for your "over the counter" can't-get-it-in-the UK travel purchase tips?

[MangosAndPapayas]

I've only recently learnt that you can buy melatonin over the counter in the USA but in the UK it's only available on prescription.

I was thinking that for someone coming to the UK the morning after pill (NOT as emergency contraception before I get flamed) might be a useful purchase for countries where you can't get it.

And then I was wondering what other things can you buy over the counter
in other countries that you can't get in the UK?

Canada? Australia? Europe?

Any tips for anything worthwhile? I'm thinking more retin A/ melatonin type stuff than paracetamol.

@Isadora2007 do you mean is it a medication that has a duel purpose?

Thanks for the tip on Melatonin on Oz, I didn't know you could buy it here!

Yep Isadora, I'm wondering that too.

Caroline Hirons says there's a face cream you can get OTC in the US but not here. She went on a US tour buying this cream all over, look on the blog, it's recent.

Yes you can buy paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets in vast quantities in America but when I asked for ibuprofen gel you'd have thought I asked for heroin, cue horrified look and "we don't sell THAT here m'am, you need to go see a doctor". logical.

Hong Kong - most things if you go to a local pharmacy as opposed to the big chains. Can be useful- codeine cough medicine etc- but on balance it's not a good thing. Far too many people self- medicating and buying stuff they know a doctor wouldn't give them for good reasons

You can't get oral thrush tablets OTC in USA - I always stock up when I'm back in the UK!

Destinys daughter I think Melatonin just isn't licensed for use in the U.K.
I am a chronic insomniac.
Have tried many varieties of prescription drugs for the problem in the USA and developed an addiction to Ambien.

I bought Melatonin and smuggled it back for occasional use in the U.K. Where we have significant lack of sunshine.....
It helps occasionally but I don't rely on it.
It settain,y doesn't make me feel groggy like some prescription meds.

In Greece you can get pretty much anything from the pharmacy. Pharmacists are well trained and can recommended medication for ailments. I never bought viagra and things with opioids need prescription.
But I get my tretinoid for a few euros (€4) instead of shelling £100 to a dermatologist here to be prescribed. The glaucoma medication used as a lash conditioner that costs here £150, there is less than £10 from the pharmacy. Also, the medical grade cosmetics you find there are awesome.

On a recent trip to Mexico where they seem to sell everything OTC we bought Naproxen and Tramadol.

DH tried the tramadol for severe toothache whilst we were out there but said it didn't touch the sides. I'm presuming it should all be the same ingredients wise but when I was prescribed tramadol in the UK for sciatica I was almost off my face, but not quite.

In Australia you can buy 32mg codeine tablets like Panadine Forte over the counter

I don't know how accurate that is. I take Panadeine Forte with 30 mg of codeine, and it MUST be prescribed by a doctor. My GP can only prescribe two repeats, and has to ring up with my Medicare No. to get a government authority. You used to be able to get 5 repeats, but when I asked if could have the extra repeats, he said they won't authorise it any more, and will not authorise it at less than three month intervals.

You can get Panadeine with 15mg of Codeine over the counter, but only to a maximum of 40 tablets.

tiddlyipom
Can you tell me the brand name of the melatinin you get in Australia. Last I heard it was only available on 'script, but that was about a year ago.
Thanks.

You cannot buy SOLUBLE paracetamol in Thailand. I stock up with Solpadeine Max before I leave. it's great for hangovers

Sorry claws A perfect example of "read the whole thread"

Ventolin inhalers in Australia

In Saudi.
It's usually over the counter, but easily available:
Steroid creams and ointments
Tablets to control diabetes
Contraceptive pill
I think antibiotics (only ever done this with a script, but I believe it's possible)
Inhalers

I buy asthma inhalers, glucose syrup and mag sulphate paste when I'm in England. Also paracodol. Albuterol inhalers are about 50quid each for me here in the US and I can't buy mag sulphate paste here at all. Paracodol is prescription only and Drs don't seem to want to give it out.

redexpat OFF! Deep Woods Sportsman contains Deet and IS available in Canada.

When I lived in the UAE we could buy the contraceptive pill and antibiotics OTC.

I thought melatonin was prescription only in Australia too.

Nyquil in the US, and Advil. Both very good and hard to find over here.. nyquil is excellent as a night nurse alternative.

Melatonin is available OTC in Canada.

I'll amend my post re: nurofen/codeine 15mg in Australia: it's called Nurofen Plus (not Extra) and has 12.5mg of codeine. I think the other brands/generics of ibuprofen/codeine available OTC in Aus also have 12.5mg.

I also didn't think melatonin was an OTC medicine in Aus. I get that on prescription.

In the UAE you can buy a great painkiller called Panadol Nights.

Tartyflette: my muscle relaxant is called Baclofen (Baclofeno in Spanish!) I'd forgotten to pack mine so just took the strip of the few I had with me to chemist and asked! €3.85 for a box of 30 I think.

Advil is just a brand name for ibuprofen. One thing that threw us when we moved to Canada was not being able to buy paracetamol before we found out it's called acetaminophen here. I also had a bit of a struggle finding a Canesten equivalent, and ended up having to explain far more than I wanted to the pharmacy assistant before being pointed over to the athletes foot creams.

What would you use mag sulphate paste for ?