Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

173 replies

MangosAndPapayas · 08/03/2017 22:01

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.

OP posts:
nooka · 09/03/2017 06:59

Oh and yes you can get codeine (with paracetamol and caffeine) up to 30mg OTC. Also melatonin, often in the supplements/vitamins section. I have some mint chocolate melts ones for when I can't sleep/am jet lagged.

Looking in my medicine cabinet I have 600 paracetamol which is a bit too many really. They are only available in smaller amounts in the UK because they are often chosen by people looking to have a suicide attempt and the result is often people who survive but with serious liver damage. Making the packs smaller has reduced the number of impulsive suicide attempts. Makes it a bit annoying for the rest of us, but it is for a good reason.

Astoria7974 · 09/03/2017 07:00

I heard can you can get Clomid in India really easily. Still need prescription but it's an easier process than the UK. sil got a 12 month supply for something like 100 dollars, after being refused in the UK due to her bmi

BillThePony · 09/03/2017 07:00

When my aunt is over from the USA she always buys lots of zovairax as she can't get it OTC. She was even happier to find a generic brand in the pound shop.

emmyhNL · 09/03/2017 07:07

Bertie: not sure about France but I know that there's a lemsip alternative in Germany and Holland. I can't remember the name of it for the life of me :-/

Holland is the place for soluble iron drinks and suppositories. They work quicker and better than calpol but are hard to find in the UK.

buttfacedmiscreant · 09/03/2017 07:09

We use mag sulphate paste for drawing splinters and boils.

Idefix · 09/03/2017 07:09

Mag sulphate paste is grat for drawing out pus in boils/abscess you did ask and splinters.

You can buy thrush treatment OTC but this and pretty much eveything is expensive. Supermarkets don't sell paracetamol etc you have to go to an apotheke. Thread worm tablets have the potential to bankrupt you, 18 euros for on grubby teenager (refused to to buy for the rest of us, this was 4yrs ago) , buscopan 20 tablets cost me 9 euros a couple of weeks ago when my prescription ran out...

Spain is amazing, you do have to sound like you know what you want but the pharmacist seems to have more power to supply. I forgot my tranexamic acid last year and was literally over the moon when I was sold some

We are very lucky that we are able to shop at a nearby us army commissary and take full advantage of ensuring our medicine cabinet is well stocked.

Idefix · 09/03/2017 07:11

emmy what is the iron drink? Would you share the brand? Is this from an apotheke or in the shops?

Idefix · 09/03/2017 07:11

emmy what is the iron drink? Would you share the brand? Is this from an apotheke or in the shops?

Idefix · 09/03/2017 07:13

I am in Germany, my post makes no sense Blush without that detail...

HappyEverIftar · 09/03/2017 07:18

When I'm back in the U.K. I buy packs and packs of compeed. I got caught short once on a holiday in the US whereby the only thing they sold to treat my horrible coldsores, was Zovirax cream (OTC!) which I don't like.

Just moved to Saudi Arabia and I've discovered in the three supermarkets I've been in they don't sell tampons! Shock. Going to have to stock up on my next trip back.

buttfacedmiscreant · 09/03/2017 07:28

Band aid brand sells compeed in the US. They don't sell zovirax cream in the US as far as I know, only Abreva.

buttfacedmiscreant · 09/03/2017 07:30

sorry I meant they don't sell zovirax OTC

Tartyflette · 09/03/2017 07:34

MSLehrerin thank you.

HappyEverIftar · 09/03/2017 07:40

Good to know, thanks buttfaced

InTheDessert · 09/03/2017 07:45

Happy if you have a Lulu's near you, Tampax are sometimes to be found there. I'm on a mooncup for that very reason. Bahrain is a tiny bit better, but not much.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2017 07:48

"A friend of mine told me you could get amphetamine prescribed in the USA."

Here too. I know someone with ADHD who takes it.

fairweathercyclist · 09/03/2017 07:49

Holland is the place for soluble iron drinks

And Germany, though you can get them in the UK now too. Not easy though, I bulk buy when I see them anywhere. Boots used to do their own make but stopped, but the larger stores sell one by Ferraglobin.

Same goes for soluble magnesium although there is an Australian company that makes it and it's sold in Waitrose.

rachyconks · 09/03/2017 07:52

Mexico you can get ANYTHING. Tramadol, viagra, it was unbelievable!

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2017 07:57

" just seen the post about Xanax available OTC in Italy.
Is it a sleeping pill, or anti-anxiety medication?? Or an anti-depressive? "

It's a tranquiliser (alprazolam) so used mainly for anxiety, but can also be used for sleeping. You can't even get it from the GP here - they prescribe Valium/diazepam instead, but the xanax works very quickly. 20 minutes and you're calm, but it can also make you sleepy and is addictive like every benzo.

Cityrat79 · 09/03/2017 08:06

You can definitely get children's allergy / cough medicines in the USA which make them drowsy. Some parents use them to help their children sleep on the plane home. (Not starting an ethics debate, but these are available off the shelf without prescription).

Smidge001 · 09/03/2017 08:16

I discovered you can't get the sore throat spray Chloroseptic in Australia. At least, not the proper version that contains anaesthetic (the whole point and reason it actually works). So I always stock up on that as nothing works better.
My (Australian) husband was quite surprised we could just buy the stuff in Boots. It'a funny what you end up thinking is hard core drugs vs a basic right Grin

On the other hand in Australia they'll prescribe antibiotics at the drop of a hat. They're really lax about it compared with the UK, and I always get worried about how they're contributing to mega bugs getting immune to the stuff.

AverysillyoldHector · 09/03/2017 08:19

In Canada you can get Tylenol #1 by asking for it at the pharmacy counter. That is acetaminophen with 8 mg of codeine (co-codamol, I think)

You can buy the same in the UK at a pharmacy counter (without the brand name tylenol).

HappyEverIftar · 09/03/2017 08:21

Thank you dessert I'm heading over there next month so shall stock up! Haven't been to Lulu yet, hope to do some more exploring this weekend.

Usernamegone · 09/03/2017 08:28

When I go to the US I stock up on the massive tubs of 500/100 ibuprofen and paracetamol/acetaminophen.

Fauchelevent · 09/03/2017 08:32

Anti-malaris are available OOC in much of SE Asia but they only sell doxycyline.

Forgot to stock up on anti-bs whilst i was there!

Swipe left for the next trending thread