Medication in Bulgaria

I have had no difficulty in receiving my medications in Bulgaria.    I have 6 medications that I take for
heart, blood pressure and aFib.    These are all readily available in Bg and at a price a fraction of the price in the US.  The only challenge is that each dose is packed in a plastic multi pack rather than loose in a vial as in the US.

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!!!

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.

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

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.

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

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!

@Nemecky google Framar BG

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

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

@kaththomas2017 for ADD medications?

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.

ADD = Attention Deficit Disorder

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. 😊

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.

@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.

Overall the health system is good and cheap here.

A lot of meds can be bought over the counter.

@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.

@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.

is it possible to get in bulgaria? An what does it need
-@Hesam Nik

Any pharmacy will sell you OxyContin. If they bother to ask do you have a subscription you say yes and pay your money.

Can i get viagra no prescription when i goto Bulgaria or should i get my prescription b4 i go

@richard597

you can and most RX as well.  Just ask.  Viagra is 25 lev. 

@richard597
you can and most RX as well. Just ask. Viagra is 25 lev.
-@Johnavann

Thanks