Prescription Requirements in Spain Compared to US and Mexico

Former member 99816 · Jan 17, 2022

In Texas, you need a doctor to approve eyeglasses, contact lenses, Plavix, Ampicillin, Albuterol inhaler, Lidocaine, birth control pills, Lipitor and Viagra, but cross the border to Mexico and walk up to the farmacia and they are yours.

For those of you in the know, are the prescription requirements in Spain, for these items, similar to the US, or Mexico?

DoughnutANZ · Jan 17, 2022

puttster said:
For those of you in the know, are the prescription requirements in Spain, for these items, similar to the US, or Mexico?

Each region is responsible for their own medical care and rules.

At one stage I wandered into a farmacia and asked for mucho grande ibuprofen and was handed a bunch of 800mg tablets. After I had used them all I went into a farmacia that happened to be in a different region and asked for the same tablets and was refused. They would only give me 600mg tablets without a prescription.

Here I can only get 200mg tablets without a prescription.

Forestgirl · Jan 17, 2022

puttster said:
In Texas, you need a doctor to approve eyeglasses, contact lenses, Plavix, Ampicillin, Albuterol inhaler, Lidocaine, birth control pills, Lipitor and Viagra, but cross the border to Mexico and walk up to the farmacia and they are yours.

For those of you in the know, are the prescription requirements in Spain, for these items, similar to the US, or Mexico?

I would encourage you to have a letter from your prescribing doctor listing the name of each medicine used, frequency, milligram, plus the Latin name in addition to the common name used in your country. An example would be, Xanax is alprazolam. In addition add your name age and the aliments that require the listed medicine. Together this information will help a pharmacist find an adequate and equally effective medicine. Make sure your doctor sign and stamps it along with the office location and contact info. Keep it with the medicine your taking with you and it will serve as an additional justification should you encounter problems with custom’s officials. Customs has not been a problem for me, but better safe than sorry. I have this letter myself so when/if I run out or lose my medicine I give this letter to the nearest pharmacist and have luckily had no problem getting what I needed each and every time. Good luck.
Jennifer

wayfarer · Jan 17, 2022

Rules on "over the counter meds" have changed in some regions of Spain, before I could fill all my meds without prescription, since mid last year a prescription is required. This change may not apply to all regions but it would be safer to bring a copy of your prescription when travelling in Spain at the moment.

VAtoNC · Jan 17, 2022

I take a lot of medication. When it looked like my Camino time would be extended, I walked into a farmacía in León with a list. The very helpful pharmacist filled everything with the exception of sleep medication.

lindam · Jan 17, 2022

puttster said:
In Texas, you need a doctor to approve eyeglasses, contact lenses, Plavix, Ampicillin, Albuterol inhaler, Lidocaine, birth control pills, Lipitor and Viagra, but cross the border to Mexico and walk up to the farmacia and they are yours.

For those of you in the know, are the prescription requirements in Spain, for these items, similar to the US, or Mexico?

Most pharmacies in Spain sell a selection of reading glasses (suitable for various prescriptions). It is not necessary to have a prescription to purchase them but it is helpful if one knows the details of what is needed in order to make the correct purchase. It is not possible to purchase glasses for nearsightedness at pharmacies or contact lenses. Opticians in Spain will sell contact lenses without a prescription and will sometimes offer an eye examination without an addtional cost.

LakeMcD · Jan 17, 2022

Are the cost of prescription glasses and lenses in Spain at an optician more reasonable than the US?

lindam · Jan 17, 2022

LakeMcD said:
Are the cost of prescription glasses and lenses in Spain at an optician more reasonable than the US?

From my experience, when comparing costs in Canada to Spain, contact lenses are about the same and I would say that frames and lenses might cost slightly less in Spain. I do not know how Canadian and US costs compare.

Bradypus · Jan 17, 2022

LakeMcD said:
Are the cost of prescription glasses and lenses in Spain at an optician more reasonable than the US?

Here in the UK Specsavers is a big national optician chain. They operate in Spain too. Their prices in Spain start at €29 for a pair of glasses with single vision prescription lenses. I don't know how that compares with US prices.

Aloha From Kauai · Jan 17, 2022

Forestgirl said:
I would encourage you to have a letter from your prescribing doctor listing the name of each medicine used, frequency, milligram, plus the Latin name in addition to the common name used in your country. An example would be, Xanax is alprazolam. In addition add your name age and the aliments that require the listed medicine. Together this information will help a pharmacist find an adequate and equally effective medicine. Make sure your doctor sign and stamps it along with the office location and contact info. Keep it with the medicine your taking with you and it will serve as an additional justification should you encounter problems with custom’s officials. Customs has not been a problem for me, but better safe than sorry. I have this letter myself so when/if I run out or lose my medicine I give this letter to the nearest pharmacist and have luckily had no problem getting what I needed each and every time. Good luck.
Jennifer

Thanks for bringing up a topic I hadn't thought of. I use a pain medication as needed and my doctor will refill before I leave, but as it is considered at least in the US, a controlled substance I wonder what problems I'm going to run into?
Any advice from anyone? I'll bring a letter for sure, but it would seriouslt suck starting/ending my Camino off in a jail cell somewhere

lindam · Jan 17, 2022

Aloha From Kauai said:
Thanks for bringing up a topic I hadn't thought of. I use a pain medication as needed and my doctor will refill before I leave, but as it is considered at least in the US, a controlled substance I wonder what problems I'm going to run into?
Any advice from anyone? I'll bring a letter for sure, but it would seriouslt suck starting/ending my Camino off in a jail cell somewhere

You might also want to have with you a copy of the prescription, just to be on the safe side. Other than that, it will not be a problem. I would suggest keeping it in your carry-on luggage in the unlikely event that your main luggage is lost or late arriving.

Aloha From Kauai · Jan 17, 2022

lindam said:
You might also want to have with you a copy of the prescription, just to be on the safe side. Other than that, it will not be a problem. I would suggest keeping it in your carry-on luggage in the unlikely event that your main luggage is lost or late arriving.

Mahalo for the advice.

Kathy F. · Jan 17, 2022

Here is my experience.
Before my first Camino, I visited a doctor for a foot injury and was prescribed a tube of Voltaren, which I found very effective but only available with a prescription. I took it with me on my first Camino just in case (I didn't need it after all but better safe . . . ).
Imagine my surprise to find it available on the shelf without a prescription in a local farmacia, perhaps in Pamplona.
I took my almost expired tube with me again on my second, again found it available OTC (Over The Counter) in Spain.
Now you can get it OTC here in the US.
In general, I find European farmacias more . . . liberal . . . with their medications than U.S.
Common sense tells you to be aware and careful with what medications you take when visiting a new country. Pilgrims tend to be a bit independent minded, I believe.

Tincatinker · Jan 17, 2022

Aloha From Kauai said:
Thanks for bringing up a topic I hadn't thought of. I use a pain medication as needed and my doctor will refill before I leave, but as it is considered at least in the US, a controlled substance I wonder what problems I'm going to run into?
Any advice from anyone? I'll bring a letter for sure, but it would seriouslt suck starting/ending my Camino off in a jail cell somewhere

Bringing any opioid across national boundaries carries risk. For non-opioids consult your own foreign office or its equivalent.

Aloha From Kauai · Jan 18, 2022

Tincatinker said:
Bringing any opioid across national boundaries carries risk. For non-opioids consult your own foreign office or its equivalent.

It is, nerve damage from cancer some years ago. It is unlikely I could do the camino without the nerve pain mitigation.

RJM · Jan 18, 2022

You should know how many days worth of prescribed medications you will need for your Camino. How many days worth and the daily dosage etc. Bring that amount and the actual prescription paperwork and make sure they are in the prescription bottles etc. You will need that to show customs as well in the event that is checked.
Now if you are planning on purchasing in Spain drugs that need a prescription/controlled substances for in the US but not in Spain and planning on transporting said drugs back into the US? Not recommended.
It is illegal to do that as well with drugs purchased in Mexico (are you crossing in at Progreso Bridge?). I suppose it falls under the old bit of everybody does it, but without a doubt can get you in trouble.

oursonpolaire · Jan 30, 2022

I've posted recently in a parallel thread (https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/refilling-prescriptions.66434/) and this may be of interest.

Pilgrim1960 · Jan 30, 2022

Doughnut NZ said:
Each region is responsible for their own medical care and rules.

At one stage I wandered into a farmacia and asked for mucho grande ibuprofen and was handed a bunch of 800mg tablets. After I had used them all I went into a farmacia that happened to be in a different region and asked for the same tablets and was refused. They would only give me 600mg tablets without a prescription.

Here I can only get 200mg tablets without a prescription.

Ibuprofen - the favored snack along the Camino.

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Prescription Requirements in Spain Compared to US and Mexico

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