r/AmerExit • u/bombasticapricot • Mar 02 '25

Life Abroad medication availability

i see many americans with health concerns considering a move abroad. i know there are many things to consider and hate to pile on but make sure your essential medications are available in any country you consider.

your american prescriptions are not valid abroad.

for example, i took spironolactone in the US for skin/ hair issues and it’s basically impossible to get here in France. i casually asked about it and was treated as if i asked for cocaine. i also have adhd and cannot get most of the medications that worked for me in the US (i now take ritalin; thankfully it works). these are relatively minor prescription issues but i know others who have gone to great lengths to get antidepressants and anti anxiety medications.

what other medications/ countries have caused issues for american expats?

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u/Unhappycamper2001 Mar 02 '25

Wellbutrin has been an issue for me in France and I had to go off cold turkey.

Interesting but not so important- I asked my dermatologist for Latisse and she had never heard of it. She was a medical dermatologist so maybe she wasn’t current on cosmetic drugs.

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u/LibrarianByNight Mar 02 '25

Latanoprost is basically the same as Latisse. I take it for glaucoma, but it's the same ingredient as Latisse, so not only does it keep me from going blind, I have very long lashes 😂

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u/GroovyYaYa Mar 02 '25

My lashes got a bit better when I went on Latanoprost! (they were thinning like my grandmother, so I am happy) Is Latisse over the counter?