Which medicines can I buy over the counter in Ireland, and what should I bring from America?
Most everyday medicines sit on open shelves in Irish pharmacies much as they do at home, but three differences catch Americans out. The first is melatonin: in the United States it is sold as a food supplement, while in Ireland it is a prescription medicine that no shop may sell, so travellers who rely on it for jet lag cannot replace it on arrival and carry their own supply. The second is naming and pack size: acetaminophen is called paracetamol in Ireland, and paracetamol and ibuprofen are sold outside pharmacies only in small packs, with larger packs kept to pharmacies. The third runs the other way: some painkillers containing low dose codeine are sold in Ireland by a pharmacist without a prescription, under pharmacy supervision, where in America codeine always requires one. The general pattern is to travel with the medicines actually used at home, in their labelled packaging, and to treat anything beyond the basics as a question for the pharmacist, who advises free of charge.
Useful pages: Money and tipping in Ireland · Shopping in Ireland · Packing checklist · Travel notices · Healthcare and emergencies · Irish weather · Festivals and events · Dublin · Ireland dos and don'ts · Solo travel in Ireland · First time visitor tips
Sources
- Health Products Regulatory Authority: medicines and controlled drugs, hpra.ie
- HSE: healthcare for visitors to Ireland and treatment with an EHIC, hse.ie; Citizens Information: health services and public holidays, citizensinformation.ie
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