but....
can antibiotics be bought over the counter in Switzerland?
I'm after somethiing for a chest infection that seems to be taking hold but couldn't be bothered dealing with doctors/insurance to get a packet of amoxycillin.
cheers
Nic
not sure whether this is the correct part of the forum to ask this question
Hi there Nic,
It is quite difficult to obtain antibiotics here in Switzerland. I personally don't believe in taking antibiotics unnecessarily... it is always best to check with a doctor as to whether you really need it or not... Why not try your luck at the walk-in clinic in the Hauptbahnhof Zurich.
Get well soon!
thanks Lynn,
I'm curious now... Have you been able to buy antibiotics over the counter without a prescription in another first-world country?
I remember when I was in Mexico you could buy some pretty serious stuff over the counter, but I wouldn't expect that elsewhere.
I have to agree with Lynn, anti-biotics are way overprescribed. I don't even want to start imagining a world where anti-biotics aren't effective anymore....
In Spain, you can get almost anything you want over the counter. The pharmacist or the assistant just asks a bunch of questions and gives you the meds. Sometimes they refer you to a doctor, but usually it is just questions and the drugs.
well i've bought them in thailand before. although you could probably kit up a field hospital with some of the stuff they sell in chemists there. Makes sense though, if you want to see a doctor in a clinic and are not a rich westerner you have to wait for the doctor to finish his/her day shift at a big hotel looking after the rich westerners. during the day the clinics are run by nurses who do their best to patch up a long line of people. hence people are self medicating.
so maybe this is not an option in developed countires but... was worth asking anyway.
So you are absolutely sure it's a bacteria that is causing it? Not a virus?
Good Question. it definitely began viral (sore throat, temperature, localised swelling and general discomfort) and has been replaced with chunky chest cough which is an indicator of the healing process but after time would place me in a risk category for a secondary bacterial infection. (i think this is correct ???)
Guess i'll wait until monday and if it hasn't cleared up find an english speaking doctor to prescribe 2 dollars worth of pills taht are actually no good for my system for god only knows how much.
cheers
Nic
You can get pretty much anything over the counter in Andorra.
Gav
Have you tried Benylin hustensirup it clears up chesty coughs,its from the chemist and costs around 11 sfr.
nope, will get some now though.
cheers for that.
DON'T DON'T DON'T DON'T DON'T. ever buy antibiotics over the counter. Apart from the problem of resistance, it is insanely bad for you, most people ( myself included in the past) start to feel better after a couple of doses and stop. Look at MRSA if you need further proof. My daughter had a chesty cough for about 10 days, no fever so I ignored it. One night she woke us up with a really bad earache. I took her to the doctor the next day, he took a pin prick of blood and did something in a machine, confirmed the ear infection was bacterial in origin and gave her a course of antibiotics. A dose later and it was much more comfortable. She finished the course, the earrache disappeared but she remained chesty for another week or so.
I'm curious now... Have you been able to buy antibiotics over the counter without a prescription in another first-world country?
I have purchased antibiotics over the counter in Greece and in Italy. Both times it was for a urinary tract infection. I was asked a few questions by the pharmacist first, but that was it.
Now the thread is alive again...
Note the common theme... just ask in Southern Europe.
I guess first world does not apply to these places...
I'm going to revive this thread again, as I've had a phlegm-y cough for over two weeks now. I've been waiting for it to go away, but it's not shifting. Everyone is telling me to go to the doctor and that I'll probably need antibiotics. I have to take loads of antibiotics for something else, and I really don't want to take more than is necessary. I kind of want to wait it out, but nothing is calming the symptoms. Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't sleep very well, I'm knackered all the time, normally it goes away by itself but I think that the antibiotics I've had to take for the other thing have weakened my immune system. I don't want the bacteria to become resistant, because the other thing is horribly painful, and I don't know what I'd do if the antibiotics stopped working.
This is going to feel like Deja vu but really just go to the doctor if it is bothering you so much! Most people do not know that a cold lasts for about 10-21 days and more if it is not taken care of. If you think you have a bacterial infection then just go to the doctor...otherwise take lots of liquids (warm preferably) that will make it easier for you to "get rid" of the phlegm...you can also buy some over the counter expectorating syrups..and most importantly if you smoke, dont do it...
Inhalations with Olbas oil or similar really help - a bowl of hot water, a few drops or a tablet (ask your pharmacist) and a towel over your head. Honest, it works wonders. An old Swiss remedy, from the pharmacy, is Carmol drops. They are expensive, but a small bottle lasts a long time, worth every penny. A few drops into a mug of hot water - inhale first (careful- it's strong!) then drink as hot as poss. It is excellent. Bonne chance and get better soon.
u also have pulmex inhalation, very easy to handle, i love it
can we get some anti-biatics from pharmacies without prescription?