Okay, I'm moving to Spain next month (yipee!!) and I'm trying to decide if I should stock up on medicine here or wait until I arrive in Spain. Probably the best way to go about this...Is there anyone out there that has allergies and uses Triamcinolone Acetonide (Nasacort AQ: 16.5g bottle) and Cetirizine (Zyrtec: 10mg)? Can you buy it over the counter there? Do you know approx. how much it costs? If anyone can answer these questions that would be a huge help. The online research is exhausting and reading medicine language in Spanish is over the top. Thanks for any help.

I have really bad allergies, and they got worse when I was in Madrid. Madrid is really dusty and well, dirty. I ended up stocking up on Tylonol Allergy (Zyrtec and Claratin never work for me) and I took it frequently until I realized it made me really really sleepy. So, I just carried Kleenex with me wherever I went. The menthol ones are great. I do know you can get most meds OTC but I would suggest that you bring a bunch with you in case they are unavailable or more expensive. I never priced allergy drugs at the pharmacy, but they are the same price at all pharmacies. No need to run all over town looking for the bargain price.

Also, if one pharmacist says you need a Rx go to a different one. Before movingback to the USA I got months worth of birth control since you don't need a perscription. Well, one lady told me you do need one!!! Funny how I just got 5 months worth a few hours ago at a different pharmacy, and I had gotten them before. (sorry for the random story there).

So, my advice to you is bring some from home and then buy the rest while you are here. You need the generic name of the drug and maybe the chemical compounds (you can get that off their website). The names of the drugs change from country to country. But you will not need a Dr's note, nor will you hae to deal with your insurance company!!!!!!!

tevia, what's birth control called? do they have as many types as here? Hmmmm? Details woman! -Joy

I threw away the empty packet of Zyrtec not a couple of days ago, so can�t say how much it was, but it can�t be expensive, cos I would have known, seeing as my husband and son live on it!!
Birth control ?? I don�t need it any more, but I am about to go to the chemist to buy my daughter a load of it :b: to take to her when I go to Ireland. She is on Microgynon, but if anyone wants to post me a list I will get the prices while I am there!!! We pay a little less here in the Canaries (cos we are so poor ) but the packets have the mai9nland prices on too!!

So quick all, give us a list!!!!!!!

I'm trying to get my wife to go off it so we can go for our second child and achieve my dream of seeing if we can't create a 'tonito-torerito' but my wife uses Triginovyn (sp?) for birth control (la pildora).

I'm also a seasonal allergy sufferer and I believe that a box of Claritin (Spelled Claritine here) will run you a bit cheaper than it will in most parts of the states...

Keep healthy!
:cheers:

In the States I use Demulen (generic is called Zovia). Since I am so lucky, Spain does not have 1 chemical that is in my medicine. So, I had to change to the one closest to my trusty pink pack. I then changed to what they call in Spain Melodene-15. I have no idea what the 15 is for. Maybe to prevent your next 15 babies. But all I know is that I like Melodene-15. I have no babies (yeah) and my "monthly visitor" (euphemism used not to freak out the men) lasts like 2-3 days!!! Each month costs 9.97 euros. No dealing with insurance nor the gyno!!

This such good information! I take Allegra or Zyrtec for my allergies, so when I retire I better bring a stash of the stuff!

Tony, good luck in getting your second baby! maybe Mrs. Tony will reconsider and you can have a parejita! I never reconsidered, and now I am sorry I was so hard-headed!

:cheers:

Thanx everyone, this IS such great information! Keep up the great work guys. Besos, Joy

Aside from being alergic to me , Ena has bad pollen alergies in spring/summer and she uses "Caritine". Seems to work like a charm for her.

Saludos,
jer...

Wow the responses are great! Jer, do you know how much that Caritine goes for? And what its made of? My allergies are to dust mites, so hopefully this will work for me. I can figure that out if I know what it's made of.

I'm trying to prevent from stocking up here (if possible) b'cuz it's ridiculously expensive!!! Any word on Nasacort (Triamcinolone Acetonide) anyone? It's a nasal spray.

All of these allergies snuck up on me about a year and a half ago and it's driving me crazy!!! I had the sinus surgery last year, but I still have the daily drug ritual to keep well. ugh! Who wants to have continuous sinus issues in Spain!!

Hey Salsera...

quote:

"... do you know how much that Caritine goes for?"

I bought a box for Ena a few weeks back and it cost me just over 7� (euros). I think it was a box of like 20 tablets but will check later when I get home.

quote:

"... what its made of?"

If I knew that I would produce it myself and sell it on a blanket in the Puerta del Sol :jeje: :jeje: :jeje:

Seriously though, I will get the box at home later and let ya know here.

I would not worry abouyt bringing too many allergy meds from home. You will find that the meds. here are very effective. They are also a lot cheaper on the whole and you can often get things over-the-counter here in Spain at a pharmacy that you would need a prescription for in the USA.

Also, pharmacists are VERY knowledgeable here (much moreso than in the USA). They can advise you on tons of medical topics. Almost like doctors in training

Related threads for more on buying meds:

� Spanish Pharmacies

� Drugstores in Madrid

Saludos,
jer...

Hi Salsera, sorry for the delay.

Ok, as of today (July 10th, 2003) a box of "Clarityne" with 20 pills in it costs 7.16� without a prescription but if you go to a doctor here and get a prescrip, it drops drastically (as does the price with prescrip of most meds.) to about 1/3 that price.

As for what is in it, GOT ME!!! I read the paper that came with it but contents are NOWHERE to be found

Saludos,
jer...