Medication in Bulgaria

1777POSTS

6 years ago

Good morning everyone,

Whether it's a simple cold or a chronic illness, medication and medicine use vary from country to country and culture to culture.

When you are used to certain brands or types of drugs, being in a country like Bulgaria with different rules can affect your daily well-being.

Some drugs also differ in name, price, dosage, active molecule, so we would like to hear your opinion on these issues:

Have you ever had difficulties finding familiar or useful medicines for your health in your host country?

Have you ever been faced with a shortage of medicines in Bulgaria?

Would you have said that in Bulgaria drugs are more or less expensive than in your home country? Do you find them more or less effective or of similar quality?

What is the place of alternative medicines in your host country? Have you ever used them?

Thank you in advance for your feedback,

Loïc

The Bulgaria expat guide

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marc9999 Member

1POSTS

6 years ago

About 6 years ago i had some dental work done in Ravda. The dentist put down the name of some painkillers i should buy just in case i got some pain after the treatment.
Well i usually travel with my own "drug store" so i didn't really need it, but anyways i was running low on ranitidine and decided to refill the stock. The dentist had written the name of the painkillers in both in latin and cyrillic so i did the same for ranitidine.
Off to the store and asked for the medication, the lady behind the counter said no, i showed her the note, still no....... alternatives... you guessed it NO!

This is in sharp contrast to Romania where you had a "farmacia" on every street corner earlier, that is before SensiBlu and "whatsitsname" took over but you can still get anything over the counter, just have to walk a bit further to get it.

I suppose the lady in the Bulgarian farmacy didn't like my half twisted face after the dentist visit, or simply had a bad day. I have not experienced anything like this in Burgas or Varna. In Moldova on the other hand, you may run into this kind of "behavior" if you happen to get a Russian(ish) seller, they act like they are a bit better then the rest of us, RO speaking Moldovan's on the other hand will in my experience be much more helpful.

Ehhh the question was availability of medication. Except for this shop in Ravda i have always been able to get what i wanted in Bulgaria!!!

Supasue Member

10POSTS

6 years ago

I recently tried to get my UK prescription medication in Silistra. Firstly I was met with a rude abrupt response from most everyone I spoke to in the pharmacy's, and it was very difficult to communicate very few people spoke English and they didn't want to use the Google translate option.
I went to four different pharmacy,s and was told I cannot get that drug anywhere in Bulgaria.
I have also found that buying over the counter medication is quite expensive compared to the UK. You cannot find ibuprofen anywhere, you have to buy Nurofen and that was expensive.
On the whole I have found going to a pharmacy a daunting task, just getting to communicate with someone helpful is very rare.

kojidae Serial expat

588POSTS

6 years ago

Did you have a prescription for the rantidine? It is by prescription only in Bulgaria... not over the counter.

1 member reacted to this post

kojidae Serial expat

588POSTS

6 years ago

For me I've found medications to be much cheaper in Bulgaria than in the US. (Both over-the-counter and prescription). This is especially true for antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication.

I've found some drugs that are over-the-counter in the US are prescription in Bulgaria (such as anti-fungals).

Doctors and dentists are much less likely to prescribe opioids here (which I like, since I think they are overprescribed in the US).

Unlike the US, most over-the-counter medicines are still behind the counter at the pharmacy, so you need to know the brand you want. (which can be difficult at first)

The one thing I haven't been able to find here is benedryl. There are plenty of other allergy pills, but nothing as fast-acting and targeted as benedryl in my experience.

The pharmacists have all been super nice and helpful (probably helpful that I speak Bulgarian). When I come in with my children, they often let me skip the line so my kids don't have to wait in the pharmacy, which I always appreciate.

2 members reacted to this post

GuestPoster11478 Guest

0POSTS

6 years ago

I echo your experience. I have never had a problem and suggest that those that do find a new physician and a new pharmacy.

1 member reacted to this post

Nemecky Member

10POSTS

3 years ago

Is there a list online that shows what’s available and what isn’t? I looked on the ministry of health website and it’s quite outdated and many links lead to 404 pages. Really the only thing I’m trying to find is my ADD medication. Thanks!

GuestPoster11478 Guest

0POSTS

3 years ago

@Nemecky google Framar BG

Nemecky Member

10POSTS

3 years ago

#10

@GB_2_BG ok great thank you! I will check it out

1 member reacted to this post

kaththomas2017 Contributor

127POSTS

3 years ago

#11

I took my medications and my husband's into the village chemist and am able to buy them over the counter

Nemecky Member

10POSTS

3 years ago

#12

@kaththomas2017 for ADD medications?

kaththomas2017 Contributor

127POSTS

3 years ago

#13

ADD? You've lost me. My husband has a major heart issue and I have high blood pressure we get our medications on prescription from our GP but when we're here for a while I take the boxes or list to the village chemist and buy from her.

gwynj Bulgaria Expert

2608POSTS

3 years ago

#14

ADD = Attention Deficit Disorder

nettie605 Active member

28POSTS

3 years ago

#15

I go to the GP in Obzor. Wait in order of entry to surgery. Seating available in waiting room. Pay 10 lev for consultation. Doctor speaks English, thorough check up and prescription. Chemist/Pharmacy across from surgery. No problem with accessing treatment and medication. Also used a dentist in Varna, thorough check up, option to take single X-ray in dentists surgery or to take full mouth X-ray at health clinic nearby. I chose the latter 30 lev. Back to dentist to carry out treatment. 😊

kaththomas2017 Contributor

127POSTS

3 years ago

#16

Good news Nettie I need to find and register with an ( preferably) English speaking GP near to my village but not being a driver they would best be in Pomorie.

1 member reacted to this post

Nemecky Member

10POSTS

3 years ago

#17

@kaththomas2017 I was asking about ADD because that’s what I mentioned in my original comment. So I thought you were referring to getting similar medications.

GuestPoster11478 Guest

0POSTS

3 years ago

#18

Overall the health system is good and cheap here.

A lot of meds can be bought over the counter.

1 member reacted to this post

wtruckyboy Serial expat

209POSTS

3 years ago

#19

@Supasue

I found the opposite..i take 5 tablets daily..and one time i extended my stay by 1 month.

So one months supply for all my 5 daily tablets were 19 lev..try getting them in the uk for that price.

janemulberry ViP

2106POSTS

3 years ago

#20

@HesamNik You may find it more difficult to obtain an opiate-based medication. The only way to find out would be to check with a doctor.

The rules regarding prescription medications with a potential for misuse do vary from country to country and some are far more restrictive. With some medications, it may require a hospital consultant's prescription rather than just a GP.