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Over the counter medicines in Turkey are sold under different brand names, so ask for the active ingredient instead. Most ingredient names are close to English with Turkish spelling, such as parasetamol for paracetamol. Tell the pharmacist your symptoms, allergies, other medicines and whether you are pregnant; they decide what is suitable and whether a prescription is needed.
Why brand names do not travel
The same medicine can have a completely different brand name in each country. What does travel is the active ingredient, the generic name printed in smaller letters on the box.
Before you leave home, photograph the boxes of anything you might want to buy again, making sure the active ingredient is visible. In Istanbul, show the photo to the pharmacist (Eczane). They can usually find an equivalent within seconds.
One important difference: a medicine you buy freely at home may need a prescription in Türkiye, and the reverse can also be true. The pharmacist decides what can be sold without a prescription. This guide names no brands and no doses; always follow the pharmacist and the packet.
Common active ingredients and their Turkish spelling
Turkish uses phonetic spelling, so most ingredient names look familiar once you know the pattern (c becomes s, ph becomes f, x becomes ks).
- Paracetamol (acetaminophen in the US): parasetamol, for pain and fever
- Ibuprofen: ibuprofen, for pain, fever and inflammation
- Aspirin: aspirin or asetilsalisilik asit
- Cetirizine and loratadine (antihistamines): setirizin and loratadin
- Oral rehydration salts: ask for oral rehidrasyon tuzu, for diarrhoea and dehydration
- Simethicone, for trapped wind: simetikon
- Xylometazoline nasal spray, for a blocked nose: ksilometazolin
- Hydrocortisone cream, for itchy skin: hidrokortizon
- Povidone-iodine antiseptic: povidon iyot
- Dimenhydrinate, for travel sickness: dimenhidrinat
Some of these may be sold only with a prescription in Türkiye, or only in certain strengths. Ask rather than assume.
Everyday items in Turkish
Not everything at the pharmacy is a medicine. These words help with the basics:
- Plasters: yara bandı
- Bandage: sargı bezi
- Thermometer: termometre or ateş ölçer
- Sunscreen: güneş kremi
- After-sun lotion: güneş sonrası losyon
- Insect repellent: sinek kovucu
- Throat lozenges: boğaz pastili
- Eye drops: göz damlası
- Pregnancy test: gebelik testi
If you prefer not to go out, many of these travel basics are available as travel health essentials delivered to your accommodation.
Reading a Turkish medicine box
A few words on the packaging and leaflet (kullanma talimatı) help you check what you have bought:
- Etkin madde: active ingredient
- Son kullanma tarihi (SKT): expiry date
- Tablet, kapsül, şurup, krem, damla: tablet, capsule, syrup, cream, drops
- Aç karnına: on an empty stomach
- Tok karnına: after food
- Günde … kez: … times a day
- Çocuklar için: for children
- Reçete ile satılır: sold with a prescription
If anything on the box or leaflet is unclear, ask the pharmacist to write the instructions in simple words, or photograph the leaflet and translate the key lines with an app before taking the first dose.
Who should take extra care
Over-the-counter does not mean suitable for everyone. Ask the pharmacist before buying anything if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, buying for a child, over 65, or have stomach ulcers, asthma, kidney, liver or heart problems, high blood pressure or diabetes. Some common painkillers, decongestants and antihistamines are unsuitable for people with these conditions or interact with regular medicines such as blood thinners. When in doubt, a short online medical consultation can help you decide before you buy.
Bringing medicines home
Medicines bought in Türkiye may not be allowed in every country, and some that are sold freely here are prescription-only elsewhere. Buy only what you need for the trip, keep the receipt and the original box, and check your home country's rules before packing larger amounts.
Describing your symptoms
The pharmacist needs to know what is wrong, not only what you want to buy.
- Headache: baş ağrısı
- Fever: ateş
- Sore throat: boğaz ağrısı
- Cough: öksürük
- Runny nose: burun akıntısı
- Nausea: mide bulantısı
- Vomiting: kusma
- Diarrhoea: ishal
- Constipation: kabızlık
- Itching: kaşıntı
- Sunburn: güneş yanığı
Useful sentences: Bunun eşdeğeri var mı? (Is there an equivalent of this?), Reçetesiz alabilir miyim? (Can I buy this without a prescription?), Hamileyim (I am pregnant), Emziriyorum (I am breastfeeding) and ... alerjim var (I am allergic to ...).
Avoid doubling up
Many cold and flu remedies combine several ingredients, often including paracetamol. Taking a combination remedy and a separate painkiller with the same ingredient is an easy way to take too much without realising.
- Tell the pharmacist everything you are already taking, including remedies brought from home.
- Read the active ingredients on every box, not just the brand name.
- Ask specifically about children's versions, which come in different strengths and forms.
- Check with the pharmacist or a doctor if you take blood thinners, have kidney, liver or stomach problems, or have asthma, before using painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
When self-treatment is not enough
Over-the-counter medicines are for minor, short-lived problems. See a doctor instead if:
- Symptoms last more than a few days or keep getting worse
- You have a high temperature that does not come down
- You are pregnant, elderly, or treating a baby or young child
- You have a long-term condition or take several regular medicines
- You need a prescription medicine; our guide to antibiotics in Turkey explains why they need a prescription
Sources
Related Services
- Travel Health Essentials — travel basics delivered to your accommodation.
- Hotel Doctor in Istanbul — an examination when a pharmacy is not enough.
- Prescription at Your Hotel — a doctor assesses you and decides whether a prescription is appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is paracetamol called in Turkey?
- It is spelled parasetamol. Ask for it by that name, or show the pharmacist a photo of the box from home.
- Can I buy over-the-counter medicines in Turkey without a prescription?
- Many everyday remedies are sold without a prescription, but the rules differ from your home country. The pharmacist decides what can be sold.
- How do I ask for a medicine in Turkish?
- Show the active ingredient on your phone and say "Bunun eşdeğeri var mı?", which means "Is there an equivalent of this?".
- Where can I find a pharmacy at night in Istanbul?
- Use the on-duty pharmacy rota, called nöbetçi eczane. Our 24-hour pharmacy guide explains how to find one.
If a pharmacy cannot solve the problem, send a WhatsApp message with your symptoms and where you are staying.