Don't pack this in your luggage

There are a few medications that are OTC in the US but banned or by prescription only in the EU.

Pepto Bismol is not available in the EU but is in the UK. Naproxem Sodium (Alleve) is by prescription only. There are limits to the number of tablets, as well as strength, you can get regarding Ibuprofen and Paracetamol (Tylenol.)

The active ingredients in Benadryl may require a prescription in some countries.

Hi Somewhere in time, while pseudoephedrine now requires a prescription for purchase in some EU countries, I don’t know of any European country, and certainly not “many European countries” that have banned it.

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/referrals/pseudoephedrine-containing-medicinal-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com

If you know differently, would you mind sharing your source. The problem with the internet, is there is so much false information out there. It’s important to get information like this from official sources, and not social media.

Well, it's still available (in combined preparations only) in Germany without a prescription - I bought a packet of Rhinopront literally two hours ago. So definitely not illegal. France and Belgium now require prescriptions, though, and it's been heavily restricted in the Netherlands for years.

Basically, as others have said, this is one where the country-specific rules vary a lot even within the EU, so it's worth checking the specifics of your destination.

Even though it’s indeed restricted in the Netherlands, pseudoephedrine is not banned. You can bring it into the country in quantities for your own use.
Btw, the reason that it’s restricted in the Netherlands is because the Dutch medicine authorities have concluded that it can cause serious side effects which outweigh the potential health benefits.

It would help if the OP could provide a link or a source for the statement that “pseudoephedrine is banned in many European countries. “

I am going to give the OP the benefit of the doubt and thnk the OP was making a point that Sudafed (and similar) US over the counter medications are not avaialbe in many European countries, maybe not permitted to bring them in. Then thank the OP for bringing up the point that not everything here is always cut and dry the same in Europe and vise versa. Never hurts to raise the question.

If the OP wanted to inform people that these medications aren’t available over the counter, he/she could have suggested to actually do pack them in your luggage. That way you don’t have to go without them while on your holiday.

Instead, the OP instead wrote the opposite and literally stated that it’s banned in many European countries. In cases like this it’s always helpful to provide links to a source of information.

I did about a 5 minute hunt. Apparently it is possible that in one European country of the four that I checked it is considered a controlled substance which is sort of strong language for something only available by prescritpion. Yes, apparently you can bring it in in small quantities for personal use .... but with the prescription and a letter from the doctor. Well, an American is going to have trouble getting a doctor to write a prescription for Sudafed. So from a practical point of view, its banned in that country.

I think there is evidence enough to suggest that if you want to carry Sudafed on your holiday that you need to do some research and ensure you do it correctly for the country you are visitning.

Thank you Somewhere in time for the heads up.

Unfortunately the OP is not alone in posting inaccurate information. Word choice matters. Accuracy matters. Hence the need to always post a link to the source, for further scrutiny. There is indeed a big difference between banned and restricted, or by prescription only., or by controlled prescription only. A ban means just that- you can't bring it in and it can't be prescribed. If it can be prescribed in a country, you can bring in amounts limited to personal use. If it is a controlled prescription, the same restrictions and precautions would apply as for a narcotic or psychiatric drug ( original bottle, copy of prescription, Dr's letter).

There are countries (like Japan) that outright ban pseudephedrine and products containing it, but AFAIK, no EU country has an actual ban. And while possible side effects of the medication may be one reason for restricting its use, the primary reason for bans or limits is it's use in the manufacture of meth.

CJean your first fee lines are correct. But then you work with them and the world improves.

Can I bring Benadryl and Tylenol into France? Does the bottle have to be sealed?

How about Voltaren?

What site can I go to so that I can see what is allowed for entry into France?

Never thought about France being strict when it came to OTC.

You can bring in Benadryl, Tylenol and Voltaren into France. The bottles do not need to be sealed.

They will, however, be known by different names as these brands are not known in France. Learn the active ingredients in each in case you need to get more.

As an example, Voltaren is known as Voltarol. The active ingredient in Tylenol is known as Paracetamol in France.

You can only get these meds in a pharmacy and not a supermarket like in the US. No prescription needed.

I am going to give the OP the benefit of the doubt and thnk the OP was making a point that Sudafed (and similar) US over the counter medications are not available in many European countries, maybe not permitted to bring them in. Then thank the OP for bringing up the point that not everything here is always cut and dry the same in Europe and vise versa. Never hurts to raise the question.

I agree, Mr. E. That's a nice way of putting it.

As an example, Voltaren is known as Voltarol. The active ingredient in Tylenol is known as Paracetamol in France.

Not just France but many other places in Europe. When I was in Romania, I was having some problems with my leg and needed some Acetaminophen. But the pharmacist didn't know what I was talking about. I tried using the word "Tylenol" and even our local guide weighed in but it wasn't until I spent a couple of minutes googling that I realized it was known as Paracetamol in Romania.

For what it's worth the box of 20 tablets cost me $0.89 and it worked better (in my opinion) than Tylenol.

Enoxolone (glycyrrhetinic acid) is not available OTC in the USA but is popular in France as "P.O. 12" and in Japan as "Salonpas"

i try to bring back a tube when I come home from France.

https://www.pharmaciedelathure.fr/produit/po-12-2-pour-cent-creme-2310971

Somewhere in time; apparently a few of the RS folks have learned something from your post. Thanks for starting the conversation.

Thank you Mardee and Frank II for answering my question

Wish everyone a Merry Xmas Eve and Day.

The chance that any official is going to scrutinize luggage from a western traveler is minuscule. Bring what you want. I do.

I've been traveling with a few Sudafed in my luggage for decades.

Like ekscrunchy I have for decades tucked some sudafed into the medicine bag of my personal item. 2 small 48-pill blister packs of sudafed fit nicely between 2 blister packs of migraine medicine in it's original box with prescription. No one has ever taken the slightest interest in opening the migraine med box or any of the other Rx's or supplements in our personal bags. I've unfortunately had to add another supplement (AREDS2) for which there's only a printed directive from the ophthalmologist. The bulk factor never seems to decrease.

I believe that Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) is used to make meth. That's why, in the US, they try to track people buying large quantities of Sudafed.

BTW, I have an arthritic knee which bothers me if I do a lot of walking, so I usually take some (about one per day I'll be there) Ibuprofen with me to Europe. In 2012, I unexpectedly had to do a lot of walking and ran out of it early. I bought some more in Zwiesel (Bavarian Forest). In German, the letter we call 'i' (eye) is pronounced as an long 'e'. It's ē-boo-pro-fen over there. But I was able to get it without a prescription.

The last time my wife got a cold in France, we learned, eventually, that France doesn't allow the combination of two over-the-counter drugs in one pill. (Think of the many versions of Robitussin, like Robitussin DM.) You have to buy a cough suppressant and an expectorant separately, if you want both.

As noted, there is a big difference between "banned" (like in Dubai) and "not available for sale." I suggest that the OP edit his original post (and the title/subject line) to substitute some language like "subject to regulation" or "may not be available for sale". Some future reader may fail to read the entire thread, to learn the precise truth.