Long shot question: we r in Rome currently departing September 2. We had to use the last of our Benadryl today. My son has a bad nut allergy. Needed to get some more as a precaution for the next few days. Is there anyone currently in Rome from the US that has some? It is not available here in Italy. I have checked everywhere!
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7180 posts
Have you asked a pharmacist at the pharmacy? If they don't have it, they'll know an equivalent.
Posted by
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
290 posts
I just checked and I don't have any left, sorry. From internet searches I am getting that there are (at least) two drugs sold in Italy that have the same active ingredient as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). One is called Reactine and the other Allermax. You might see if the pharmacy has those and then check the ingredient list. They might come in a different dosage than Benadryl back home. The active ingredient is spelled DIFENIDRAMINA in Italian, maybe show that to the pharmacist and see what they come up with. Another web site indicates a drug called Aliserin. Good luck!
Posted by
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
290 posts
In Italian, to say "my son has a bad nut allergy" you can say, "mio figlio ha una grave allergia alla frutta secca". Writing that down on a slip of paper and bringing it with you might help. Most pharmacists speak a bit of English, but having it in Italian to be sure that you are making yourself clear can't hurt.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
A few years ago I was in Rome and saw that I was going to run out of Benadryl. I went to a farmacia and the pharmacist told me that it's a banned substance in Italy.
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
If he really has bad food allergies, I'm hoping you have an epipen? If not, getting one would be a pretty high priority.