In a German pharmacy, you can buy medicines with a prescription issued in one of the EU countries
As Deutsche Welle notes, the German law on medicinal products strictly protects the health of the country's residents and therefore prohibits private individuals from importing or sending by mail medications that do not have a local license. This also applies to drugs that are freely sold in other countries, in particular, high-dose vitamins, some dietary supplements and homeopathic remedies, as well as substances containing melatonin.
But, as indicated on the German customs website, it is still possible to obtain a medicine from abroad that is not sold in Germany: with a doctor's prescription and by contacting a German pharmacy, which will order the necessary medication.
When entering Germany, customs allows travelers to carry medications with them – it does not matter where the medicine was produced. However, customs officers pay attention to the quantity of imported medicines.
It is allowed to carry as many medications as a person needs for the duration of their stay in Germany (if we are talking about tourists), and customs officers assume a maximum period of three months.
In addition, it is prohibited to import into Germany in any quantities counterfeit products and drugs used for doping purposes: testosterone, nandrolone, clenbuterol, and others. For drugs containing morphine, special rules apply, allowing – if there is a doctor's prescription – to import and export them in limited quantities both from the Schengen area, including Germany, and into it.
As for exporting from Germany, you can take any medicines purchased in German pharmacies – whether prescription or over-the-counter – in any quantities. The German treasury, to which customs belongs, will only be glad, especially if a tourist from a non-EU country forgets to get a tax free receipt, which entitles them to a refund of the value-added tax.
However, it is not easy for a tourist to buy a prescription medicine in Germany – even if they have a prescription from their attending physician. German pharmacies do not always recognize prescriptions issued outside the European Union.
In one pharmacy, however, a correspondent for Deutsche Welle was given a tip: you can go to one of the doctors practicing in Germany, among whom there are many Russian-speaking ones, and ask them to rewrite the prescription on a German form.
People often come to Germany to buy quality clothes, shoes, used cars, and dishes. But medicines, including German ones, are easier to buy in other EU countries, and they are also much cheaper.