Spanish pharmacies sell a wide range of medications without a prescription, including pain relievers, cold and flu remedies, digestive aids, antiseptics, and emergency contraception. If you’re visiting Spain, you’ll find that pharmacies (marked by a green cross) are well-stocked and staffed by pharmacists who can recommend treatments directly. The selection is broadly similar to other EU countries, though a few differences will stand out if you’re coming from the US or UK.
Pain Relievers and Anti-Inflammatories
Ibuprofen is available over the counter at 400 mg per tablet. The 600 mg dose, which is commonly prescribed in Spain, requires a prescription. You’ll see it under brand names like Nurofen and Espidifen, as well as generic versions. Paracetamol (called paracetamol in Spain, not acetaminophen) is sold in 500 mg and 650 mg tablets without a prescription. The 1 g strength requires one. Aspirin is also freely available.
Naproxen at lower doses can be found behind the counter in some pharmacies, though pharmacists may ask about your symptoms before selling it. For muscle pain, topical gels containing anti-inflammatory ingredients (Voltaren gel, for example) are easy to find without a prescription.
Cold, Flu, and Cough Products
Spain has its own lineup of multi-symptom cold and flu products that combine a pain reliever with a decongestant and an antihistamine. The most recognizable brands are Frenadol, Couldina, Gelocatil Gripe, Bisolgrip, and Termalgin Gripe. These typically come as dissolving powders or effervescent tablets rather than the capsule-and-liquid formats common in the US.
Frenadol Complex is one of the most popular, combining paracetamol with a cough suppressant, vitamin C, an antihistamine, and caffeine in a single sachet. Couldina and Gelocatil Gripe pair paracetamol with phenylephrine (a nasal decongestant) and chlorphenamine (an antihistamine that also causes drowsiness). Bisolgrip follows a similar formula. If you’re used to buying DayQuil or Lemsip, these serve the same purpose.
Standalone cough syrups, throat lozenges, and nasal sprays (including saline and xylometazoline-based decongestants) are all available without a prescription. Fluimucil, which combines paracetamol with a mucus thinner, is a common choice for chest congestion.
Digestive Medications
Antacids like Almax (magaldrate) and Gaviscon are sold freely. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor for heartburn and acid reflux, is available at the 20 mg strength without a prescription for short-term use (typically up to 14 days). The brand Omeprazol Tevapharma is one version sold in Spain. Higher doses or longer courses require a doctor’s visit. Loperamide for diarrhea (sold as Fortasec) and oral rehydration salts are also easy to pick up, which is useful for travelers dealing with stomach issues.
Allergy and Antihistamine Products
Cetirizine, loratadine, and other non-drowsy antihistamines are available without a prescription. Nasal corticosteroid sprays for allergies, like beclomethasone, can also be purchased directly from the pharmacist. Eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis are similarly accessible.
Antiseptics and First Aid
Betadine (povidone-iodine) is one of the most widely available antiseptics in Spanish pharmacies, sold in several forms: a standard skin solution, a foaming scrub, and even a vaginal antiseptic version. Chlorhexidine-based antiseptics are equally common. You can also find adhesive bandages, sterile gauze, hydrocolloid blister patches, and basic wound care supplies without any issue.
Emergency Contraception
Both types of morning-after pill are available over the counter in Spain. Levonorgestrel (the equivalent of Plan B) has been sold without a prescription since 2009, and ulipristal acetate (sold as EllaOne, effective up to five days after unprotected sex) followed in 2015. There is no age restriction. A study of Spanish pharmacy dispensing data found that 7.7% of emergency contraception sales went to minors, with a mean age of about 16 in that group. The pharmacist may ask a few questions, but no ID or parental consent is required.
What You Cannot Buy Without a Prescription
Antibiotics legally require a prescription in Spain, as they do across the EU. In practice, enforcement has been inconsistent. A study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy found that obtaining antibiotics without a prescription in Spain was “even easier in 2014 than 6 years ago,” suggesting some pharmacies still bend the rules. That said, the regulatory direction is toward stricter enforcement, and you should not count on being able to buy antibiotics over the counter.
Benzodiazepines (for anxiety or sleep), opioid painkillers, ADHD medications, and most prescription-strength sleeping pills all require a prescription. The same goes for higher-dose versions of otherwise OTC drugs, like 600 mg ibuprofen or 1 g paracetamol. Codeine-containing products, which are available over the counter in some countries, require a prescription in Spain.
Practical Tips for Buying Medicine in Spain
Pharmacies in Spain operate differently than drugstores in the US or UK. Most medications, even OTC ones, are kept behind the counter. You tell the pharmacist what you need or describe your symptoms, and they retrieve the product for you. This isn’t a barrier, just a different system. Spanish pharmacists are trained to recommend appropriate treatments and will often suggest alternatives if your usual brand isn’t available.
Prices tend to be reasonable. Generic pain relievers and cold medications cost a few euros. Emergency contraception typically runs between 15 and 30 euros depending on the type. You won’t need your passport or travel insurance to buy OTC products, though carrying ID is always a good idea in Spain for other reasons.
Every neighborhood has at least one pharmacy, and a rotating overnight pharmacy (farmacia de guardia) is always open for after-hours needs. Look for the illuminated green cross, or check the posted schedule on any pharmacy door to find the nearest one open late.