Why Italy
What drugs are available over the counter in Italy?
Hi, I live in the United States and am traveling to Italy in November. Whenever I go to other countries I am always on the lookout for what over the counter medicines are available there as opposed to here. For example, I can get tylenol with Codeine in Canada over the counter, but here you need a presciption. So I am interested to know what is available in Italy and also what's not available. For example, what about OTC women's products like yeast infection cream? Also what is available for pain killers? Any information greatly appreciated. Thanks!!! Thanks for any answers, however, I don't speak Italian and thus am unable to be assisted by Italian Websites. If someone could just tell me generally, in English, what drugs are available there that are not in the US, that would be super.
Public Comments
- I had found a better website, but I can't find the address, just now; but here another good one: http://www.paginesanitarie.com/ Scroll down till AREA FARMACI then click on "Farmaci da banco/SOP" for the list you're looking for. "Farmaci dalla A alla Z con foglietto illustrativo (ricerca alfabetica)", instead, are a list in alphabetical order. This one http://www.altroconsumo.it/asp/farmaci/farmaci.aspx is from one of the main consumers association: you have to put the name of the active principle ("tra i principi attivi") or the name of the medicine ("tra i farmaci"). The search is in Italian, so you may have to check for this. "Forma farmaceutica" means how the medicine have to be taken (in order to refine the search); for instance "orale" = "orally". Choosing a region is required for reimbursement infos only, since health care is more regional based, now. On the list, you can find OTC (like in English) were appliable. Here https://www.federfarma.it/bdf/ricerca/ricerca.asp the same, even easier: further option is "Tutti i farmaci" (all are listed), "Farmaci con obbligo di ricetta medica" (prescription required), "Farmaci senza obbligo di ricetta medica" (prescription not required). Actually the main source should be here http://www.ministerosalute.it/medicinaliSostanze/presentazione.jsp?id=2&menu=strumentieservizi (Mininistry of Health official website) but just now that section is under upgrade process and the links doesn't work.
