How to Translate Medication Names and Doses for Foreign Pharmacies

When you're traveling abroad and need to refill a prescription, it's not just about finding a pharmacy. It's about making sure the person behind the counter understands exactly what you need - down to the milligram. A simple mix-up in medication names or dosage can lead to serious harm. In France, your Advil might be labeled Ibuprofène. In Poland, it could be Abfen. In the UK, Ambyen treats heart rhythm issues - but if you confuse it with the U.S. sleep aid Ambien, you could end up in the ER. These aren't hypothetical risks. They happen every day.

Why Medication Names Vary So Much

Different countries use different brand names for the same active ingredient. That’s because drug companies register trademarks locally. Your pill might be called Simvastatin in Canada, but Zocor in the U.S. and Simvador in Germany. The active ingredient is the same, but the label isn’t. Pharmacists abroad don’t know your U.S. brand name. They need the generic name - the chemical that actually does the work.

The World Health Organization created the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) system to fix this. INNs are standardized global names for active ingredients. For example:

• Acetaminophen (U.S.) = Paracetamol (Europe, Australia)
• Loratadine (U.S.) = Claritin (brand), but also sold as Clarityn in some countries
• Metformin (U.S.) = Glucophage (brand), but the INN is always Metformin

If you only bring your U.S. prescription bottle, you’re relying on luck. The pharmacist might not recognize the brand. But if you know the generic name - and the exact dose - you’re speaking their language.

Dosage Formats Can Trick You

Dosage isn’t just about numbers. It’s about how they’re written. In the U.S., you’ll see “500 mg” or “1 g.” In many European countries, they use commas instead of periods for decimals. So “0,5 g” means 500 mg - not half a gram as a non-native speaker might misread it as 5 grams. That’s a tenfold overdose risk.

Some countries write doses as “1 tablet 3x daily.” Others use “TID” or “3x/d.” In Mexico, you might see “cada 8 horas.” In Japan, it’s “8時間ごと.” If you don’t know what these mean, you could take too much or too little.

Even pill size can be misleading. A “1g tablet” in Spain means 1000 milligrams. But if someone misreads it as “1 gram” without understanding metric units, they might think it’s a different strength. One Reddit user shared how a Spanish prescription for “1g” was almost misinterpreted as 1 gram instead of 1000mg - a mistake that could have caused an overdose.

What You Need to Bring

Don’t rely on memory. Don’t trust your phone’s translation app alone. Here’s what to carry:

• Your original prescription bottle - with the pharmacy label still on
• A written list of your medications: generic name, dose, frequency, purpose (e.g., “Metformin 500 mg, once daily, for type 2 diabetes”)
• A translated version of that list in the local language - not just Google Translate
• Your passport or ID - pharmacies often require proof of identity to fill foreign prescriptions
• A letter from your doctor explaining why you need the medication - especially for controlled substances

Write down the active ingredient. Not the brand. Not the shape or color. The chemical name. That’s your key.

Translation Tools: Use Them Wisely

Google Translate and DeepL are handy - but dangerous for meds. They don’t understand medical context. They can’t distinguish between “10 mg” and “100 mg.” They might translate “take with food” as “take during dinner,” which changes how the drug works.

Professional services like RxTran and Stepes use medical databases built over years. They know that “hydrochlorothiazide” in English is “hidroclorotiazida” in Spanish and “hydrochlorothiazid” in German. They know how to format dosing instructions for local regulations. These tools integrate directly with pharmacy systems and are used by hospitals and chain pharmacies worldwide.

For travelers, apps like Drugs.com have international equivalents. Type in your U.S. drug name, and it shows you what it’s called in 50+ countries. That’s a lifesaver when you’re in Paris and your Advil is gone.

What Pharmacies Are Required to Do

In the U.S., New York State’s SafeRx law requires pharmacies to provide translated labels in Chinese, Italian, Russian, and Spanish if those are the top languages spoken in the area. Other states are following. In Canada, Ontario requires translation services for patients with limited English proficiency under the Human Rights Code.

In Dubai, hospitals serve patients from 47 countries. In Australia, pharmacies routinely translate scripts for Vietnamese, Arabic, and Mandarin speakers. These aren’t optional services anymore. They’re part of standard care.

But here’s the catch: not every small pharmacy abroad has the resources. If you’re in a rural town in Italy or a small clinic in Vietnam, they might not have a translator on staff. That’s why you need to come prepared.

When Translation Isn’t Enough

Some medications aren’t available overseas. Others have different dosing forms. Your 10 mg extended-release tablet might only come as a 5 mg immediate-release capsule abroad. Or your insulin pen might not be sold there at all.

In these cases, you need to talk to a pharmacist - not just get a label translated. Ask:

• Is there an equivalent medication?
• What’s the active ingredient?
• How does the dosage compare?
• Are there any local restrictions or warnings?

A 2023 study found that 68% of international healthcare providers have struggled with foreign prescriptions due to unclear dosing or unfamiliar drug names. But when pharmacists verified the INN against WHO databases, error rates dropped by over 40%.

Real-Life Mistakes That Could Have Been Deadly

In 2022, a traveler in Spain was given a medication labeled “Lorazepam 1 mg” - but the pharmacist thought the prescription said “Lorazepam 10 mg.” The patient ended up sedated and confused. Why? The handwritten “1” looked like a “10” in the original script. The pharmacist didn’t cross-check with the generic name.

Another case: a Canadian tourist in Thailand was prescribed “Omeprazole 20 mg.” The Thai pharmacy gave her “Omeprazole 40 mg,” thinking the U.S. prescription was for double the dose. She had severe stomach cramps for days. The bottle had no INN listed.

These aren’t rare. They’re predictable. And they’re preventable.

How to Avoid Being the Next Story

Here’s your simple checklist before you leave:

1. Get your doctor to write down your medications: generic name, dose, frequency, reason.
2. Look up each drug on Drugs.com/international to find its name in your destination country.
3. Print a two-column list: English on the left, local name on the right.
4. Use a professional translation service - even a one-time paid translation from RxTran or Stepes costs less than an ER visit.
5. Carry at least a 30-day supply of your meds - just in case.
6. Never rely on a pharmacy’s verbal translation alone. Always ask for written confirmation.

And if you’re a pharmacist or clinic owner? Start using certified medical translation tools. Don’t let your bilingual staff guess dosages. They’re not trained for it. The American Pharmacists Association says 72% of post-discharge adverse events are tied to drug therapy errors - many from poor communication.

Final Word: Safety Over Convenience

Medication translation isn’t about being fancy. It’s about survival. The $528 billion spent yearly on medication non-adherence? A big chunk of that comes from people not understanding what they’re taking. That’s not just a statistic. It’s your neighbor. Your parent. You.

When you’re far from home, your meds are your lifeline. Don’t leave them to chance. Know your drug’s real name. Know your dose. Know how to ask for it. And if you’re unsure - wait. Ask again. Get it in writing.