Medicines in the UK
You can recognise a Chemist by the green cross sign
First of all, in the UK, let's get through an important piece of vocabulary:
Drug Store = Chemist or Pharmacy
General equivalents to know:
Advil or Motrin have ibuprofin so the local equvalent would be Neurofen. Neurofen also makes an extra strength and migrane version. Most people I know who have lived in the UK prefer Neurofen over their US equivalents!
Acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol is known as paracetamol
Theraflu is roughly the same as Lemsip
If you're looking for a specific equivalent, I can recommend using https://pillintrip.com/ that provides medicine equivalents all over the world!
What medicines can you take with you on the plane?
https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/essential-medicines-and-medical-equipment
Will my American prescription be filled in the UK?
No, you'll need to go to a UK doctor to get a fresh prescription. Because of this, getting registered with a local GP should be one of the first things you do in the UK!
What medicines are over the counter in the UK?
Generally speaking, what's "over the counter" is available on the shop floor. What is not considered over the counter is literally behind the counter (behind the cashier or in the pharmacy area). The Royal Pharmaceutical Society provides guidance about which medicines should be dispensed by a pharmacist.
Be prepared to talk to a pharmacist more frequently in the UK than you do in the US. Some common medications that are over the counter in the US are behind the counter in the UK, like Sudafed and Pepto Bismol (yes, really). In larger pharmacies in the UK, there will be a specific pharmacy section with pharmacists. In smaller chemists, you can ask for help at the till if you don't see a pharmacist.
Also, expect that a cashier will question you if you're buying some medicine. They're WAY more informed than a typical cashier in the US and will be able to talk to you about side effects, how to take the medication and if there are any conflicts. My husband had the flu and I basically did that cowboy American thing of grabbing all the medicine on the shelf that I thought might work. The cashier was perplexed beyond belief at my selections since the medicines effectively were the same thing. While I was a little embarrassed at holding up the queue, the cashier talked to me about my husband's symptoms and made sure I only bought what I needed.
Wait! I paid my NHS fee, so don't I get all this for free?
Probably not but you can check out who gets free prescriptions from the NHS here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/who-can-get-free-prescriptions/
You'll find that UK chemists are roughly the same as US drug stores with a few differences. While most of the products offered in the US can be found either directly or with an equivalent in the UK, I recommend brining bandaids (UK English = plasters) with you. The grip of an American BandAid is second to none! On the other hand, one great thing about chemists in the UK is that you'll find homeopathic medicine available.
