Prescriptions from an Italian Doctor
- All the elements of the prescription must be met and written in English to be considered valid
- Prescription must be typed or legible ink
- NO controlled substances may be prescribed
The first stop if you have a cold or an upset stomach or the like is going to be the pharmacy, or Farmacia. There are no chain pharmacies in Italy, but Farmacie (plural) are universally recognizable by the green plus-sign.
When you walk into the Farmacia, you will need to wait in line and talk to the pharmacist to get whatever you need for treatment, even if it is considered “over the counter.” Things like ibuprofen are not on open shelves, but you will not need a prescription to get them.