Health product substitutes

Moving between countries can be tricky, especially when you can’t find your go-to remedies.
We’ve put together a simple guide to help you identify German equivalents for common South African health products.

Disclaimer

We are not medical professionals and do not provide medical advice.
While we work with a qualified pharmacist who is happy to answer general questions about substitutes for South African health products, we cannot give any information about prescription medication.

The items listed here are over-the-counter suggestions only and should not be taken as professional medical guidance.
Always consult your own doctor or pharmacist before starting any medication or treatment.
This information is intended solely to help you identify possible German alternatives to South African products — it is not a substitute for medical advice.

Online Pharmacies

There are many online pharmacies where you can buy “over-the-counter” medication.
Depending on your situation, you can also submit your prescriptions (Rezept) online and have them delivered to your home.

Substitute list

South African Product	Product Information	Possible German alternative
Citro-Soda	“Citro-soda is a single solution for a variety of acid-related problems including heartburn, indigestion and the symptoms of UTI while combating of high uric acid levels which can lead to gout.” according to the Citro-Soda brand, you can get at Clicks – Each tablet contains: Sodium carbonate – 1690mg. Tartaric acid – 856mg. Citric acid – 700mg. Sodium citrate – 612mg. Contains sugar (liquid glucose) – 447mg. Pharmacological classification: A 18.3. Ion-exchange preparations.	If you really want it you can ask a pharmacist to make it for you, although it is best to speak to your doctor and get a prescription for your specific situation. Tartaric acid – die Weinsäure, Citric acid – die Zitronensäure, Sodium citrate – das Natriumcitrat, Sodium carbonate – das Natriumcarbonat Heartburn, indigestion and the symptoms of UTI – Sodbrennen, Berdauungsstörungen und die Symptome von Harnwegsinfektionen High uric acid – hohe Harnsäurespiegel, Gout – Gicht
Eno	each 5.0g dose contains: sodium bicarbonate 2.32g, anhydrous citric acid 2.18g, sodium carbonate 0.50g
Med-Lemon	Each sachet contains: Aspirin 800 mg, Caffeine 50 mg, Ascorbic Acid 45 mg, Menthol 2,6 mg, Sucrose 4254,63 mg.	A possible substitute is Grippostad granules or the Grippostad Heißgetränk
Deep-Heat	S0 Mentholatum Deep Heat® Rub. A13.5 Rubefacients. Each 100 g contains: 12.8 g Methyl Salicylate & 5.91 g Menthol.	Voltaren Forte gel Pferdesalbe Tiger Balm ThermaCare SOS Pain Stop Gel
Rescue drops	The Rescue drops contain the following 8 ingredients: Ambra grisea, Banisteriopsis caapi Spag D60, Clematis vitalba (Clematis), Helianthemum nummularium (Rock Rose), Impatiens glandulifera (Impatiens), Melissa officinalis Spag D3, Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem) and Prunus cerasifera (Cherry Plum)	Banisteriopsis caapi, is very difficult to find in Germany, due to its potential psychedelic effects. This product is available in Germany at a very high dilution, the strongest being 1:50 000. For 5 out of the 8 substances, there is a product called Bach Rescura original and for the remaining 2, you can buy each product on its own.
Sinutab	There are three different products on the South African Market. There are substitutes for ⅔ Products available in Germany. The 3rd one (Sinutab Sinus pain extra strength) contains Codeine, which is rezeptpflichtig or verscheibungspflichtig in Germany	Boxagrippal Erkältungstabletten Ratiogrippal Wick Duogrippal
Sinutab Sinus Allergy	In the German equivalent, the 3 ingredients are not combined into one tablet like Sinutab, but split into two different tablets. The Day tablet contains Paracetamol 500mg (analgesic) + Pseudoephedrine (decongestant). The day tablet also contains Paracetamol 500mg and Diphenhydramine 25mg (Antihistamine). The reason for this is that Pseudoepherdrine (Day Tabs) has a stimulant effect, which keeps you awake during the day and Diphenhydramine (Night Tabs) will make you drowsy, which will help you sleep at night. # Sinutab contains Chlorpheniramin (Allergex) and is not available in Germany anymore due of it’s redundancy and toxicity. Instead the german equivalent contains Diphenhydramine wich is similiar in molecular structure and pharmacological effect.	Wick Day Night OlyGrippal Day and Night
Disprin	Active Ingredient: aspirin	You can just ask for Aspirin at the Pharmacy

So far I could not find substitutes for Zam-buck (The Real Makoya Herbal Ointment is made with eucalyptus oil, camphor, thyme oil, and sassafras oil, and is a herbal ointment perfect for a range of skin conditions.)
Some of the shops listed on our website do sell it.

Ask a Pharmacist

Ask a SA Pharmacist in DE

Ask a Pharmacist A few pharmacists with South African backgrounds, now practicing in Germany, have kindly offered to assist our community. They can help by answering questions and providing guidance on possible substitutes for familiar South African pharmaceutical products. ⚠️ Important Disclaimer Always consult a qualified doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication. The information provided here is for general guidance only and should never replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please note: The Admin team of this website are not medical professionals and cannot provide medical advice. Please do not misuse this service. The Admin team of South Africans in Germany will be able to read your submissions. For your privacy, avoid including unnecessary personal or sensitive details. Answers from the pharmacists will be sent back to us (not directly to you), and we will then forward them to you. We aim to build a Frequently Asked Questions section based on the queries received. Any information shared publicly will be anonymized — no personal details will appear on the website. We reserve the right, at our discretion, not to forward certain submissions. Submissions are processed in batches at regular intervals, not daily. All submissions will be deleted from our mailbox after 30 days. Selected answers may be published on our website for the benefit of the wider community. Related content Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email

Terminology

English	German
Prescription	das Rezept
Medical referral	die ärztliche Überweisung
Tablet(s)	die Tablette(n)
Syrup	der Sirup
Lozenge(s)	die Lutschpastille(n)
Drops	die Tropfen
Hard capsules	Hartkapseln
Slow releasing tablets	die Retardtablette(n)
Over-the-counter medicine	das rezeptfreie Medikament
Painkiller	das Schmerzmittel
Antibiotic	das Antibiotikum
Pharmacy	die Apotheke
Pharmacist	der Apotheker / die Apothekerin
Generic medicine	das Generikum
Side effects	die Nebenwirkungen

South Africans in Germany