France in Focus

Hi,
We are currently in Guadeloupe half way through our holiday, as I can react to wasp stings and insect bites more than I used to, I usually carry some anti histamine tablets with me, I also carry a current prescrption with me, so I can get replacements for any that I have used, anyway i got a mozzie bite on my hand and it started to swell up a bit, normally for that I would just use some cream, but as it is the same hand that I have recently had operated on, and need to exercise regularly during the day, I decided to take the antihistamin tablets that I had.

So I then went to a pharmacy with a prescription valid for a year ending in august, I was told that they would only honour prescriptions issued in france métropole within the last 3 months.

So I had better hope I dont get stung by anything more nasty. Although I would hope that if I did have a real problem and obvious swelling, a pharmacist would bend the rules, even if I had to find a doctor to get a valid prescription afterwards.

I thought a prescription written in France was good for one year. Has that changed ?

My Pharmacist said that certain drug groups are now only valid for 3 months.
As I have a prescription for strong painkillers this will need to be reissued every 3 months.
It's to cut down the misappropriation of 'stups'.

suein56 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 04, 2025 9:26 am My Pharmacist said that certain drug groups are now only valid for 3 months.

Thanks for the update. I guess antihistamines are included in that 3 month limit. It's hard enough to get an appointment to see a doctor, I would think this would make it even harder.

Lori wrote: ↑Wed Jun 04, 2025 8:03 am I thought a prescription written in France was good for one year. Has that changed ?

Unless I missunderstood, my prescription was still valid until August, and I could use it when I get home, but it was about where it was issued. If issued in france métropole they would only honour it for 3 months here in Guadeloupe. Maybe it is more difficult for them to verify how legit the prescription is, if issued in france.

Ah, I see. Well, hopefully you won't need more until you get home.

It seems that Guadeloupe benefits from alliances with the EU but is a member of the 22 'pays et territoires d'outre-mer'. Hence the possibility of limited access to medications prescribed in France.
Another added complication is the difference in names used for drugs in different countries.

widge wrote: ↑Tue Jun 03, 2025 8:52 pm So I had better hope I dont get stung by anything more nasty. Although I would hope that if I did have a real problem and obvious swelling, a pharmacist would bend the rules, even if I had to find a doctor to get a valid prescription afterwards.

If you did have a problem, you'd probably be better off going straight to the urgences rather than risk the pharmacist not wanting to "bend the rules" !

Or alternatively just offer to buy. I cannot imagine that antihistamines are either prescription only nor expensive - unless you have a very non standard product.

exile wrote: ↑Wed Jun 04, 2025 6:07 pm Or alternatively just offer to buy. I cannot imagine that antihistamines are either prescription only nor expensive - unless you have a very non standard product.

Sorry my fault they are https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prednisolone
Which is actually a steroid, but used for insect bites in my case, hence my confusion, and no they are not over the counter