Portugal divides its medications into two broad groups: prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs, officially called Medicamentos Não Sujeitos a Receita Médica (MNSRM). Since 2005, many of these non-prescription products can be sold not only in pharmacies but also in authorized retail outlets like supermarkets and parapharmacies. A second, more restricted subcategory was introduced in 2013 for products that are technically non-prescription but require a pharmacist’s supervision, meaning you can only get them at a pharmacy counter.
If you’re visiting or moving to Portugal, here’s a practical breakdown of what you can pick up without seeing a doctor.
How Portugal’s OTC System Works
The Portuguese medicines regulator, INFARMED, maintains a published list of approved non-prescription medications. These fall into two tiers. The first tier, general MNSRM, includes products considered safe enough to sell in pharmacies, parapharmacies, and licensed retail locations. The second tier, MNSRM-EF (dispensa exclusiva em farmácia), covers products that don’t require a prescription but do need a pharmacist present at the point of sale. This might be because the condition they treat benefits from professional guidance, or because the medication carries slightly higher risk if used incorrectly.
In practice, this means you’ll find basic painkillers and cold remedies in supermarket health aisles, but for anything a step above that, you’ll need to visit a farmácia. Portuguese pharmacies are well-stocked, clearly marked with a green cross, and pharmacists are trained to recommend and dispense these products directly.
Pain Relief and Anti-Inflammatories
Paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the US) and ibuprofen are both available without a prescription. You can buy paracetamol in 500 mg and 1,000 mg tablets, and ibuprofen typically comes in 200 mg or 400 mg doses. A combination tablet containing 500 mg paracetamol and 150 mg ibuprofen is also approved across EU countries, including Portugal, for adults. Aspirin is similarly available over the counter in standard doses for pain and fever.
Topical anti-inflammatory gels and creams, the kind you rub on sore muscles or joints, are also sold without a prescription. These are commonly found in both pharmacies and parapharmacies.
Cold, Flu, and Allergy Medications
Portugal stocks a solid range of multi-symptom cold and flu products. A popular example is Frenadol Complex, which combines paracetamol for fever and pain, dextromethorphan as a cough suppressant, chlorphenamine (a first-generation antihistamine) for runny nose and sneezing, caffeine for fatigue, and vitamin C. Products like this are available without a prescription.
Beyond combination products, you can buy individual categories separately:
- Cough suppressants (antitussives) for dry, non-productive coughs
- Expectorants and mucolytics to help loosen chest congestion
- Nasal decongestant sprays for blocked sinuses
- Antihistamines like cetirizine and loratadine for hay fever and seasonal allergies
- Throat lozenges for sore throats and mild mouth or throat irritation
If you’re used to buying cetirizine or loratadine at a grocery store back home, you’ll find them just as accessible in Portugal, typically at a pharmacy or parapharmacy counter.
Digestive and Stomach Medications
Basic antacids for occasional heartburn or indigestion are widely available without a prescription. For more persistent acid reflux, proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole are also accessible over the counter at pharmacies in low doses intended for short-term use (typically up to two weeks without medical advice). These work by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces, rather than just neutralizing acid after the fact.
Anti-diarrheal tablets, oral rehydration salts, and mild laxatives round out the digestive category. Travelers often find these useful to have on hand.
Sleep Aids and Melatonin
Melatonin occupies an interesting regulatory space in Portugal. Products containing under 2 mg of melatonin per daily dose are classified as food supplements, not medicines, and are widely sold in pharmacies, health shops, and online. The recommended doses in these supplements range from 1 mg to 1.95 mg, carefully staying below that 2 mg threshold. Once a product hits 2 mg or above (typically 2 to 3 mg per tablet), it’s classified as a medicine and may require a prescription depending on the formulation.
Only about 20% of melatonin supplements sold in Portugal contain melatonin alone. The majority combine it with plant extracts like valerian, California poppy, and passionflower, often alongside vitamin B6, magnesium, tryptophan, or L-theanine. These combinations are marketed as synergistic sleep aids, and many of them work through the same calming brain pathways. If you want pure melatonin without extras, check the label carefully, as the blended formulas dominate the market.
Emergency Contraception
The morning-after pill is available without a prescription in Portugal. You can get it at any pharmacy without an age restriction. It’s also one of the products that can be distributed outside of traditional pharmacies through authorized outlets. The most common option uses levonorgestrel, which is effective when taken within 72 hours. Pharmacists will typically ask a few brief questions to confirm it’s appropriate, but no doctor visit or prescription is needed.
What You Won’t Find Over the Counter
Portugal follows EU norms for prescription requirements, so antibiotics, benzodiazepines (common anxiety and sleep medications), opioid painkillers, and most cardiovascular drugs all require a prescription. Codeine-containing products, which are available over the counter in some countries, generally need a prescription in Portugal. The same applies to stronger anti-inflammatory drugs beyond standard ibuprofen doses.
If you arrive in Portugal needing a medication that requires a prescription, a local doctor or an urgent care clinic can write one. Portuguese pharmacists are also knowledgeable about what alternatives might be available without a prescription, so it’s worth asking at the counter if you’re unsure about a specific product.
Practical Tips for Buying Medications
Portuguese pharmacies (farmácias) are the safest bet for finding anything in the non-prescription category. They’re staffed by qualified pharmacists who speak English in most tourist areas and can help you find the local equivalent of a product you use at home. Parapharmacies, often found inside shopping centers, carry a more limited selection focused on the general MNSRM tier.
Prices for non-prescription medications in Portugal tend to be lower than in many Western European countries. You won’t need your European Health Insurance Card or travel insurance for OTC purchases. Brand names will often differ from what you’re used to, so knowing the active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, cetirizine, omeprazole) is more useful than searching for a familiar brand.