Destination · IT
Italy
Entry summary
- Controlled (Rx)6
- Rx only51
- OTC / Rx5
- No Rx: Ask Pharmacist3
- OTC13
- Unavailable4
Customs
Bringing your own medicine into Italy
Italy asks for paperwork only for controlled medicines.
Narcotics and psychotropics
Oxycodone, tramadol, methylphenidate, alprazolam and similar. Italy does not issue a permit in advance. Officially, you need a certificate showing the medicine was lawfully prescribed. At the least, carry the medicine in its original labeled container with your prescription.
- The certificate is based on a valid prescription and names you, the prescriber, the medicine, its strength, the quantity and the length of treatment.
- Italy asks for it to be endorsed by the health authority of your home country, and treats it as valid for up to 30 days.
- If you carry only one package, a valid prescription is enough.
- Keep the documents with you for your whole stay.
Other medicines
Italy has no specific rule for other medicines. Carrying your prescription is sensible in case you are asked.
Italian Ministry of Health: travelling with controlled medicinesAllergan is a skin cream for itching, not a tablet. For allergies, ask for loratadine (Clarityn) or cetirizine (Zirtec).
No amphetamine medicine is marketed in Italy. Carrying your own is a controlled-drug matter: bring your prescription and a doctor’s letter.
No hydrocodone product is marketed in Italy. The equivalents here combine tramadol or codeine with paracetamol.
Humulin I is the other NPH insulin sold here.
The maker is withdrawing Levemir worldwide, so stock may be limited. Other long-acting insulins sold here: glargine (Lantus, Abasaglar, Toujeo) and degludec (Tresiba).
Treated as a controlled narcotic for travelers, though most packs go on an ordinary non-repeatable prescription in Italy.
A controlled psychotropic. In Italy it is dispensed on an ordinary prescription.
Treated as a controlled narcotic for travelers, though most packs go on an ordinary non-repeatable prescription in Italy.
Sold mainly as a calcium supplement. Rennie is not in the Italian register.
Sold as a dietary product, so it is not in the medicines register.
For motion sickness, Italian pharmacies use dimenhydrinate (Xamamina, Travelgum) instead.
Only found combined with other medicines: in Vicks MediNait, a night-time cold remedy sold without a prescription, and with vitamin B6 for pregnancy nausea, on prescription.
The scopolamine sold here is butylscopolamine (Buscopan) for stomach cramps, not a motion-sickness patch.