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 in 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.

Well I guess I just unknowingly broke the rule. I always bring an OTC cold/sinus medicine, and both my daughter & I needed my Sudafed during our recent Christmas Markets trip.

Hopefully someone in Germany, Italy, etc. can let us know if this is a fact.

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.