If during your trip to Italy, you need aspirin, band-aids or cough syrup, or you need prescription medicine, you will need to go to a pharmacy or, in Italian, to a pharmacy . This article explains how pharmacies work in Italy and what kind of medical supplies and assistance you can find there.
Italian Pharmacy General Information
Open pharmacies display a green neon cross on the front, making them easy to recognize, even from a distance. The number and opening hours of Italian pharmacies are regulated by law. Pharmacies operate on a “rota”, or rolling system designed to ensure an open pharmacy (or one that can be opened in a medical emergency) in each general area at night, holidays, and Sundays. Each pharmacy displays a card with its own hours of operation, emergency phone number, and where to go outside of those hours for emergency services.
The Italian pharmacy, or pharmacy , doesn’t deal with many non-medical items, but they have a monopoly on over-the-counter medications like aspirin and decongestants.
Pharmacists in Italy have more leeway to dispense health advice and sell pharmaceuticals than in the United States. If you can describe your condition well, you can get a prescription directly from a pharmacist in Italy. Similarly, if you need a prescription filled in an emergency, you can, if you know the scientific or generic name of the drug you need and can justify dispensing it from the pharmacist.
When to go to the Italian pharmacy
For minor aches and pains, colds or flu, and non-critical “little” emergencies, your best option may be to head to your local pharmacy. You will go to a pharmacy for aspirin and even vitamins. Italian pharmacies also often offer homeopathic and herbal remedies. Many Italian pharmacists speak at least a little English.
If you are suffering from something more serious, or have had an injury that cannot be helped by over-the-counter medications or minor first aid, you can go to the emergency room 24 hours, or soon , at any hospital. If you cannot transport yourself, the toll-free number for medical emergencies in Italy is 118. You can get an ambulance by calling this number, or if you do not need transport to a hospital, the First Aid Service ( Guardia Medica ) will be dispatched.
Your medicines in Italy
Before leaving on your vacation in Italy, you’ll want to make sure you have enough prescription drugs for the duration of your trip. Also, to avoid problems in the future, you will want to bring the following:
- Bring medications in their original container.
- Take all medications with you in your carry-on bag.
- Keep a copy of your prescriptions with you.
- Know the generic or scientific name of the drug.
The last tip is crucial if you need to refill a medication during your trip. US pharmaceutical companies often give proprietary names to their version of common drugs, and these names are not always recognized abroad. The information you bring should be typed for clarity.
What you will and will not find in a pharmacy
While most American drug store pharmacies sell a wide range of non-health related items, including food, toys, and household supplies, pharmacies in Italy have a more limited scope. You will not find snacks, other than mints and gum, or cleaning products or a wide range of cosmetics. But in most drug stores , you will find baby toys, gluten-free foods, sunscreen, a limited selection of makeup, and an incredible variety of lotions, creams, and gels designed to make you look younger. Most also sell some Made in Italy perfumes and soaps that could be nice gifts to take home.
