Medicines in pharmacies in Northern Cyprus and their analogues

Many people living in or traveling around Northern Cyprus encounter situations where they urgently need a medical drug, but only have the Russian name at hand, which may be unfamiliar locally.

To simplify the search, we have prepared a medicine guide that lists local drugs, mostly of Turkish origin, along with their equivalents familiar to residents of Russia and the CIS. All medicines are grouped by purpose for easy navigation.

Medicine categories:

• Pain relievers
• Fever reducers and children’s painkillers
• Headache and cold
• Sore throat
• Cough and phlegm
• Runny nose
• Muscle pain
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea and dehydration
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Gynecology
• Allergies
• Ear pain
• Toothache
• Eye infections and pain
• Antiseptics and skin care
• Skin conditions
• Rheumatism and joint pain
• Herpes
• Burns
• Hair problems
• Wounds, bites, cuts, bruises
• Varicose veins
• Heart pain
• Miscellaneous

PAIN RELIEVERS

• Minoset — paracetamol.

• Minoset Plus — paracetamol + caffeine (tablets).

• Actifed Şurup — children’s syrup for respiratory tract illnesses, safe for young children.

• Apranax / Apranax Forte — naproxen, general pain reliever; Forte — stronger version.

• Advil Liqui-Gels — ibuprofen, gel capsules for fast relief.

• Anestol Pomad — lidocaine ointment for mild local pain relief.

• Nurofen — ibuprofen, effective for moderate pain.

• Diklomek — diclofenac capsules for severe pain.

• Artril Jel — ketoprofen gel for joints and muscles.

• Voltaren IM Ampul — diclofenac in injectable ampoules.

• Nimesulid — Nise equivalent (tablets).

FEVER REDUCERS AND CHILDREN’S PAINKILLERS

• Calpol — children’s paracetamol syrup.

• Paranox — children’s suppositories: pain relief and fever reducer.

• Aferin Forte — analgesic for symptomatic treatment of flu and colds.

• Peditus — preventive treatment for colds and flu in children.

• Tylol — paracetamol; includes a children’s version for reducing fever, but use carefully (high dose).

HEADACHE AND COLD

• Parol — pain reliever, suitable for headaches; safe during pregnancy.

• Avmigran Film Tablet — medication for migraine relief.

• Tylol Hot — powdered sachets for dissolving, for colds and flu.

• Deflu — tablets for cold and flu symptoms.

SORE THROAT

• Tantum Verde, Heksoral — antiseptic throat rinses.

• Strepsils — lozenges for throat pain and irritation.

• Oroheks Plus — anti-inflammatory antiseptic, mouth and throat spray.

• Klorhex — chlorhexidine throat antiseptic in spray form.

COUGH AND PHLEGM

• Asist — syrup to thin phlegm; take before expectorants.

• Asist Plus — powders for the same purpose.

• Vicks VapoSyrup — syrup for productive cough, has an expectorant effect.

• Sudafed / Peditus — children's syrups for nasal and bronchial conditions.

• Bricanyl, Perebron — medications for children with bronchial cough.

RUNNY NOSE

• Rhinocort Aqua — nasal corticosteroid spray for severe runny nose; effect similar to Aquamaris but with a hormonal component.

• Sterimar — Aquamaris analogue; seawater for nasal irrigation.

MUSCLE PAIN

• Dikloron Jel — gel for muscle pain, similar to Finalgon, but without warming effect.

• Profenid Jel — Fastum-gel analogue; contains ketoprofen, helps with muscle and joint pain.

STOMACH PAIN

• Buscopan — antispasmodic; helps with intestinal, stomach, and bile duct cramps.

DIARRHEA AND DEHYDRATION

• Reflor — effective for diarrhea, contains probiotics.

• Ercefuryl — children's syrup for diarrhea (nifuroxazide).

• ORS Paketi (oral rehydration) — Regidron analogue; powder to restore water-electrolyte balance.

CONSTIPATION

• Gliserin Kansuk Suppozituar — glycerin suppositories for infants.

• Eucabon — activated charcoal with herbal additives.

• Tatlı Badem Yağı — sweet almond oil; mild remedy for children's constipation.

• Dulcolax — laxative (tablets).

• Duphalac — Duphalac analogue: used for constipation, normalizing bowel function, hepatic encephalopathy; also prescribed to soften stool (hemorrhoids, pre-surgery). Contraindicated in galactosemia, intestinal obstruction, and allergy to ingredients.

VOMITING

• Emedur — remedy for vomiting in children (suppositories and injections). Used only if vomiting is not associated with poisoning or infection and diarrhea is absent.

• Metpamid — remedy for vomiting in adults (syrup, tablets).

GYNECOLOGY

• Ketoral — antifungal for candidiasis (tablets, suppositories, ointment).

• Zolax — treatment for candidiasis; usually a 2-capsule course.

• Fluzole — capsules for candidiasis (fluconazole).

• Candidin — antifungal medication in capsules.

• Urfamysin — medication for urinary tract inflammations.

• Majezik — strong painkiller, especially for menstrual pain.

• Cipro — antibiotic for cystitis, analog of "Ciprolet".

• Preven — emergency contraception; effective within the first 48 hours.

ALLERGY

• Rynset, Cetrin — tablets for allergic rhinitis, hay fever, and skin itching.

• Avil — antihistamine syrup (for children).

• Vicks Vapodry — syrup for barking and allergic cough.

• Sudafed — anti-allergic medicine for cough (syrup and tablets).

• Dexa Sine — eye drops for allergies, conjunctivitis.

• Zirtek — allergy tablets.

EAR PAIN

• Otomisin — anti-inflammatory ear drops.

TOOTHACHE

• Calgeli (Calgel) — gum ointment for teething children.

• Apranax — strong remedy for toothache.

• Disinol — clove tincture; effectively reduces tooth pain.

EYE INFECTIONS AND EYE PAIN

• Kemicetine / Gemysetin — eye drops, analog of levomycetin.

• Exocin — drops for bacterial eye infections.

• Tobrased — mild drops suitable for children to clean eyes.

• Thilomaxine — drops for eye infections.

• Terramycin — eye ointment for bacterial inflammations.

• Alkon Tobrex steril ophthalmic pomade — ophthalmic ointment; also used for styes.

ANTISEPTICS AND SKIN CARE

• Fitokrem — antiseptic cream, accelerates wound healing.

• Travazol — antifungal cream.

• Batikon — iodine-based antiseptic.

• Baktroban — antiseptic cream, similar in use to "Bepanthen/Rescuer".

• Tantum Verde, Heksoral — antiseptic throat rinses.

• Klorex — chlorhexidine spray.

SKIN DISEASES

• Terramycin — ointment for minor wounds, cuts, and superficial inflammations.

• Hipokort — ointment for neurodermatitis, eczema, seborrhea, childhood eczema, and psoriasis.

• Psorkurtan — ointment, used only for psoriasis.

RHEUMATISM AND JOINT PAINS

• Thermo-Rheumon — rubbing cream for lumbago, bursitis, joint pains, and rheumatoid pain.

HERPES

• Vectavir — antiviral cream for herpes.

• Terramycine (yellow ointment) — topical remedy, helps with herpes on skin and lips.

BURNS

• Silvirdin — cream for burns; quickly relieves pain and accelerates healing.

HAIR PROBLEMS

• Priorin — capsules for hair loss, strengthen hair follicles.

• Ketoral — shampoo against dandruff and seborrhea.

WOUNDS, BITES, CUTS, BRUISES

• Fitokrem — antiseptic cream, accelerates wound healing.

• Lasonil Gel — Troxevasin analog; used for bruises, sprains, hematomas, and swelling. VENORUTON — tablets with the same effect (oxirutin, Novartis).

• Clamine-T — lotion-pencil, convenient to carry; helps with pimples and insect bites.

• ZinCream Medinova — cream with 20% zinc oxide, suitable for children’s skin (bottom, abrasions).

• Bepanthen — D-panthenol analog (dexpanthenol); for wounds, cracks, burns, dermatitis, and itchy dermatoses. Important: has a spasmogenic effect and may trigger contractions before labor.

VARICOSE VEINS

• Lasonil Gel — heparin ointment analog; helps with varicose veins, used both at early stages and for pronounced symptoms.

• Relaxsan — venotonic agent; suitable for prevention, including during pregnancy.

HEART PAINS

• Gidroksizin — local analog of "Validol," mild sedative and antispasmodic.

• Passiflora — herbal calming remedy; analog of Corvalol and Valocordin.

MISCELLANEOUS (Turkish analogs of medicinal herbs and others)

• festal — Festal N
• ichthyol ointment — İHTİYOL
• boric acid solution (usually 5% in pharmacies) — Borik asit solüsyonu
• potassium permanganate — PERMASOL (tablets, needs to be diluted)
• hydrogen peroxide (for wound treatment) — oksijenli su
• camphor oil — kafur yağ
• grease — gris yağ
• castor oil — hint yağ
• mustard plasters — yakı
• hot water bottle — su tandırı
• elastic bandage or wrap — esnek sargı bezi veya esnek sargı bandı
• chamomile — papatya
• sage — adaçayı
• coltsfoot — öksürük otu
• mustard — hardal
• clove oil — karanfil yağ
• calendula — aynısafa
• nettle — ısırgan otu
• mint — nane
• acacia — akasya
• rowan — üvez
• bird cherry — kuşkirazı
• rosehip — yaban gülü meyvesi, kuşburnu
• sorrel — kuzukulağı
• St. John's wort — kılıcotu
• celandine — kırlangıç otu
• corn silk — Visir tepecikleri
• suspension (nystatin) — Mikostatin
• potassium permanganate — Permasol (tablets, needs to be diluted)
• iodine — Tentirdiyot, Battikon

Frequently Asked Questions about Medications in Northern Cyprus

Where can I buy medicine outside working hours or on weekends?

There are no 24-hour pharmacies like we are used to in Northern Cyprus. But there is an “on-duty pharmacy” system where you can urgently buy medications outside working hours — at night, on holidays, and weekends. The Telegram channel Northern Cyprus News publishes a daily updated list of on-duty pharmacies.

What does medical insurance for residence permit provide?

Medical insurance obtained with a residence permit covers treatment in all public clinics of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The full list of services included in the insurance can be found on this page.

Is it possible to find a Russian-speaking pharmacist in Northern Cyprus?

Yes. Some pharmacies indeed have pharmacists who speak Russian. This is especially useful when you need to choose medicine by active ingredient or explain symptoms.

We have compiled a list of such pharmacies.

Many things change quickly in Northern Cyprus, especially in healthcare. To keep track of current pharmacy products, clinic updates, and medication reviews, we recommend visiting the specialized Telegram forum about medicine in TRNC.