We have easy access to all sorts of medications over the counter or by prescription in the US. However, lots of these drugs are banned in other countries. In these places, the government thinks these drugs are too risky or likely to be misused. Here are twelve everyday medicines sold in America that you won’t see on pharmacy shelves in other parts of the world. You’ll be grateful for all our freedoms!
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Dextromethorphan (DXM)
Dextromethorphan is in cough syrups like Robitussin and DayQuil here in America and it works wonders for suppressing a nagging cough. However, at high doses, it causes hallucinations & a kind of “high” that people might misuse. That’s why countries like Japan have banned it—they’re worried about addiction.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
You’ll see Benadryl (aka diphenhydramine) in many American medicine cabinets for allergies or when you just can’t sleep. But in places like Zambia, the government has banned it over fears that it’ll make people really drowsy or misuse it. Authorities there are quite worried about accidents from impaired motor functions.
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Melatonin Supplements
It’s easy to get melatonin supplements at any drugstore to help with sleep troubles or jet lag. Just pick your dose & start using it right away! However, in the United Kingdom, you need a prescription to get melatonin because they treat it as a hormone that only doctors may administer. Instead of self-medicating, they’d prefer people get checked out for underlying sleep disorders first. You’ll only get melatonin unless a doctor believes you actually need it.
Alosetron (Lotronex)
Alosetron is commonly known by the brand name Lotronex and doctors prescribe it for women suffering from severe irritable bowel syndrome when other treatments haven’t worked. Yet you won’t find it in Europe as it hasn’t been registered there. This is likely because of serious side effects like severe constipation & ischemic colitis (reduced blood flow to the colon).
Adderall (Amphetamine Salts)
In the USA, doctors prescribe Adderall to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and it contains amphetamine salts. While it’s standard here, in countries like Japan and South Korea, officials classify amphetamines as narcotics. Bringing Adderall into these places could cause you to be arrested or prosecuted. Be careful what you pack!
Codeine
Many Americans use codeine for pain relief & to suppress coughs—you might even get some codeine products over the counter. But in places like the United Arab Emirates or Japan, codeine is either banned or tightly controlled. Officials are worried over the drug’s potential for addiction and misuse. It makes sense, though, when you look at the opioid crisis that’s happening right now.
Pseudoephedrine
Decongestants like Sudafed contain a drug called pseudoephedrine to clear up nasal congestion when you have a cold or allergies. In America, you may buy it with some restrictions. However, Mexico has banned it altogether because people might use pseudoephedrine to make methamphetamine. The Mexican government hopes that banning it will help them fight drug manufacturing & the problems that come with it.
Phenylephrine
Similarly, phenylephrine is another decongestant you’ll see in American cold medicines—but not in Sweden. In fact, the Swedish government banned it because they’re not convinced it works all that well & they’re worried about side effects. These include raised blood pressure and stress on the heart. Swedish health officials recommend other treatments they believe are safer.
Domperidone
Nobody likes nausea or vomiting and thankfully, in America, you might get domperidone over the counter to help with that. Anyone in the UK is flat out-of-luck, though! The government there has banned domperidone without a prescription after studies showed it could increase the risk of serious heart problems, including sudden cardiac death and irregular heart rhythms. For British health authorities, the dangers outweigh the benefits.
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) Combination Products
Here in America, drug manufacturers combine acetaminophen with other medications like codeine to improve pain relief. But certain high-dose combination products are banned in the United Kingdom. The concern is that taking too much acetaminophen (AKA paracetamol) may cause serious liver damage or even accidental overdose.
Ketoconazole Oral Tablets
Some American doctors prescribe ketoconazole tablets to treat serious fungal infections that affect various parts of the body. Yet the European Union has banned the oral form of ketoconazole. For Europeans, the risk of liver toxicity & problems with the adrenal glands are too high. You can still get it there—just not orally.
Phentermine (Appetite Suppressant)
Phentermine is an appetite suppressant that helps obese individuals lose weight, and it’s designed for short-term use. But if you’re in the United Kingdom or other European countries, you can’t use it. Doctors are too worried about heart-related side effects like elevated blood pressure. In fact, they concluded that the potential dangers to heart health were too much for it to be allowed.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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