This complete guide explains everything there is to know about medical prescriptions in France. Find the answers to your questions: How to read a medical prescription? How to use or renew a medical prescription? When does a French medical prescription expire? Is a French medical prescription valid outside France?
- What’s written on a French prescription?
- Who can write prescriptions in France?
- Generics substitution
- Pharmaceutical record
- Reimbursements
- Is a French prescription valid outside France?
- Prescriptions for medicine
- Prescriptions for vaccines
- Prescriptions for eyeglasses
- Prescriptions for contacts
- Prescriptions for lab tests
- Prescriptions for medical devices
- Prescriptions for ALD
Disclosure: This site is sponsored by ads and affiliate programs. I may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post.
Let’s start with the basics.
What’s written on medical prescriptions in France?
Information about the prescriber and the patient
Medical prescriptions in France contain the information of the prescriber (name, qualification and address) along with some of your personal information (name, date of birth, age and weigh).
Medication
Each medication on a French prescription is written in DCI or Dénomination Commune Internationale (International nonproprietary name). DCI uses the name of the drug’s molecule, which is also the scientific name of the drug. DCI makes it easy for any health professional in another country to understand your prescription. The DCI name is usually followed by the brand name drug.
Using anonproprietary name makes it easy to substitute a brand name drug with a generic drug.
On medical prescriptions in France, a prescriber specifies the following for each medication:
- pharmaceutical formulation
- strength
- dosage
- time of day to take the medication
- duration of the treatment.
Advice and comments
Medical prescriptions in France sometimes include some advice to improve your health condition like a specific diet for instance.
Prescriber’s signature
To be valid, a medical prescription must be signed.
Who can write medical prescriptions in France?
Generalists, specialists, dentists, midwives and podiatrists are authorized to write medical prescriptions in France.
The French government enacted a new law in April 2021 to simplify the French healthcare system. This law allows some specialists to write prescriptions. As a result, a patient does not have to visit his médecin traitant just to renew a prescription anymore. Here is the list of the latest updates:
- sages-femmes (midwives) can now prescribe sick leaves longer than fifteen days. They can also prescribe treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
- ergothérapeutes (occupational therapists) can renew prescriptions or write prescriptions for technical aids.
- orthophonistes (speech therapists) can renew a prescription that is no older than a year.
- masseurs-kinésithérapeutes (massage therapists) can now prescribe nicotine substitutes or pain relievers.
Good to know
Although Rx is a symbole for medical prescription or pharmacy in English-speaking countries, the Rx symbol is not used in France.
Generics substitution
Can you refuse a generic drug?
At the pharmacy, you are allowed to ask for a princeps (brand name drug) instead of a generic drug. If you insist on getting a brand name drug, you face the following consequences:
- no tiers-payant: you have to pay for the the whole prescription right away. The pharmacist gives you a feuille de soins to send to your local CPAM instead of electronically sending it for you.
- lower reimbursement: you have to pay for the price difference out of pocket because patients are reimbursed based on the TFR (Tarif Forfaitaire de Responsabilité) of the generic drug. Consult Ameli’s list of TFR for generic drugs here.
Watch out!
In French, the word drogue (drugs) is no longer used to refer to medicine. Instead, the word drogue refers exclusively to illicit substances. You should say “Je vais à la pharmacie chercher mes médicaments”. Do not say “Je vais chercher de la drogue à la pharmacie”.
Pharmaceutical record
If you have a carte vitale, you can ask a pharmacist to create your dossier pharmaceutique (pharmaceutical record). Starting in 2022, the creation of a pharmaceutical record becomes automatic for anyone enrolled in the French healthcare system (Asap law-article 92).
Your pharmaceutical record contains the medication you purchased in the past four months, as well as the vaccines purchased in the last twenty-one years.
A pharmacist in France can access your pharmaceutical record to check for interference between medications. When a pharmacist suspects an interference, he has the right to substitute your medication . He can also refuse to deliver your medication (for your own good).
Reimbursements
Medical prescriptions in France come with one copy attached. Your pharmacist electronically sends the copy to CPAM so you get reimbursed.
If you do not have your carte vitale, the pharmacist gives you a feuille de soins (brown invoice) instead. Send your feuille de soins along with a copy of your prescription to your local CPAM in order to be reimbursed.
Is a French medical prescription valid outside France?
An ordonnance transfrontalière (cross-border prescription) is valid inside the European Union. In order to qualify as a cross-border prescription, a French medical prescription must contain:
- first name, last name and date of birth of the patient
- date of the prescription
- first name (in full, no initials), last name, professional qualification, details for direct contact (email, phone with international prefix), work address (with country name) and signature (written or digital) of the prescriber
- medication in DCI form (molecule name) along with the pharmaceutical formulation, quantity, strength, dosage and posology
A pharmacist has to follow the rules in his own country. If your French prescription infringes the local law, the pharmacist will not deliver your medication. Make sure you do your research before you travel.
Prescription for medicine in France
Duration of the Treatment
A medical prescription for medicine can cover no more than 12 months of treatment in France. Once the treatment ends, you need to visit your health professional to get another prescription.
Getting your medication at the pharmacy
In France, you get your medication one month at a time at the pharmacy. If your treatment lasts longer than a month, go back to a pharmacy one month later with the same medical prescription. Your pharmacist stamps your prescription each time he refills your prescription. There is not need to go to the same pharmacy to get the rest of your prescription.
Remember to bring your carte vitale and carte de tiers-payant from your mutuelle to the pharmacy.
Medical prescription abbreviations
- QSP (quantité suffisante pour) indicates that the pharmacist should give you enough medication for the entire duration of the treatment specified.
- NR (non remboursable) stipulates that the given drug is not reimbursed by Assurance Maladie.
- AR (a renouveler) means “to renew” and it can apply to a specific medication or to the entire prescription.
- NS (non substituable) means that the prescriber does not want the medication to be substituted. The prescriber has to write the medical reason that justifies his/her decision.
Medical prescription for medicine expiration
Une ordonnance de médicaments (prescription for medicine) expires after 3 months.
If you suffer from a chronic disease, a pharmacist can provide one single box of medication when your prescription has expired. In that case, the pharmacist has to inform the prescriber. The box is later deducted from your next prescription.
If you have a prescription for an opioid (like morphine), your prescription is only valid for three days instead of three months.
A French pharmacist has the ability to provide your contraceptive pill for six months when you show an expired prescription that is less than one year old.
Medical prescription for a vaccine (not Covid-19)
Vaccinations for Covid-19 do not follow the same rules as regular vaccines. There is indeed no need to get a prescription for Covid-19 vaccine. I am only going to talk about vaccines other than Covid-19 in this section.
What is the process of getting vaccinated in France?
You cannot go to a doctor and get vaccinated right away (unless it is for Covid-19 or the flu). Follow these steps instead:
- Get a medical prescription from your doctor (generalist, specialist or midwife).
- Bring your medical prescription to a French pharmacy and purchase the vaccine.
- Take your prescription along with your vaccine to a doctor, a nurse or a midwife to get vaccinated.
Seasonal flu vaccine do not require a medical prescription. In season, you can get vaccinated for the flu in most pharmacies in France.
Medical prescription for eyeglasses
Abbreviations on a prescription for eyeglasses
In France, you need a medical prescription to buy prescription glasses. A prescription for eyeglasses contains the following abbreviations.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| OD œil droit | right eye |
| OG œil gauche | left eye |
| ODG œil droit et gauche | both eyes |
| VL vision de loin | distance vision |
| VP vision de près | near vision |
| AV acuité visuelle | visual acuity |
| ADD addition | addition |
| SPH sphère | sphere |
| CYL cylindre | cylinder |
| VI vision intermédiaire | intermediate vision |
Where to purchase prescription glasses in France
Once you have a prescription from your ophthalmologist, you can purchase your glasses:
- from an opticien (optician store).
- online: you need a valid prescription. The conditions are the same as if you were going to a brick-and-mortar optician store. Make sure you ask for a quote so you can be reimbursed by Assurance Maladie.
- opticien à domicile: you can have an optician come to your workplace or your home or your retirement home.
Eyeglasses quote
By law, an optician has to give you a quote that indicates:
- the price and characteristics of the glasses
- added options not initially included
- the amount reimbursed by Assurance Maladie and what can be covered by a mutuelle
- any fees for extra service
Since January 2021, a complémentaire santé responsable (mutuelle) gives you access to 100% Santé. An optician has the obligation to display an option that is eligible for 100% santé on his quote.
If you are ready to get a (new) mutuelle, read How to find the best mutuelle.
What if I break my prescription glasses?
When you break your glasses, can you bring your last prescription to an optician? Or do you need to get a new prescription instead? The answer depends on your age.
- children under sixteen: a child needs to visit the eye doctor to get a new prescription.
- older than sixteen: a prescription for eyeglasses is valid for three years. An optician or an orthoptist can get you new glasses when you bring your last prescription.
What if my vision changes and I need new glasses?
Again, depending on your age, you might have to go see an ophthalmologist or you can use your last prescription.
- children under sixteen: a glass prescription for a child is valid one year. During that time, an optician or an orthoptist can test a child’s eyesight and get him new glasses.
- between sixteen and forty-two: a prescription for eyeglasses is valid for five years. During that time, an optician or an orthoptist can test your eyesight and get you new glasses.
- older than forty-three: a prescription for eyeglasses is valid for three years. During that time, an orthoptist or an optician can test your eyesight and get you new glasses.
Did you know?
Ordonnance is the French translation of medical prescription. Prescription is also a French word with a different meaning than his English counterpart. In a medical context, prescription in French means a recommendation given by a doctor. This professional suggestion can be (or not) written on a medical prescription. The word prescription in French also means an injunction given in a formal and detailed form like in “les prescriptions de la loi”.
Medical prescription for contacts
Abbreviations on a prescription for contacts
In France, you need a prescription to buy contact lenses. A prescription for contacts contains the following abbreviations.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| OD œil droit | right eye |
| OG œil gauche | left eye |
| ODG œil droit et gauche | both eyes |
| VL vision de loin | distance vision |
| VP vision de près | near vision |
| AV acuité visuelle | visual acuity |
| BC rayon | base curve |
| DIA diamètre | diameter |
| ADD addition | addition |
| SPH sphère | sphere |
| CYL cylindre | cylinder |
| VI vision intermédiaire | intermediate vision |
How to renew your prescription for contacts
For children under sixteen, a prescription for contacts is valid one year. During that year, an optician or an orthoptist can check your child’s eyesight and get him new contacts.
After sixteen, you can use the same prescription for the next three years without going back to an ophthalmologist. During that time, an orthoptist or an optician can get you new contacts after measuring your vision.
Medical prescription for medical tests
What are prescribed medical tests?
A health professional can prescribe different kinds of medical tests:
- soins infirmiers (tasks performed by a nurse): any task from changing bandages to giving an injection.
- kinésithérapie (kinesiotherapy)
- analyses de biologie (lab tests)
- radiologie (radiology): X-rays and MRIs
- orthophonie (speech therapy)
How to schedule lab tests?
Schedule an appointment with any laboratoire de biologie médicale ou laboratoire d’analyses médicales (lab) close to your place.
You can also schedule an appointment on Doctolib. Type Laboratoire in the Médecin field andclick Rechercher.
In France, test labs open early so you can stop by before going to work. Make sure you ask the lab whether you should be à jeun (no eating or drinking but water for eight hours before the test).
How to schedule X-rays?
Schedule an appointment with any cabinet de radiologie (radiology center) close to your place.
You can also schedule an appointment on Doctolib.Type Radiologue in the Médecin field andclick Rechercher.
How to schedule an MRI?
Schedule an appointment with any centre d’imagerie (imaging center) close to your place.
You can also schedule an appointment on Doctolib.Type Centre d’imagerie médicale in the Médecin field andclick Rechercher.
How to schedule a nurse visit?
Schedule an appointment with any infirmier (nurse) or Centre de soins infirmiers (nurses center) close to your place. Your prescription should mention “à domicile” to schedule a nurse’s visit at your place.
Another easy way to find a nurse is to ask your pharmacist. Most pharmacies in France have a list of nurses that they recommend.
You can also schedule an appointment on Doctolib.Type Centre de Soins Infirmiers (CSI) in the Médecin field and click Rechercher.
Medical prescription for medical tests expiration
A prescription for medical tests does not expire in France.
Take your medical prescription with you to the medical test center. As always, bring along your carte vitale and your carte de tiers payant from your mutuelle if you have one.
Medical prescription for medical devices
What medical devices can be prescribed?
A health professional can prescribe different kinds of medical devices such as:
- bas de contention (compression stockings)
- béquilles (crutches)
- ceinture lombaire (lumbar belt)
- pansements (bandages)
- stérilet (IUD), tire-lait (breast pump)
- and much more…
Who can prescribe medical devices?
Midwives, nurses, massage therapists and podiatrists are authorized to write prescriptions for medical devices.
A prescription for medical devices is valid for 1 year in France.
Prescription for ALD (Affection de longue durée)
If you suffer from an ALD (long term illness), your doctor uses a special kind of prescription called ordonnance bizone (bi-zone prescription). A bi-zone prescription has two parts. The top half contains the medication and tests in relation with your ALD. The bottom part lists the items not related to your ALD.
If your ALD is exonérante, items in the first half are reimbursed at the 100% rate.
In May 2021, a new decree was issued regarding patients who suffer from an ALD. An ALD patient can now register a pharmacien correspondant (corresponding pharmacist) with Assurance Maladie. A pharmacien correspondant can renew a prescription for ALD as well as readjust a patient’s posology.
As of September 2021, the only way to register apharmacien correspondant is to ask your pharmacist to fill out a Cerfa document. You can then send the document to your local CPAM.
I am sure you learnt a lot about medical prescriptions in France in this article. If you haven’t been to the doctor in France, read Going to the doctor in France to know what to expect.
Will a French pharmacy dispense a drug (known to be available in France) prescribed by a US doctor if written with the required elements of an ordonnance transfrontalière?
Ordonnance transfrontalière is only valid between countries of the European union.
If you have an ordonnance from a US doctor that is fairly recent (less than 3 months old), most pharmacists will accept to give you the drug.
What should expats do about prescriptions for medication prescribed by an American doctor? My generalist usually writes me a new ordonance for a French equivalent or the same drug (if possible) but I have to make and pay for any appointment for each drug when I need it. That gets pretty costly….
Have you tried going to your local pharmacy with your American prescription? Some French pharmacies will give you a French equivalent of your medication. Once you are in the French healthcare system, a doctor’s visit should not cost you too much. Please let me know if going directly to the pharmacy worked for you!
This is so helpful! Have you considered making your posts shareable on Facebook and Twitter to increase your readership?
Thank you Anne!
Yes, I will add a Facebook and Twitter buttons shortly. Thanks for reminding me 🙂
Done!