What meds to buy in Spain?

[Mousy]

I’ve noticed people saying that they buy medication in Spain that would be prescribed in the UK.
Like antibiotic ointment etc.

Or Alcohol for removing sticky labels.

We have a few weeks left here so any suggestions on stuff to buy that might be useful? Thanks.

 

[Mikeco]

It’s only useful if you need them, we have shown our prescriptions to buy tablets that we were short off for our own use.

 

[tonka]

Or Alcohol for removing sticky labels.

We have a few weeks left here so any suggestions on stuff to buy that might be useful? Thanks.

That may be isopropanol.. readily available in UK and not expensive so no special need to buy in Spain.

 

[Ivory55]

Methadone, haha

 

[Emmit]

96%Alcohol is sold at Mercadona supermarkets.

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[gus-lopez]

96%Alcohol is sold at Mercadona supermarkets.

it is also sold in most chinese shops . 100ml bottles used to be 60c but soared after covid to 2,5 but are now around 1,50€ .litre bottles are around 4,50€.8 used to be 2,50€)
If you want ibuprofen you can get 400 & 600mg tablets in 40's for around 1,90€
Xumadol (paracetomol) in 1000mg x 40 tablets ( 2,30€) or disolvable x 40 sachets 3,30€.

You can get antiseptic ointment & also available in powder form .

 

[Emmit]

Last year I was told that one couldn't buy 600mg ibuprofen 'over the counter any more.
Do you know definately different?

 

[Lenny HB]

it is also sold in most chinese shops . 100ml bottles used to be 60c but soared after covid to 2,5 but are now around 1,50€ .

Last time I bought one it was 90c about 3 years ago I remember a few years before it was 30c, still better than 3 quid in the UK.

 

[Mousy]

It’s only useful if you need them, we have shown our prescriptions to buy tablets that we were short off for our own use.

Absolutely. We have stayed in Spain longer this trip due to Martin braking his shoulder. I’ve bought naproxen combined with a stomach liner, Ibuprofen gel and my prescription medication for my MS symptoms. The pharmacist has been very helpful. I’m tempted to find out how much my hrt patches would be as there is a nationwide shortage at home!

 

[Mousy]

it is also sold in most chinese shops . 100ml bottles used to be 60c but soared after covid to 2,5 but are now around 1,50€ .litre bottles are around 4,50€.8 used to be 2,50€)
If you want ibuprofen you can get 400 & 600mg tablets in 40's for around 1,90€
Xumadol (paracetomol) in 1000mg x 40 tablets ( 2,30€) or disolvable x 40 sachets 3,30€.

You can get antiseptic ointment & also available in powder form .

Yes that’s what I’ve seen, I’ll pick some up tomorrow. I’ll look out for the antiseptic ointment too.

I once bought some cream for mosquitoes bites in Mexico that was fantastic. Wish I’d bought loads!

It might seem strange but I always check out chemists when abroad!

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[gus-lopez]

Last year I was told that one couldn't buy 600mg ibuprofen 'over the counter any more.
Do you know definately different?

Yes ,legally you require a prescription for ibuprofen or paracetomol over 400mg dosage when sold in quantities over 10 tablets or sachets. In reality 8 out of 10 will sell you one box of 40. I have been accumulating stocks for someone recently & I have bought in 4 chemists with only 1 first off not wanting to sell them but then decided they would?
I have an arrangement with my local chemist & have been buying 2 x 40 x 600mg boxes daily for the last few days.
I only know of one Farmácia here that will not sell without a prescription yet he will order horse worming tablets & anti biotics for me that require a veterinary prescription without me having one.

They have been tightening up over the last few years but in many places they will still not be worried about selling ,especially to foreigners.

 

[gus-lopez]

I once bought some cream for mosquitoes bites in Mexico that was fantastic. Wish I’d bought loads!

One of the best things for those is 'amoniaco' which is a dilute ammonia solution that is used here in spain as a floor cleaner. Sold in most supemarkets ,cheap as chips down to 60c/litre, unperfumed is best, & has the additional benefit of being suitable for use on any types of bites, fleas,ticks, wasps, bee stings, & including jelly fish. It is the main constituent ,or was until they stopped using it, in " afterbite" pens.(utterly useless nowafterbitepens are)
Another use for it is as smelling salts, sinus clearing ,etc, since they stopped McKenzies from using ammonia in there smelling salts & renderd them unsellable.

#gusestoptipsforamondaynight.

 

[Parrot Face]

Absolutely. We have stayed in Spain longer this trip due to Martin braking his shoulder. I’ve bought naproxen combined with a stomach liner, Ibuprofen gel and my prescription medication for my MS symptoms. The pharmacist has been very helpful. I’m tempted to find out how much my hrt patches would be as there is a nationwide shortage at home!

Be careful with anti inflams. I also used to be prescribed them and often bought Diclofenic over the counter in Spain. I stay away from them now as they can seriously damage your kidneys.

 

[MandP]

it is also sold in most chinese shops . 100ml bottles used to be 60c but soared after covid to 2,5 but are now around 1,50€ .litre bottles are around 4,50€.8 used to be 2,50€)
If you want ibuprofen you can get 400 & 600mg tablets in 40's for around 1,90€
Xumadol (paracetomol) in 1000mg x 40 tablets ( 2,30€) or disolvable x 40 sachets 3,30€.

You can get antiseptic ointment & also available in powder form .

Please could you tell me the name of the antiseptic powder.
Many thanks

 

[gus-lopez]

Please could you tell me the name of the antiseptic powder.
Many thanks

it is called 'AZOL' made by Kern pharma

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[SmithsInFrance]

Be careful taking ibuprofen.

Son is a doctor and told us (over 60s ) not to take it as it can be dangerous for the elderly (it can also be quite dangerous telling your mum she is an old lady, but that’s another story )
MrsS

 

[MandP]

it is called 'AZOL' made by Kern pharma
View attachment 602798

Gus, Many thanks for your reply.

 

[daveinspain]

Last year I was told that one couldn't buy 600mg ibuprofen 'over the counter any more.
Do you know definately different?

I regularly buy 1g paracetamol tablets without prescription at my local farmacia.

 

[Emmit]

I regularly buy 1g paracetamol tablets without prescription at my local farmacia.

Thanks for that.
I have bought the 1000mg Paracetamol in Spain.
Do you know the situation re Ibuprofen?

 

[daveinspain]

Sorry. no - I can´t take Ibuprofen

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[Adam b]

We bought 600mg ibuprofen last week in benicassim

 

[Coolbeanz]

Absolutely. We have stayed in Spain longer this trip due to Martin braking his shoulder. I’ve bought naproxen combined with a stomach liner, Ibuprofen gel and my prescription medication for my MS symptoms. The pharmacist has been very helpful. I’m tempted to find out how much my hrt patches would be as there is a nationwide shortage at home!

I checked the cost of my HRT tablets (Elleste Solo 2mgs) in January and they only did 1mgs at over €15 for just a 2 week supply

 

[Mikeco]

Yes ,legally you require a prescription for ibuprofen or paracetomol over 400mg dosage when sold in quantities over 10 tablets or sachets. In reality 8 out of 10 will sell you one box of 40. I have been accumulating stocks for someone recently & I have bought in 4 chemists with only 1 first off not wanting to sell them but then decided they would?
I have an arrangement with my local chemist & have been buying 2 x 40 x 600mg boxes daily for the last few days.
I only know of one Farmácia here that will not sell without a prescription yet he will order horse worming tablets & anti biotics for me that require a veterinary prescription without me having one.

They have been tightening up over the last few years but in many places they will still not be worried about selling ,especially to foreigners.

Why are you taking horse worming tablets ?

 

[cyberyacht]

If you are given to suffering from UTI's then "Galusan" is available over the counter and seems to be fairly efficacious. Has a fairish shelf life.

 

[jumartoo]

When we were going to hike in Peru, and finish at Machu Picchu, we went to our local pharmacia here. We asked for Diamox (to help with altitude sickness). Martin tentatively bought one box, not knowing the price. €2 for a full box. He soon went back for a few boxes more.

Once in Peru, and with our small group, Gillian told us she'd had to have a special doctors appointment in the UK, and paid £35 for a quarter of the tablets we'd bought. Nevertheless we all still had varying levels of headaches.

And .... at the end of the trip, Adam, pi$$head (he missed the first trip due to being a tad under the weather) and smoker, but a lovely considerate guy, took nothing and suffered nothing. He was banned by our guide from smoking on the first day or so, then he gave up on him and told him to do as he wanted . Nothing phased Adam.

Sorry for rambling on

A by product of purchasing meds in Spain

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[carolyn]

You can buy 48 x 400 mg Ibuprofen at Tescos pharmacy for £2.30 so I wouldn’t worry too much about stocking up abroad. Strangely though their paracetamol from the pharmacy is 40p for 16 x 500mg but on the ordinary shelves they often have one sort for 19p, “you know it doesn’t make sense”! Lidl is cheap as well.

If you‘re taking ibuprofen regularly you really should be on something like omeprazole to protect the lining of your stomach otherwise you run the risk of a bleed. Well worth checking the price of that in Spain. I thought I’d forgotten my omeprazole when I went to London last week and 14 esomeprazole in Boots was £10.99 on offer, didn’t dare risk it as I’m still on naproxen, then found the blasted omeprazole later. Oh how I moaned

Us over 60’s need to be careful as well as someone has already pointed out as it can cause kidney damage and it’s not always reversible. This is especially important if you are on blood pressure medication and it’s a double whammy if you’re diabetic even if it’s well controlled. Don’t even think about the 600mg ibuprofen if I were you.

 

[Claire Ambler]

Just be careful. You will have to prove to Customs ( if you get stopped) that the medicines have been prescribed to you.
Tramadol, Ibuprofen and all powerful painkillers have to have a prescription.
One woman was imprisoned for bringing in 200 tramadol tablets to the U.K.
You don’t want to be arrested for drug running do you?

 

[carolyn]

Just be careful. You will have to prove to Customs ( if you get stopped) that the medicines have been prescribed to you.
Tramadol, Ibuprofen and all powerful painkillers have to have a prescription.
One woman was imprisoned for bringing in 200 tramadol tablets to the U.K.
You don’t want to be arrested for drug running do you?

Tramadol yes but not Ibuprofen.

 

[ChrisL]

Something that is available in Spain but I believe in the UK is not or at least difficult and expensive to find is Betadine, useful as a disinfectant for cleaning wounds, ulcers etc.

 

[carolyn]

Something that is available in Spain but I believe in the UK is not or at least difficult and expensive to find is Betadine, useful as a disinfectant for cleaning wounds, ulcers etc.

You can buy it on amazon if you really want it but I would leave ulcers to the experts ie nurses. It’s far better to not use anything other than clean water and a clean dressing. If anything these creams and liquids can delay healing and contaminate wounds. Most small cuts and quite big grazes will heal better on their own. If they don’t then you might need antibiotics.