A home first-aid kit for winter in Uruguay: a practical guide to over-the-counter medicines

Winter in Uruguay, especially in Montevideo and coastal cities, is a season of piercing ocean winds and very high humidity. It is very easy to catch a cold here at this time. If you experience the first symptoms of an acute respiratory viral infection or flu, most of the necessary medicines can be bought without a prescription at any chain pharmacy (for example, Farmashop or San Roque); they are called venta libre or OTC.

An important local feature: if you have health cover (mutualista), many medicines are cheaper when prescribed through it. You pay only for a special ticket, and the medicine costs considerably less than at a regular pharmacy. But if you need a medicine urgently right now, it is easier to go to the nearest pharmacy.

Remember that since 2012, all strong medicines containing pseudoephedrine, such as older versions of Tabcin or Sinutab, are sold exclusively with a strict ‘green prescription’ (receta verde) upon presentation of identity documents. Without a prescription, only newer, milder versions will be sold.

Below is a convenient list of over-the-counter remedies arranged by specific symptoms. You can easily copy this text into your notes.

Symptom: weakness, chills, body aches and a blocked nose. Combination remedies: these ‘antigripales’ address several fronts at once: they lower fever, relieve muscle aches, reduce a runny nose and help you breathe through your nose.

1. Web C Plus Antigripal (powder)

Contents (INN): paracetamol (500 mg), caffeine (50 mg), loratadine (3 mg), phenylephrine (8 mg), vitamin C (100 mg). When to take: at the first signs of a cold, with body aches, a runny nose and pronounced weakness. Dissolve the powder in warm water and drink it like tea. Pharmacy price: about 325–351 Uruguayan pesos (UYU) for a pack of 5 sachets.

1. Flodigrip Descongestivo (tablets)

Contents (INN): paracetamol, caffeine, phenylephrine, loratadine. When to take: to quickly lower fever, relieve headache and ease nasal congestion. Pharmacy price: 238–420 UYU for 10 tablets.

1. Perifar Grip (tablets)

Contents (INN): ibuprofen, vitamin C, caffeine. When to take: if you have a strong fever and muscle and joint pain. The ibuprofen addresses inflammation and aches well. Pharmacy price: 143–265 UYU for 8 tablets.

1. ACF 4 NF (or ACF Grip) (tablets)

Contents (INN): paracetamol, chlorphenamine, caffeine. When to take: helpful when a cold comes with a strong runny nose, sneezing and watering eyes. Pharmacy price: 198–265 UYU for 8 tablets.

Symptom: high temperature, fever and headache (antipyretics).

If you are concerned only by high temperature or a severe headache, it is better to use plain single-ingredient tablets.

1. Kitadol

Contents (INN): paracetamol (500 mg). When to take: a classic remedy for fever, headache or toothache. The country’s most popular paracetamol. Pharmacy price: about 169 UYU for 24 tablets.

1. Dolex500

Contents (INN): paracetamol (500 mg). When to take: to reduce fever and relieve moderate pain. Sold in convenient plastic jars. Pharmacy price: 399–502 UYU for a large jar of 50 tablets.

1. Perifar 600 (or its more expensive analogue Actron 600)

Contents (INN): ibuprofen (600 mg). When to take: a strong anti-inflammatory in soft capsules. It helps quickly lower high fever and relieve severe body aches. Pharmacy price: Perifar 600 costs 172–251 UYU; Actron 600 costs 262–287 UYU for 10 capsules.

1. Dipirona F.U. (or Novedol children’s syrup)

Contents (INN): sodium metamizole (analgin). When to take: this medicine is sold without a prescription in Uruguay. It is recommended for a short course when fever is very high and does not respond to ordinary paracetamol or ibuprofen. Pharmacy price: tablets cost about 88 UYU for 10; Novedol syrup costs 234–311 UYU per bottle.

Symptom: sore and scratchy throat (lozenges and sprays).

In Uruguay, throat lozenges often contain a local anaesthetic for rapid pain relief and the mild antibiotic neomycin to act against bacteria.

1. Bucoseptine caramelos

Contents (INN): neomycin, lidocaine, dequalinium chloride. When to take: Uruguay’s most popular lozenges. Lidocaine quickly numbs the throat to allow normal swallowing. Pharmacy price: 311–464 UYU for 9 lozenges.

1. Bucoseptine Pump Spray

Contents (INN): neomycin, sulfanilamide, lidocaine. When to take: for severe throat pain. Pharmacy price: about 603 UYU.

1. Gesix N caramelos

Contents (INN): hexylresorcinol, benzocaine, neomycin. When to take: for severe scratchiness and pain. Benzocaine relieves an irritated throat well. Pharmacy price: 202–324 UYU for 9 lozenges.

1. Ernex (lozenges or spray)

Contents (INN): benzydamine. When to take: relieves severe inflammation, swelling and throat pain. It has a pleasant mild taste. Pharmacy price: lozenges about 120 UYU for 5; spray about 472 UYU per bottle.

1. Negatos

Contents (INN): menthol, camphor. When to take: simple mint pastilles. They soothe the throat, temporarily ease breathing and calm slight scratchiness. Pharmacy price: 176–358 UYU for 9.

1. Propóleo-D Jarabe

Contents (INN): 3% propolis emulsion. When to take: a natural propolis-based remedy. It can be diluted with warm water and used for gargling, or used to irrigate or coat the throat. It relieves inflammation, scratchiness and dryness. Before use, ensure there is no allergy to honey or bee products (perform an allergy test). Pharmacy price: around 550 UYU for 100 g.

1. Apifort Caramelos de Propóleos y Miel

Contents (INN): propolis 1.5%. When to take: propolis lozenges in different flavours (honey, lemon, mint). They soothe the throat very well. Before use, ensure there is no allergy to honey or bee products. Pharmacy price: around 150 UYU for 58 g (8 pieces).

Symptom: severe runny nose and nasal congestion (drops).

1. Dr. Selby Gotas Nasales (analogue: Neotricina Gotas Nasales)

Contents (INN): naphazoline. When to take: vasoconstrictor drops that quickly restore breathing through the nose. Use no longer than 3 consecutive days to avoid dependence. Pharmacy price: 245–376 UYU for a 20 ml bottle.

1. Oxiler D 25 mcg Spray Nasal (analogues: Alergidina NF 0.05% Gotas, Lidil 0.05% Gotas)

Contents (INN): oxymetazoline. When to take: for marked nasal congestion. Use is not recommended for more than 3–5 days.

Pharmacy price: from 424 UYU.

Symptom: cough (dry and wet).

1. Mucotosil Jarabe (analogues: Bexedan, Bromilar, Bisolvon, Tostop)

Contents (INN): bromhexine. When to take: for a wet cough when phlegm is thick and difficult to bring up. The syrup thins mucus and helps expectoration. Pharmacy price: Mucotosil about 499 UYU, Bexedan about 420 UYU per 120 ml bottle.

1. Aerobroncol Jarabe

Contents (INN): ambroxol. When to take: for wet cough with difficult-to-clear phlegm. It effectively thins phlegm, eases expectoration and speeds bronchial clearance. Pharmacy price: about 550 UYU per 120 ml bottle.

1. Balimuc 600 mg (analogues: Tempotane, Bronacetil 600 powders)

Contents (INN): acetylcysteine. When to take: for wet cough with difficult-to-clear phlegm. It reduces phlegm viscosity, improves expectoration and protects bronchial mucosa during inflammation. Pharmacy price: about 700 UYU for 10 powders.

1. Abrilar

Contents (INN): dry ivy-leaf extract. When to take: a popular natural herbal syrup. It is suitable for slightly dry or wet coughs. It helps relax bronchi, relieves spasm and eases breathing. Pharmacy price: about 1,096 UYU for a large 200 ml bottle.

1. Bequisan (drops or syrup)

Contents (INN): oxeladin. When to take: for a dry, barking and exhausting cough that irritates the throat and prevents sleep. Drops gently block the cough reflex. Pharmacy price: 279–319 UYU per bottle.

What CANNOT be bought without a prescription in Uruguay?

Do not waste time searching for these medicines without a doctor’s visit:

1. Any antiviral tablets (for example, Tamiflu / oseltamivir) are expensive (about 2,633 UYU) and sold strictly on prescription. Without a prescription, only antiviral aciclovir creams for cold sores can be bought.
2. Di-neumoaliv syrup (old name Di-neumobron): a cough syrup containing strong components. It is prescription-only and strictly prohibited for children under 16.

1. Cold medicines with pseudoephedrine (Alerfedine D, Allegra D, Benadryl descongestivo): only with a ‘green prescription’ and identity documents.

A tip from local residents

Uruguayan forums often share a tried-and-tested folk remedy: at the first sign of a cold, drink very hot tea with lemon, ginger and honey, and dissolve two black Halls lozenges (Halls Negro) directly in it. The powerful menthol vapour instantly clears even a severely blocked nose and calms a cough.