Prescription-Required Medications
Complete guide to medications that require a prescription in Argentina and Brazil
In Argentina and Brazil, most medications require a valid medical prescription, and pharmacies are legally required to verify it before dispensing. Below is a complete list of the most common medications that require a prescription.
Antibiotics
- Amoxicillin (Amoxil® / Amoxicil BD®)
- Azithromycin (Zithromax® / Zitromax®)
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro® / Ciproxin®)
Antidepressants and Anxiolytics
- Escitalopram (Lexapro® / Ezentius®)
- Sertraline (Zoloft® / Serenata®)
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin® / Zetron®)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin® / Rivotril®)
- Alprazolam (Xanax® / Frontal®)
Sleep Medications and Sedatives
- Zolpidem (Ambien® / Stilnox®)
- Diazepam (Valium® / Compaz®)
- Trazodone (Desyrel® / Donaren®)
Strong Pain Medications and Opioids
- Tramadol (Ultram® / Tramal®)
- Codeine (Tylenol #3® / Codein®)
GLP-1 Treatments (for Weight Loss and Diabetes)
- Semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Rybelsus®)
- Liraglutide (Saxenda®, Victoza®)
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)
Corticosteroids and Steroids
- Prednisone (Deltasone® / Meticorten®)
- Dexamethasone (Decadron® / Dexason®)
- Betamethasone (Celestone® / Diprospan®)
Anticonvulsants and Mood Stabilizers
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal® / Lamitor®)
- Valproate (Depakene® / Valpakine®)
- Pregabalin (Lyrica® / Prebictal®)
These are just some examples of medications that require a prescription.
All require evaluation and an official prescription issued by a licensed physician. Pharmacies in Argentina and Brazil are regulated to deny sale without a valid prescription.
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