Prescription medication in the EU

16 comments

1. They are valid in all of EU, but how?

   I doubt Italian pharmacies can access the Swedish prescription server 🤷‍♂️

2. The quickest way to find out would be to ask the pharmacist themself. Either they take it or they don’t. If they don’t, you could always go to the nearest medical centre and ask to see the on call doctor to get a similar prescription.

3. I would visit some doctor with my blue card and ask to prescribe it.

   In theory your Swedish prescription is valid, but it will be difficult to persuade a pharmacist it is valid if you do not speak Italian. Also there is a chance, that they never ever seen an international prescription.

4. Do you have a written prescription? If so, first try a pharmacy, and second if that doesn’t work, take her to an Italian doctor and try to get the same prescription in Italian.

5. I think the easiest is to go to a pharmacy tomorrow first thing in the morning and ask them. They will give you the most accurate answer. I’ve already been in this situation (with 2 different EU countries though) and it worked, I just had to pay for the medication privately. The names of the molecules are the same everywhere and they will be able to figure it out if needed.

6. I’ve had a prescription from a doctor in Ireland filled in Denmark. It was one small (but important) item I forgot and the pharmacy filled it no problem but I don’t know if there were legally obligated to. I had a paper copy of the prescription and we both spoke English.

7. It works, but you have to have an international prescription. The doctors in Sweden should know what kind of prescription.
   Note that the medicine will probably be expensive.

   Something I could get for free in Romania costed 90€ in Belgium, 400€ in Germany (can’t remember exactly what).

   Wouldn’t it be easier to find someone who travels to Rome?

   Edit: And depending on the medicine, sometimes I had to have the prescription on paper, sometimes it was enough to show a picture.

8. You can access the details of all of your prescriptions on Läkemedelskollen. Shows your doctor’s name along with other details, but no signatures of course.

   Whether that is enough for whichever pharmacist you meet, I don’t know. But it’s a good starting point. You could show it to them and they might do it there and then, or they could tell you exactly what is missing so that you aren’t blindly asking for something back in Sweden that might be wrong.

   It could also depend on what your sister needs. For example, if it is antibiotics they might be a bit more flexible and just give them to her with what you can show from Läkemedelskollen. If it’s for something “heavier” that can be open to abuse, I imagine they are more strict.

   Probably best to go to a pharmacy in a very touristy area and they’ll know exactly what to do.

9. I don’t know if this is helpful, but I had a similar issues when I was on holiday in France (I’m Norwegian). It was sufficient to show my Norwegian prescription in the pharmacy (it was a digital prescription). So it’s definitely worth trying.

   If it doesn’t work she could try an A&E.

10. I’ve lost mine one time in Germany. I was advised by the pharmacist to go to an emergency doctor, using the European insurance card. I showed him my Portuguese health register and medication (we have it on an app). He gave me the prescription.
    I gather that the procedure in Italy might be similar.

11. Yes. Also, bring along her EU healthcare card.
    It’s often physical and/or digital in the healthcare provider app. This helps if any costs are made.

    https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/moving-working-europe/eu-social-security-coordination/european-health-insurance-card_en

    In Italy you might have to get the prescription officially translated, but not always.

12. Jag lyckades övertala en apotekare i Paris att ge mig salva som jag fått på recept åt min dotter medan vi var där. Det var dock inte självklart att de skulle lämna ut det, och jag är rätt så säker på att den salva jag fick var en mycket starkare än den som var på receptet (dvs fel). Jag har för mig att jag visade upp receptet som fanns i 1177-appen, men de hade inte exakt den vi skulle ha. Så om du lyckas, dubbelkolla att det är rätt verksamt ämne o koncentration osv.

13. Jesus some complicated answers here. just go to the pharmacy with the prescription and explain the situation. Most pharmacist won’t give you stuff unless you have a prescription because they don’t want you to self medicate with stupid stuff.

    I’ve a med I have to take all my life and it’s prescription required but the pharmacist will give it to me even without prescription because they know me. Also I got it from another pharmacy with the pharmacist observation ‘next time bring a prescription’ .

14. In theory yes, in practice it can differ from country to country, and depending on the meds.

    My wive had to get antibiotics in Greece, and non-citizens could not get them from a pharmacy, even with a foreign prescription. Best to ask in person, sorry.

15. I’ve run out when away from home before.

    If she has the actual prescription, it might work. If not, the label on the prescription bottle/ box is usually enough for them to give an emergency supply. She’ll have to ask the pharmacist.

    Plan B would be for her to visit any doctor or out of hours service and get them represcribed. If she doesn’t know exactly what the prescription is or doesn’t have a list, they may have to contact her doctor to confirm. That depends on the medication. She doesn’t have to wait around for them to do that. She can go do other things and come back later. If she has an EHIC card, it should all be free.

16. It’s not that hard.. Google search the nearest medical facility in Rome.. go there, explain your situation.. boom, done.. they should sort you..