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How do I get a prescription in France?

Picking Up Prescription Medicines in France Once you have seen your doctor or a hospital specialist, if you need prescription medication, they will issue you with a prescription, known as une ordonnance in French. This prescription will detail your required medication and the prescribed dose you must take.



To get a prescription in France in 2026 as a visitor, the easiest method is to use a telehealth service like Doctolib or Doctorsa. These platforms allow you to book a video consultation with a certified French doctor for roughly €25 to €60, and they can send an electronic prescription (ordonnance) directly to your email. You can then take this digital prescription to any local pharmacy (identified by a green neon cross). Alternatively, you can visit a "Cabinet Médical" (doctor's office) or a walk-in clinic for an in-person visit. If you have a pre-existing prescription from your home country, most French pharmacists will not fulfill it directly unless it is from another EU nation. For 2026 tourists, a high-value "pro-tip" is to look for a "Pharmacie de Garde" (on-call pharmacy) if you need medication late at night or on a Sunday, which can be found via an internet search or a notice posted on the door of any closed pharmacy.

People Also Ask

Q: Can a foreign traveler get a prescription filled when visiting the U.S.? A: If you're traveling to the United States from another country and need a prescription filled, you should visit a health care provider. Very few pharmacies can fill a foreign prescription, and this is determined on a state-by-state basis.

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Here it is: Here's what's interesting: although prescriptions are required in most of the rich world, there are plenty of middling-income countries where they aren't, including Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Greece, Turkey, South Korea, Russia, and several others.

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While traveling in the U.S.
Find a nearby pharmacy that's in-network with your health insurance. Call the pharmacy and explain the situation. Call your home pharmacy and ask them to transfer your medication.

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