Which medicines you can buy without a prescription in Spain

Key rules

• Pharmacies only: Even common painkillers and cold remedies are sold only in pharmacies, not supermarkets.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics need a prescription in Spain, and pharmacies must refuse to sell them without one.
• Ibuprofen strength: Ibuprofen is free to buy at 200 mg and 400 mg, but 600 mg needs a prescription.
• Status by product: Whether you need a prescription depends on the active ingredient, strength and pack size, so ask the pharmacist.

The short answer

Spain splits medicines into two groups: those that need a prescription and those that do not. Even the non-prescription ones, such as common painkillers and cold remedies, are sold only in pharmacies (farmacias). Antibiotics need a prescription, and some products you buy over the counter at home do not work that way here.

What you can buy without a prescription

Ask at the pharmacy counter. These are normally available without a prescription:

• Pain and fever: paracetamol in 500 mg and 1 g tablets, and ibuprofen in 200 mg and 400 mg. Packs are usually 20 or 40 tablets.
• Colds and flu: paracetamol-based combinations, nasal decongestants (oxymetazoline, xylometazoline), and cough remedies such as dextromethorphan, acetylcysteine and ambroxol.
• Allergies: many antihistamines, including loratadine and cetirizine.
• Sleep: melatonin at low doses.
• Emergency contraception: sold without a prescription.

Strengths and pack sizes depend on the specific product, so the box you get may differ from the one at home.

What needs a prescription

Antibiotics need a prescription in Spain, and pharmacies must refuse to sell them without one. The pharmacy normally checks the electronic prescription (receta electrónica) when it hands them over. Some topical antibiotic products may be treated differently, so ask the pharmacist.

These also usually need a prescription, even if you buy them freely elsewhere:

• Ibuprofen 600 mg.
• Stronger codeine painkillers, and cough medicines containing codeine.
• Tramadol.
• Most sleeping pills and sedatives, such as lorazepam and zolpidem.
• Oral corticosteroids.
• The contraceptive pill.
• Some allergy products, such as certain sprays, and some antihistamines at higher strengths.

Why the rules look different from home

The Spanish Medicines Agency decides the status of each medicine when it approves it. A medicine needs a prescription if it can be risky without medical supervision, is often misused, or is injected. The status is set product by product, by active ingredient, strength and pack size. So a medicine can be free to buy at one strength and prescription-only at another.

How to find your home medicine

1. Find the active ingredient (principio activo) on your box or leaflet.
2. Take the box or a photo to the pharmacist. They can match it to a Spanish product and tell you whether it needs a prescription.
3. Check the strength and pack size against what you used at home.
4. Ask for a generic (EFG) if you want a cheaper equivalent.

Some names differ from the ones you know. Acetaminophen is paracetamol here, and albuterol is salbutamol.

For what to stock in your first month, use the checklist below. The questions below also cover the contraceptive pill, sleep aids and allergy medicines.

Basic medicine cabinet for your first month in Spain

• Buy paracetamol (500 mg or 1 g tablets) for pain and fever. Gelocatil is a common Spanish brand.

• Buy ibuprofen in 200 mg or 400 mg tablets. The 600 mg strength needs a prescription.

• Pick up a cold and flu remedy, such as a paracetamol-based combination, plus a nasal decongestant and a cough remedy.

• Add an antihistamine such as loratadine or cetirizine if you get allergies.

• Get oral rehydration sachets (Sueroral) and an antidiarrheal for stomach upsets.

• Stock an antiseptic such as chlorhexidine or Betadine, plus saline or hydrogen peroxide for cleaning wounds.

• Pack plasters (tiritas), gauze, bandages and a digital thermometer. Supermarkets and parapharmacies sell these.

• Look up the active ingredient (principio activo) of your usual home medicines and take the box or a photo to the pharmacist to find the Spanish equivalent.

• Bring enough of any regular prescription medicine, and ask the pharmacist about a generic (EFG) version of it.

Frequently asked questions

Who decides whether a medicine needs a prescription in Spain?

The AEMPS, Spain's medicines agency, decides this when it approves each medicine. A medicine needs a prescription if it could be risky even in normal use without a doctor, or if it is often used wrongly. The agency can change a medicine's status later.

Can I buy the contraceptive pill without a prescription in Spain?

No, the regular contraceptive pill needs a prescription in Spain, but emergency contraception is sold without one. Ask a pharmacist if you need it urgently.

Do sleep aids and codeine painkillers need a prescription in Spain?

Yes, most sleep medicines and sedatives, such as lorazepam and zolpidem, need a prescription, as do tramadol and stronger codeine combinations. Melatonin at low doses is sold without one. Cough medicines with codeine also need a prescription.

Are allergy medicines the same as at home?

Only partly: Loratadine and cetirizine are sold without a prescription, but some allergy sprays, higher-strength antihistamines and oral corticosteroids need one. Check the strength on the box with a pharmacist.

How do I find my home medicine by its active ingredient in Spain?

Find the active ingredient (principio activo) on your box, then search for it in the AEMPS online medicines database, called CIMA. Some names differ: acetaminophen is paracetamol in Spain, and albuterol is salbutamol. A pharmacist can match it and suggest a generic (EFG).