If you have been reading my blog for a while, you might be under the impression that I don’t like living in France. That’s actually not true at all and there are many things I love about living here. There is no way I would spend 4 or 5 years in one place if I didn’t like at least some things about it.

So what’s there to like about France? Pharmacies! As far as I can tell, France is a country of hypochondriacs. There is a pharmacy on just about every corner and there is always a line to buy stuff. Unlike in Australian chemists pharmacies, you can’t really browse around and see what they have available, you generally have to ask for what you are looking for but they’ll most likely have it and they are surprisingly cheap.

But the reason I really love pharmacies in France is because you can get prescription only medications without a prescription. I don’t have a GP here in France and I can’t be bothered to get one but occasionally I do need some medicine, usually something for my crappy skin. But how can you get prescription medicine without a prescription? Just ask! Here’s how the conversation usually goes:

Me: Hello, I would like this medicine.  
Pharmacist: Do you have a prescription?    
Me: No.    
Pharmacist: You need a prescription or I can’t give it to you.    
Me: I don’t have one.    
Pharmacist: Have you used it before?    
Me: Yes (lie!).    
Pharmacist: I really shouldn’t.    
Me: Please.    
Pharmacist: Well, ok then.

I’ve done this loads of times and they don’t seem to have a problem with it. Yesterday it was even easier:

Me: Hello, I would like this medicine.  
Pharmacist: Do you have a prescription?    
Me: No.    
Pharmacist: Ok.