Finding the Spanish equivalent of your home medicine

Terms used

• Principio activo — The principio activo is the active ingredient of a medicine, the substance that does the work, whatever the brand.
• CIMA — CIMA is the online medicines database of the Spanish medicines agency, with product sheets and leaflets.
• Nomenclátor — The Nomenclátor is the Ministry of Health's database of medicines funded by the public system, with prices and funding status.
• Comercializado — Comercializado means the product is currently on sale in Spain.
• Prospecto — The prospecto is the patient leaflet inside the box.
• EFG — EFG marks a generic medicine, which has the same ingredient, strength and form as the brand.

Key rules

• Ingredient first: Match on active ingredient, strength and form, never on the brand name.
• Same ingredient, not always same product: Strength and release type can differ in Spain, so confirm the match with a pharmacist or prescriber before you switch.
• Generics: A prescription that names only the ingredient is filled with the cheapest or reference-priced equivalent.
• Doctor's letter: Get a letter from your home doctor that names the ingredient, not the brand, before you leave.

Start with the active ingredient, not the brand

Spain works by active ingredient (principio activo). Your home brand name will often not exist here, because each manufacturer chooses its own trade name. So your job is to find three things: the ingredient, the strength per unit and the form. Then find the Spanish product with the same three.

Find the details on your home medicine

• Read the box and the blister label. They list the ingredient (often its international name) and the strength per tablet or dose.
• Note the form, such as tablet or extended release, and how often you take it.
• Check the composition section of the leaflet to confirm the ingredient.
• Ask your home doctor, before you leave, for a letter that names the ingredient rather than the brand.

The checklist below goes through these steps in order.

Search the Spanish databases

CIMA is the best place to start. It is the online medicines database of AEMPS, the Spanish medicines agency. The databases are listed in the resource below.

1. Search by active ingredient and type its Spanish name. Spelling can differ from English: paracetamol is acetaminophen in the US, and salbutamol is albuterol.
2. Filter by strength and form. You can also filter by whether the product is on sale (comercializado).
3. Open a result to read the product sheet and the leaflet (prospecto). You will also see whether it needs a prescription.
4. Compare ingredient, strength and form with your home medicine.

The Nomenclátor is a second database. It covers only medicines funded by the public health system. Unlike CIMA, it shows prices, funding status and whether a product is a generic (EFG). Use it if you want to know what a medicine costs or whether the public system pays for it.

Check that it is really the same medicine

The same ingredient can differ in Spain. Strengths, pack sizes and release types vary, and some forms exist in only one market. Levothyroxine and methylphenidate and other modified-release products are common examples. Some US or UK products have no Spanish equivalent at all.

Never assume a match from the name alone. Check ingredient, strength and form (for example immediate or prolonged release). Then ask a pharmacist or your prescriber to confirm before you switch.

Show it to a pharmacist

Bring the packaging, a photo or your prescription to a Spanish pharmacist. They can identify the ingredient and suggest the Spanish product.

Expect generics. When a prescription names only the ingredient, the pharmacist must give you the cheapest or reference-priced equivalent. If a brand is prescribed, the pharmacist can usually swap it for a generic with the same ingredient, strength and form. Some medicines cannot be swapped, such as those with a narrow safe dose range, some inhalers and biologics. If you need a particular brand, ask your doctor about it.

The decision below helps you choose what to do if you find an exact match, a different strength or release type, or no equivalent.

Choosing between options

How do you confirm the Spanish match for your home medicine?

• Exact match found: CIMA shows a product with the same ingredient, strength and form as your home medicine, and it is commercialised.

• Same ingredient, different strength or release type: The ingredient matches but the strength, pack or release type differs, such as immediate versus prolonged release.

• No Spanish equivalent found: No product with your ingredient is on sale in Spain. Ask a doctor for an alternative ingredient.

Only treat a product as the same if ingredient, strength and form all match.

Checklist

• Read the box and blister label to find the active ingredient and the strength per unit.

• Note the form, such as tablet or extended release, and your dosing regimen.

• Search CIMA by active ingredient, typing its Spanish name, such as paracetamol or ibuprofeno.

• Filter by strength and form, and check the product is marked as commercialised (comercializado).

• Bring the packaging, a photo or your prescription to a Spanish pharmacist and ask them to confirm the equivalent.

Spanish medicine databases for matching your brand

Where to look up your medicine in Spain

• CIMA, the online medicines database of AEMPS (the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices): Search by active ingredient (principio activo), using the Spanish spelling such as paracetamol or salbutamol, to find the Spanish products. Open a result to read the leaflet (prospecto), strength, form, laboratory and whether it is marketed (comercializado).

• CIMA supply list, run by AEMPS: Check whether a product is authorised but not currently marketed, and whether it has a supply problem. The record shows start and expected end dates, and often alternatives.

• Nomenclátor de productos farmacéuticos, the Ministry of Health's database of medicines funded by the public health system: Look up a product's price, funding status, generic (EFG) status and reference price group, which CIMA does not show. It is updated monthly and can be downloaded.

• Your local pharmacy: Ask the pharmacist to confirm the match and check local stock. They can order a product that is not on the shelf.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my medicine have a different name in Spain?

Your medicine has a different name in Spain because each manufacturer chooses its own trade name for each country. The active ingredient stays the same, so search by ingredient rather than brand. Spanish ingredient names can also be spelled differently, such as paracetamol for acetaminophen and salbutamol for albuterol.

Will the pharmacist give me a different brand than the one I ask for?

Yes, a Spanish pharmacist can often swap a brand for a generic (EFG) with the same ingredient, strength and form. Some medicines cannot be swapped, such as drugs with a narrow safety margin, some inhalers and biologics.

Can the same ingredient differ in strength or release type in Spain?

Yes, the same ingredient can come in different strengths, pack sizes or release types in Spain, and some products exist in only one country.

What should I ask my home doctor for before I leave?

Ask your home doctor for a letter that names the active ingredient rather than the brand. Ask them to include the strength, release type and dosing regimen. This lets a Spanish pharmacist or doctor find the right product quickly.