there anything specific you have in mind? Europe isn't some third world backwater, you'll find the same medicines and toiletries as you will in the US, you just need to understand that you're unlikely to find your favourite brands.

And for menstrual supplies- do most Italian women prefer tampons, making pads hard to find?

More the other way around. But plenty of each in various shapes and sizes.

SPF - Italians are just as worried about skin cancer as everybody else. Yes, you can find Hawaii whatever it is zero SPF, and simple cocoa butter, but you can easily find SPF-30, and plenty of SPF-50. With stars for the UV. And kids sunscreen which turns colour. And waterproof and non-waterproof. Spray, cream and lotion, and a few as I said oils. More in the summer than the winter.

You won't find an expiry date on sunscreen and many other cosmetics. Usually an icon of a jar with the lid ajar and a number. The number is the number of months the product is best used in after opening.

Same stuff just different symbols and names. Just like driving, really.

When living in Italy, I could readily find aloe vera and ibuprofen, but ibuprofen was super expensive. I would buy it at Boots in the UK to bring home.

Sudafed is non existent as is Benedryl.

Aspirin is not available in Italy although the Vatican farmacia has it.

Harold above spoke the truth: no Benadryl in Italy. I haven't tried to buy it in two years so maybe things have changed. But as to all my trips so far: no Benadryl sold. Bring your own if you need it for allergy issues.

That is good to know about the Benadryl. I have idiopathic anaphylaxis (no one knows what triggers it) and liquid Benadryl plus an Epi-pen gets me to the hospital mostly conscious. I just have to figure out how to take it in my carry-on...

I do have personal experience in not being able to find Pepto Bismol in Italy. My SIL was sick and bismuth is not available. I now carry both Pepto Bis chewables as well as Immodium because if you develop a problem at night you need it "right now".

The pharmacist did offer a substitute but SIL was not open to trying something unfamiliar.

@west coast wanderer, can you get a prescription for the epi-pen and liquid benadryl? I know benadryl is OTC, but if it had a prescription label, I do not believe it "counts" towards your quart bag of "liquids". At least that has been the case for me. There are times when I've had drugs filled as a prescription for various reasons (one was sudafed) that are actually available OTC.

I use Benadryl for the same reason as you. I just bring the chewable Children's ones. But if you must have the liquid, there is a TSA exemption for medically necessary. Not part of your liquid limit:
3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption
TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to TSA officers at the checkpoint for inspection.
Remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. You are not required to place your liquid medication in a plastic zip-top bag. If a liquid, gel, or aerosol declared as medically necessary alarms, then it may require additional screening and may not be allowed.

Agree with Valerie, but you need documentation or a label, otherwise it is OTC and is supposed to be in the liquid quart bag. I had a minor nose procedure prior to my last trip to Spain. I needed to use Nasonex which is OTC. Because I didn't pursue any special labeling, TSA, made me put it in my quart bag. (Which required my husband to take my mascara and shampoo and put it in his quart bag. . .)

I discovered - the hard way - that hydrocortisone ointment is only available by prescription in Israel, so I now bring my own to Europe, too, in my "liquids" ziplock, just in case...

I also learned the hard way that ibuprofen in Italy is expensive, but pay attention to the dosage if you pick up some there. Here in the States, OTC ibuprofen is sold in 200 mg strength. In Italy, I was able to buy a higher strength tablet which meant I only had to take one instead of two or three of my US tablets.

@jules m - I am going to get my gp to give me prescriptions for both the liquid Benadryl and for the Epi-pens. Better safe than completely freaked out and afraid to eat anything for more than 3 weeks. In Italy!

@Valerie - thank you for the info! I am going to get some of those too. Much easier to carry around daily and also a good back-up.

I now carry both Pepto Bis chewables as well as Immodium because if
you develop a problem at night you need it "right now".

Oy. Truer words never spoken, Pam! Immodium is a must-pack for this girl. I've only needed it once but was mighty happy to have had it for that particular "RIGHT NOW".

Oh Kathy! Laughing at the memories but not really?! Trying to sprint out at night on your own to find an open pharmacy...well, lets just say I'll carry the extra weight of the medication, hahaha!! OR on a dang airplane!

Our son, who is very picky about his hair, failed to bring the hair paste he'd been using when we took the VFR tour last year. He assumed he could find anything he needed in Italy. Long story short, we spent WAY too much time trekking around the winding alleys of Venice seeking his necessary hair product, which we finally found on our third day in a little beauty shop after a million twists and turns. We laugh about it as "The Quest for Hair Product," but it wasn't really fun at the time. I'm guessing we probably could have found what he wanted fairly easily in big-city Rome, but Venice is a different animal. If you've got some specific product that you really, really need/want, you might want to bring along at least enough to get you through a few days.

As stated, no Pepto. Also impossible to find unscented solid deodorant/anti-perspirant.

Expect size of selection to be less than in the U.S. But the pharmacists are good and if you need something ask.

This is not a pharmacy item, but I like to carry mints like Altoids around with me. Could not find anything like that in Italy. They have lots of throat lozenges but not plain mints. I will bring more with me next time.

I think the max number of doses per package allowed by law is 30, so don’t expect huge packages like they sell at Costco.
Pharmacists have to go through extensive training in courses normally associate with Med School, therefore they are well prepared.
Also some will sell you stuff without prescription which in America will send you straight to the DEA for some talk. I often buy hydrocodone for my mother and some pharmacies don’t ask me for a prescription. Hydrocodone is a sch. II controlled substance in the US. So be aware that the strength you might get in Italy may not be like you are used to.

I always bring a small amount of what I might need including cold pills etc. I prefer to use what I am familiar with plus I have found the items to be more expensive in Europe. For example, I just returned from Italy and got a cold the last few days. I paid twice as much for cough drops as I would have paid at home but as I needed them, no choice.

I pack a separate mini-kit of medicines (smallest-pouch), some are hard/not available in Europe. I mainly just want to have them available in the evening/morning and don't want to hunt down a pharmacy and go through the explanations process. I can also provide to the older members of our family when we travel who may have forgot or, over-looked something.

• Ibuprofen
• Acetometaphin
• Pepto, tablets
• Prilosec, 1-card
• Rolaids/Tums, 2-rolls
• Sudafed, 1-card
• Benedryl, tablets
• Thera-Flu at least 4-pkts
• Mucinex, 1-card
• Nyquel, gel capsules
• Emergen-C, at least 6-pkts
• Icy hot patches

The Emergen-C I drink one on the plane ride over, then another one 24-hours later. Lots of germs passed around in the airplane, airport/train station and your body is a bit off-center sometimes with the travel change of pace. During the middle of our trip last year, my mother came down with a cold which got worse from Ljubliana to Venice to Florence, four days of walking around in the rain did it. The Thera-Flu, a days' rest and a couple of bowls of tortellini en brodo helped nip-it in the bud. My dad's eyes were bigger than his stomach when he got a bit excited eating anchovies/onion pasta...the Tums and later the Prilosec helped nail down the stomach issues after dinner.

I think Emergen-C is a great idea. I actually start it 3-4 days before my trip.

Kathy, I’ve seen Mentos mints in every country we’ve visited in Europe - very popular.

This is not a pharmacy item, but I like to carry mints like Altoids around with me. Could not find anything like that in Italy. They have lots of throat lozenges but not plain mints. I will bring more with me next time.

Mints in Italy are viewed as candy, thus go to a candy store, you'll find them packaged as small candies in twisted plastic wrappers. Ask for zecca

Mentos are a Dutch candy, lots of unique flavors found in Europe that are hard to get here in the US. Always fun to bring back those unique flavors as gifts.