Can you get antibiotics over the counter in Europe, and when is a prescription required?

Over-the-counter antibiotics explained: EU pharmacy regulations, prescription-only medicines, antimicrobial resistance, and safety screening.

In this episode, we clarify whether antibiotics can legally be purchased without a prescription in EU countries and why medical assessment is required before treatment.

You’ll learn:

• Why most antibiotics are prescription-only medicines in Europe

• The risks of self-diagnosing bacterial infection

• How inappropriate antibiotic use contributes to antimicrobial resistance

• The difference between viral and bacterial infections

• When laboratory testing or examination is required

• Risks of buying antibiotics from unregulated online sources