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

• Situations where antibiotic requests may be declined if clinical criteria are not met

We explain how doctors assess symptom duration, fever pattern, medical history, allergy profile, pregnancy status, and red flag signs during an online consultation in the EU. Antibiotics are prescribed only when there is clear clinical indication.

This episode reflects the clinical standards used by Mobi Doctor, where infection-related consultations are reviewed by a registered physician in line with EU prescribing guidance.

Read the full guide and transcript here:

https://www.mobidoctor.eu/blog/can-you-get-antibiotics-over-the-counter