Buying Medication in Florida

[kazlee]

Hi, I have had for the past 3 weeks this awful flu virus thats been going around, i cannot shift my cough either and still feel extremely nauseas, The doctor wont presribe me anything - i,e antibiotics - as he says it will clear by itself but i still truly feel horrid, someone said that the medication you can buy over the counter in america is fantastic compared to over here, can anyone confirm this and also recommend something i can buy whilst we are there, this is our holiday of a lifetime and i really dont want it ruined through me being ill.
Many Thanks in advance for replies

Karen xx :wave:

[Grumpy&Happy]

Hi Karen

They do sell more meds over the counter in the US and any of the pharmacies will be able to advise you.

We had to pay a visit to the pharmacy on our last trip and they were very helpful.

I notice you've still got a couple of weeks to go, I'm sure by then and a soon as you see that sun you will be much better anyway.

[kazlee]

thanks grumpy&happy although i cant ever see myself feeling better!! Ita a complete nightmare all the kids have had it too, there is just so much going around at the moment, I am truly grateful that we are coming to the end of it now and seem to be getting all illnesses out of the way before we go!!
thanks for your reply

[Benno1]

Go see the pharmacist at Walgreens, my sister was ill last time we went and they were very helpful.You will be amazed at the selection of medicines you can buyand how cheap they are. I buy Migraleve over here and pay a fortune for it but over there I buy Hedrin Migraine 24 capsules for $4.99. It's worth having a headache for!!!! :d:

[kgfive]

Speaking to the pharmacist in either Walgreens or CVS will guarantee you will get something suitable, but hopefully, you'll feel loads better by then :thumbs-upand won't need anything.

[Dawn]

Antibiotics won't do anything for flu. They are prescribed to treat infection - flu is a virus. The virus will have to run its course but in the meantime there are medications available to treat the symptoms. Any pharmacist can advise you on that.

[charliesangel]

Apparently you cant get sudafed without a prescription in the US now so if anyone wants that they need to take it with them.

[OWJAY]

Another vote for the pharmacists at Walgreens. They were really helpful when our little girl was poorly a couple of years ago :smile:

[edie_w]

Antibiotics won't do anything for flu. They are prescribed to treat infection - flu is a virus. The virus will have to run its course but in the meantime there are medications available to treat the symptoms. Any pharmacist can advise you on that.


Exactly.

Also, the range of medications available over the counter in the USA is pretty much the same as you can get over here - except generally cheaper. They do have rows and rows of medicines in Walgreens, but they are often just different brands and formulations of the same medicine.

As always, if in doubt, ask the pharmacist.

And be aware that if you want paracetamol, you'll have to buy acetaminophen - this is one of the medicines for which there is no internationally agreed generic name. Also, check the dosing and dose frequency carefully as acetaminophen comes in different strengths over there (all paracetamol tablets are 500mg here)

The best thing you can do now before you go is rest and eat sensibly to ensure you recover as quickly as possible.

Hope you are feeling better soon, and say Hi to Mickey for me!:wavey:

[FLGirl-UKNow]

You should still be able to get Sudafed without a script but I believe they have moved it to behind the pharmacy counter. Ask at the counter and see what they say. I haven't bought it in a while but have never needed a script for it.

Give Thera-flu a try. It is pretty popular here. Also, make sure you look closely at the packaging as a lot of our meds are offered in drowsy and non-drowsy formulas. I bought some for my DH today at Target and had the choice of either or and also the option of a box that had half and half.

I will say that the medication in the UK didn't seem to affect me but the medication here is very strong to my DH since we've moved here and he is using it.

Many of our bottles are even packed with 250 tablets and if you go to Sam's or Costco you can get 500 tablets. Very different from the UK.

All of our pharmacists are very happy to suggest something for you. Target is my regular shop and they (like Walgreen's and CVS) have always been of great help. The grocery stores will also carry these products but I will say they are typically more expensive.

[David63]

They changed the law a couple of years ago so that some medicines are now only on sale behind the counter; this was to stop kids making crystal meth. I couldn't find Sudafed on the shelves a few weeks ago, but I didn't ask the pharmacist.

As others have said, most patent medicines are the same, but they are a lot cheaper ($10 for 750 ibuprofen). Tylenol comes in a huge number of formulations and it really does help; we always stock up when we're there.

Unfortunately, the closest thing to lemsip is uterly disgusting. Hope the flu gets better soon

[Mishka]

I had a really bad head one day and they had a really big choice of tablets but all I really wanted was just plain paracetamol and I could not find these any where. So I would put some in your case just in case. I did not ask for help but I can not take tablets very well any strong ones make me dizzy or sick.

[lov2dis]

I had a really bad head one day and they had a really big choice of tablets but all I really wanted was just plain paracetamol and I could not find these any where. So I would put some in your case just in case. I did not ask for help but I can not take tablets very well any strong ones make me dizzy or sick.

If you are looking for paracetamol in the US - they call it acetaminophen.
(Tylenol is the major brand name for it)

[tomnj]

Yes, anything with epinephrine (which is a decongestant) will be behind the counter. Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid, etc will make you fill out a form or logbook to purchase it. No big deal. They will have a card in the aise that you take to the counter and they will hand it to you. Many allergy meds like Claritin, Allegra and their generics are also behind the counter.
Paracetamol is the same as acetaminophen (Tylenol) however as prev stated it does come in different dosages.
Buy the generic if you need something. It will save you a lot of money.
One thing I wont buy generic is vitamins because they are unregulated and the cheap generics may be imported.

[kazlee]

thanks for all your replies, im taking sudafed now and also vitamins to try and get it gone before we go, it just seems to be lingering will be 4 weeks on tuesday that i have had it. I will take paracetomol and sudafed with me just in case!

[Amyrlin]

A main difference between the UK and the US is that US medication for flu and colds will have antihistamines in it. It has been shown in research that antihistamines (allergy medicine like piriton or zirtek) can be very helpful in helping to get rid of the symptoms.

So, if the usually cold and flue remedies are not working, try taking some antihistimies. You can check with the pharmasit to see whch ones they think may be best.

BTW we always take ecanacia when we fee, a cold or flu coming on, it seems to boost the immune system, its a herbal remedy, but does seem to make the duration shorter.

[kazlee]

yes someone told me about echinechia i will remember that for next time, its just typical ive got this now! got 2 weeks to shift it!!

[Cinders76]

You can still take echinacea for this bout, they call it nature's antibiotic and it's helping my family. Also a course of vitamin C and zinc should have you back to normal in no time.

We fly out Thursday morning and 2 out of 3 kids are sick with some sort of virus. We are plying them with vitamins and echinacea to try and help them recover before Thursday.

Fingers crossed baby doesn't catch it!!

[kazlee]

its awful isnt it, i hope the kiddiwinks are better soon! and you have a fab time, i am off to sainsburys in a bit i will see if they have any xx

[Saratoska]

was going to say the same as Cinders - Vitiman C ;)

[TJayy]

We were there in December and I had a really nasty cold. Used Tylenol day in the day and the night formula at night. It is a liquid medicine and is blue in colour.

It helped me get a decent night's sleep, and kept me going around the parks in the day - and as others have said it seems much stronger than stuff I have had back here in the UK. Must say though - it tasted like drinking toilet cleaner - it was VILE! But - hey - at least it worked.

[dibbaholic]

Do you know of any good verrucca treatments that are available, I have been using Thuja for about 6 weeks & it's not working & I've tried everything going over here.