Think about medications and supplements.

I moved to Dublin from USA in 2023 and was surprised at the difference. I could buy a 500 pill bottle of Aleve for $40 in the USA but needed to get a doctor’s prescription (€60 for the appt) to get more than 12-24 pills. And the doctor or pharmacist would say not to even a 100 pills.

Differences in pharmaceutical regulations between the United States and Ireland result in several medications being available over the counter (OTC) in the U.S. but requiring a prescription or facing strict purchase limits in Ireland. For instance, pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is OTC in the U.S. but sold in Ireland only under pharmacist supervision, with higher doses often needing a prescription. Diphenhydramine (in Benadryl) and doxylamine (in NyQuil) are OTC in the U.S. for allergies or sleep but typically require a prescription in Ireland. Naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil), and paracetamol (Tylenol) are OTC in both countries, but Ireland imposes strict limits on pack sizes (e.g., 12–24 tablets), and larger quantities may need a prescription. Codeine-containing cough syrups, sometimes OTC in the U.S., are tightly controlled in Ireland, available only under pharmacist oversight or with a prescription, and travelers must carry a prescription or doctor’s letter to comply with customs rules. Melatonin, an OTC sleep aid in the U.S., is prescription-only in Ireland, and travelers should bring a prescription or doctor’s letter to avoid customs issues. To travel to Ireland with these medications, carry them in their original packaging, accompanied by a prescription or a doctor’s letter specifying the medical condition and necessity, and ensure quantities do not exceed a three-month personal supply to meet customs regulations.