United Kingdom

Spelled "Clarityn" in the UK, not "Claritin".

UK "Benadryl" is a different medicine (acrivastine or cetirizine). Diphenhydramine is sold as a sleep aid, under Nytol and pharmacy own-brand names.

Losec itself has never held a UK OTC licence and remains prescription-only; the branded OTC product is Pyrocalm Control 20mg, sold in pharmacies and supermarkets for a maximum 14-day course.

Pharmacy-only, with purchase limits.

Regulated as a medicine, not a supplement, even at low doses. Bringing your own is often more reliable than buying it locally.

Kwells (hyoscine) or Stugeron (cinnarizine) cover this use. Dimenhydrinate is not a standard over-the-counter medicine in UK pharmacies; the only dimenhydrinate products listed are prescription-only. Boots and Superdrug stock hyoscine, cinnarizine or meclozine (Sea-Legs) travel-sickness tablets instead.

Sold as "Lustral", not "Zoloft", in the UK.

Ventolin is prescription-only in the UK.

A Class C controlled substance in the UK since 2019 because of rising misuse. Expect controlled-drug handling: harder refills and stricter pharmacy rules.

Still sold by Lundbeck in the UK.

Adderall’s mixed amphetamine salts are not licensed in the UK; dexamfetamine is the closest equivalent and is a controlled drug.

Sold in the UK mainly as a stop-smoking aid, not as an antidepressant. A pharmacist may not recognize "Wellbutrin". Ask for Zyban, and say you take it for depression if that is why.

Molipaxin brand was discontinued in the UK.

Still sold by Astellas Pharma in the UK.

Not licensed in the UK. It isn’t on the NHS medicine list. British doctors prescribe codeine, tramadol or oxycodone when an opioid is needed.

Flixonase nasal spray is prescription-only in the UK. The hay fever spray sold without a prescription is Pirinase (also Nasofan Allergy); fluticasone inhalers for asthma need a prescription.

The Mobic brand appears to have been discontinued. The UK electronic Medicines Compendium now lists only generic meloxicam.

The maker is withdrawing Levemir worldwide, so stock may be limited. Other long-acting insulins sold here: glargine (Lantus) and degludec (Tresiba).

Cymbalta brand was discontinued in the UK (listed discontinued on the electronic Medicines Compendium, last updated July 2024); generic duloxetine remains available.

Famotidine is prescription-only in the UK.

The Eucardic brand appears to have been discontinued. The UK electronic Medicines Compendium now lists only generic carvedilol.

A Schedule 3 controlled drug in the UK since 2014. Prescription-only, with controlled-drug handling rules.

Licensed in the UK but not prescribed on the NHS, so it is only available on a private prescription.

Prednisolone is used instead. The only prednisone product listed in the UK is an imported, unlicensed one (Decortin), prescription-only. Prednisolone is the standard UK equivalent; a UK doctor would prescribe that.

Pain-relief aspirin (300 mg) is sold without a prescription, on general sale or at the pharmacy counter. Some other aspirin products are prescription-only.

Tightly controlled. Still sold by Napp Pharmaceuticals in the UK. In Canada the original OxyContin was withdrawn and replaced by OxyNEO.

Without a prescription, naproxen is sold only as Feminax Ultra, for period pain, from the pharmacy counter. Other naproxen tablets are prescription-only.

Voltarol Back & Muscle Pain Relief gel is on general sale; the other Voltarol gels are pharmacy-only, and the tablets and suppositories need a prescription.

Allevia 120 mg is sold without a prescription; Telfast and the 180 mg strength need one.

Rennie also contains magnesium carbonate.

Called "macrogol" outside the US.

Sold for motion sickness without a prescription. Hyoscine (Kwells) and cinnarizine (Stugeron) are the more common choices.

Canesten creams are mostly pharmacy medicines; the athlete’s foot cream is also on general sale.

Fucidin is fusidic acid and Bactroban is mupirocin: different antibiotics for the same use. Antibiotic creams need a prescription in the UK. Without one, antiseptic creams such as Savlon or Germolene are sold.

Nytol (diphenhydramine) is the usual sleep aid. Only licensed in combinations: with vitamin B6 for pregnancy nausea (Xonvea, prescription-only) and in some codeine painkillers.

Maloff Protect can be sold by a pharmacist without a prescription after a short consultation.

Both are pharmacy medicines: ask the pharmacist, no prescription needed. Called hyoscine hydrobromide in the UK.

Called "adrenaline" outside North America.