Brazilian Pharmacy Guide for Rio
You will need a pharmacy in Rio — sunburn, mosquito reaction, hangover, stomach bug from the açaí bowl, or just sunscreen. The good news: Brazilian pharmacies (farmácias / drogarias) are excellent, well-stocked, mostly 24-hour in tourist areas, and dramatically cheaper than US or EU equivalents. This guide tells you which pharmacy to use, what to ask for in Portuguese, what to keep in a travel kit, and when to escalate to a doctor.
Quick answer
Save Drogaria Pacheco or Venancio in your phone (24h, South Zone). WhatsApp them for hotel delivery in 1–2 hours. Most OTC medication is sold freely. Doctor visit: hotel doctor R$300–600, or Copa D'Or ER for serious cases.
The big pharmacy chains
- Drogaria Pacheco — Largest chain, 24h locations on Av. NS de Copacabana and Av. Ataulfo de Paiva. WhatsApp delivery to hotels.
- Drogaria Venancio — Second-biggest. Multiple Copacabana and Ipanema branches. Excellent stock.
- Drogaria Cristal — Leblon's local favourite. 24-hour at Av. Ataulfo de Paiva.
- Droga Raia — Modern, well-organised, often in shopping malls.
- Pague Menos — Discount chain; biggest savings on generic medication.
Brazilian-equivalent medications
Brazilian brand names rarely match what you know from home. Print or save this:
- Paracetamol/Acetaminophen → Tylenol (yes, same name) or Dorflex
- Ibuprofen → Advil, Alivium, Buscofem
- Aspirin → Aspirina or AAS
- Dipirona → Brazil's default painkiller (not sold in US/UK); R$5 a box, very effective
- Anti-diarrhoea (loperamide) → Imosec, Diasec
- Antacid → Pepsamar, Estomazil
- Allergy (loratadine) → Claritin (same name) or Loratamed
- Rehydration salts → Hidrafix, Repol, or ask for "soro de reidratação"
- Hydrocortisone cream → Berlison, Stiefcortil
- Mosquito repellent → Repelex, Exposis (DEET-based)
- Sunscreen FPS 50+ → Sundown, Episol, Anthelios (La Roche-Posay, sold here for half EU price)
How to order delivery via WhatsApp
Save the pharmacy's number, send a message in Portuguese (Google Translate is fine — they're used to it):
"Olá, gostaria de fazer um pedido para entrega. Hotel [name], quarto [number], em [neighbourhood]. Preciso de: [items]. Pago em dinheiro/cartão na entrega."
They'll confirm price, ETA (usually 60–120 min), and send a delivery rider with a portable card terminal. Tip R$5–10 in cash.
Phrases you'll need
- "Preciso de algo para…" — I need something for… (dor de cabeça = headache, dor de barriga = stomachache, diarreia = diarrhoea, picada de mosquito = mosquito bite, queimadura de sol = sunburn)
- "Vocês têm sem receita?" — Do you have it without prescription?
- "Tem genérico?" — Is there a generic? (always cheaper)
- "Vocês entregam no hotel?" — Do you deliver to the hotel?
- "Quanto custa?" — How much?
When to see a doctor instead
- Fever over 39°C lasting more than 24 hours (rule out dengue, especially in summer — your hotel can arrange a test)
- Severe dehydration that doesn't improve with rehydration salts
- Any wound that needs stitches
- Allergic reaction with swelling of face/lips/airway → emergency room immediately
- Chest pain, breathing difficulty, neurological symptoms → emergency room
Best private ERs in the South Zone: Copa D'Or (Rua Figueiredo Magalhães, Copacabana) and Hospital Samaritano Botafogo. Both have English-speaking doctors and accept international travel insurance directly.
Dengue and tropical concerns
Rio has seasonal dengue outbreaks (peak Feb–May, the rainy season). Symptoms: sudden high fever, severe muscle/joint pain ("breakbone fever"), rash, eye pain. There's no specific treatment beyond rest and rehydration, but you should NOT take ibuprofen or aspirin if you suspect dengue (they thin the blood) — use paracetamol/dipirona only. If you have these symptoms, see a doctor for a blood test. Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for Brazil but not required for Rio city itself. See our rainy season guide.
Related guides
Safety Guide
Beyond medical — full street-safety overview.
Getting Sick in Rio
Hospitals, clinics, doctors and emergency numbers.
Yellow Fever & Vaccines
Which shots you actually need for Brazil.
Rainy Season
Dengue is most active during this window.
Portuguese Phrases
Survival vocabulary for daily emergencies.
Rio with Kids
Paediatric care and family-friendly clinics.
FAQ
Can tourists buy medicine at pharmacies in Rio de Janeiro?
Yes — Brazilian pharmacies (farmácias) sell most over-the-counter medication freely: paracetamol (Tylenol), ibuprofen, anti-diarrhoea, rehydration salts, allergy meds, hydrocortisone cream, oral contraceptives, even some basic antibiotics (though prescription is technically required and pharmacists are stricter than they used to be). You don't need an ID for OTC products. Most pharmacies have an English-speaking attendant in tourist neighbourhoods.
Where are the best 24-hour pharmacies in Rio?
Drogaria Pacheco and Drogaria Venancio (Av. NS de Copacabana — 24 hours), Drogaria Cristal (Av. Ataulfo de Paiva, Leblon — 24 hours), and any Droga Raia in a busy area. All deliver to your hotel for free within 1–2 hours via WhatsApp. The pharmacist on duty (farmacêutico) can recommend equivalent Brazilian brands for almost any US/EU medication.
Do pharmacies in Rio deliver to hotels?
Yes — most do, for free, in 60–120 minutes. Call or WhatsApp the pharmacy directly: tell them your hotel name, room number, and what you need. Pay the delivery person in cash or by card terminal at the door. This is the most reliable way to get medicine if you're sick in your room or it's late at night. Drogaria Pacheco's WhatsApp delivery in the South Zone is famously efficient.
What should be in a Rio travel medical kit?
Buy on arrival at any pharmacy (cheaper than home): paracetamol 750mg (Tylenol Sinus), ibuprofen 600mg (Buscofem or Advil), dipirona (the Brazilian go-to painkiller, R$5), rehydration salts (soro caseiro or Hidrafix), Imosec or Diasec for stomach upset, antacid (Pepsamar), hydrocortisone cream for bug bites, Repelex repellent. Total cost: R$80–120. Add Brazilian-grade sunscreen (FPS 50+ Sundown or Protetor Solar Episol) — locally formulated for tropical sun.
Is the tap water safe in Rio?
Officially yes — Rio's tap water is treated to drinking standards. Locals universally drink filtered or bottled water anyway, because the old building plumbing is the weak link. Hotel tap water is generally fine for brushing teeth and rinsing fruit; for drinking, use the filtered cooler in every hotel lobby or buy 1.5L bottled water (R$3–5 at any padaria). Restaurants serve filtered jug water free on request — ask for 'água da casa.'
What if I need a doctor in Rio?
Two options. (1) Hotel doctor — most South Zone hotels can call a private GP to your room in 1–2 hours; cost R$300–600. (2) For walk-in clinics, Copa D'Or Hospital (Copacabana) and Hospital Samaritano (Botafogo) have 24-hour emergency rooms; both accept travel insurance and most have English-speaking doctors. Public hospitals (UPAs) are free but only recommended in genuine emergencies — wait times are long. Always keep your travel-insurance card on your phone.
Build your Rio travel kit
See our packing list — most medication is cheaper to buy on arrival than to fly with.