Opioid Pain Medication France: Rules and Local Brands

Quick reference

Drug class: Opioid analgesics: stupéfiant-classified (oxycodone, morphine, tapentadol, fentanyl) and secure-prescription opioids (codeine, tramadol)
Controlled substance: Oxycodone, morphine, tapentadol, fentanyl: stupéfiant (French narcotics classification). Codeine and tramadol: part of the narcotics rules applies. Hydrocodone: no French product.
Prescription required: Yes, for every ingredient. Local supply needs a secure prescription (ordonnance sécurisée).
Available locally: Oxycodone: yes (OxyContin LP, Oxynorm, Oxynormoro). Morphine: yes (Actiskenan, Oramorph). Tapentadol: yes (Palexia). Fentanyl: yes (Durogesic, Matrifen). Tramadol: yes (Topalgic, Ixprim). Codeine: yes (Codoliprane and Dafalgan Codéiné). Hydrocodone: no French product.
Storage: Original packaging with pharmacy label, away from heat. Follow each product's leaflet.
Max supply to carry: Quantity for personal therapeutic use; Schengen certificate valid 30 days at most.
Key document: Schengen certificate from your departure country, or the original prescription if arriving from outside the Schengen area.
Emergency alternative: A French doctor decides any substitute; call 15 for urgent pain care.

Opioid pain medication options in France

Active ingredient	Available locally?	Local brand(s)	Controlled status	Prescription required?	Max supply
Oxycodone	Yes	OxyContin LP, Oxynorm, Oxynormoro, generics	Stupéfiant (French narcotics list)	Yes, secure prescription	Personal use; local Rx 28 days
Hydrocodone	No	None listed	Narcotic drug (1961 Convention); no French product	Not applicable locally	Carry your own supply
Morphine	Yes	Oramorph, Actiskenan	Stupéfiant (French narcotics list)	Yes, secure prescription	Personal use; local Rx 28 days
Codeine	Yes	Codeine-containing medicines (ask the pharmacist)	Part of narcotics rules applies	Yes, secure prescription	Personal use; local Rx 12 weeks
Tramadol	Yes	Topalgic, Ixprim	Not a stupéfiant; part of narcotics rules applies	Yes, secure prescription	Personal use; local Rx 12 weeks
Tapentadol	Yes	Palexia	Stupéfiant (French narcotics list)	Yes, secure prescription	Personal use
Fentanyl	Yes	Durogesic, Matrifen, generics	Stupéfiant (French narcotics list)	Yes, secure prescription	Personal use; local Rx 28 days

Travelling to France with opioid pain medication

France treats opioid pain medication differently by ingredient. Oxycodone (OxyContin, Oxynorm), morphine (Oramorph, Actiskenan), fentanyl (Durogesic) and tapentadol (Palexia) are classed as stupéfiants, the French narcotics category.^[1] Hydrocodone has no French product.

Your documents depend on where you travel from. Check them before you pack.

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Documentation for travelling to France with opioid pain medication

Narcotic and psychotropic medicines must be carried personally into France. Travellers arriving from a Schengen country must show a certificate issued by the authorities of the country they left. Travellers arriving from outside the Schengen area must be able to show the original prescription. Oxycodone, morphine, tapentadol and fentanyl fall under this narcotic pathway in full.^[2]^[1]

What your doctor's letter must include

Your full name, each medication by INN and brand (for example oxycodone, OxyContin), dose and frequency, quantity carried, the condition in one word, and your doctor's signature, registration number and clinic letterhead. If you take more than one opioid, list each one. Bring the original prescription alongside the letter.

If you take only tramadol or codeine, French rules apply only part of the narcotics regulation to them. Ask your home health authority whether it issues a certificate for these two. Schengen authorities issue a separate certificate for each narcotic drug, so a combination of opioids needs several. Carry the prescription in every case.^[4]^[3]

Questions to ask your prescriber before you travel

Bring this list to your appointment.

Which of my opioids count as narcotics, and does my health authority issue a Schengen certificate for each of them?
Can you write a letter that names each medication by INN and brand, with the daily dose and total quantity?
If France has no product matching my exact brand, which options should I discuss with a French doctor, and what would you want to know first?
For a longer stay, can you plan refills or a review appointment so my prescription does not lapse abroad?
How can I reach you or your clinic from France if I need to confirm my dose with a local doctor?
Can you add my opioid details to my International Patient Summary so a French clinician can read them?

How much opioid pain medication to bring

French customs accept a quantity compatible with personal therapeutic use, covering the prescribed treatment or one month without a prescription. A stay longer than 30 days in the Schengen area needs planning with your prescriber and home authority before you leave. Carry enough for the whole trip within the prescribed quantity, plus a small buffer for delays.^[3]^[1]

Carry it yourself

Keep every opioid on your person or in hand luggage, in original packaging with pharmacy labels, next to your prescription or certificate. Do not post medication to France or ask another traveller to carry it.

Packing and storing opioid pain medication for travel

Follow the storage instructions on each product's leaflet. Keep tablets, capsules and oral liquids in original packs, away from direct heat in your bag. Keep fentanyl patches sealed until use, and carry spare patches in their original pouches. Pack a lockable pouch if you share accommodation.

Airport security with opioid pain medication

Security rules for medicines are set by the aviation security authority at each departure airport, so check yours before you fly. Keep opioids in hand luggage with the prescription or certificate attached. Declare oral liquids such as Oramorph solution at screening, with the prescription, and keep fentanyl patches in their original pouches. Tablets, capsules and patches travel in the same documented pack. See our guide for travelling with prescription medication for more context on airport and security rules.

Customs and import rules for opioid pain medication in France

French customs apply Article 75 of the Schengen Convention to narcotic and psychotropic medicines. Customs assess whether the quantity matches personal therapeutic use, and your certificate or prescription is how you show it. Hydrocodone has no French marketing, so any supply must travel with you under the same documents.^[4] See medication import rules for the general principles.^[1]^[1]

Stupéfiant documentation warning

Oxycodone, morphine, tapentadol and fentanyl are stupéfiants in France. Arriving without the correct certificate or prescription leaves you unable to prove your quantity is personal use. Check which document applies to your departure country before you pack.

Opioid pain medication availability in France

Oxycodone is sold as OxyContin LP, Oxynorm and Oxynormoro, with generics, on a secure prescription.^[6] Morphine is sold as Actiskenan, alongside Oramorph.^[5] Tapentadol is available as Palexia^[8]; Matrifen patches are also sold.^[7] Codeine has many available brands like Codoliprane and Dafalgan Codéiné, so ask the pharmacist. Hydrocodone has no French product.

A secure prescription is valid for up to 28 days for stupéfiants, and 12 weeks for tramadol and codeine.^[10] OxyContin LP costs €2.98 (~$3.30) to €53.53 (~$60) per box of 28, depending on strength.^[11] Prices for the other ingredients vary by pack, so ask the pharmacist.

Pharmacy phrases in French

Use these at the pharmacy counter when asking about opioid pain medication options.

“Je prends un antalgique opioïde. Quelles options avez-vous en France ?”

I take an opioid painkiller. What options do you have in France?

“Existe-t-il un générique de ce médicament ?”

Is there a generic version of this medicine?

“Avez-vous ce médicament en stock, ou pouvez-vous le commander ?”

Do you have this medicine in stock, or can you order it?

Get these phrases in 23 languages — offline

Nomedic Translate works at the pharmacy counter even without signal.

Try Nomedic Translate

Finding a doctor who can prescribe opioid pain medication in France

A general practitioner (médecin généraliste) can write a secure prescription for opioids. Doctors write stupéfiant prescriptions on a secure prescription form. Ask the surgery about fees before you book, and whether it works within the French public scheme. Check with your insurer whether your EHIC or GHIC covers the visit. See France's healthcare guide for the wider system.

Search for providers near your destination

Use Nomedic's provider search to find doctors and pharmacies in France.

Find a provider

Storing opioid pain medication while in France

Keep opioids in a locked case or hotel safe, in original packaging, and out of view. Do not leave them in a parked car or in direct sun. Store fentanyl patches and oral liquids away from heat. Keep a photo of your prescription and certificate on your phone.

What to do if something goes wrong with your opioid pain medication in France

1

Report the loss. Tell the police (17) about lost or stolen opioids and ask for a written report. Contact your embassy or consulate if your documents went missing too.

2

Contact your prescriber. Ask for a new letter and prescription by email, and keep your original certificate details to hand.

3

See a French doctor. A French pharmacy supplies stupéfiants against a secure prescription, so a local doctor must write it. Go early, as appointments take time.^[5]

Only a French doctor can decide whether a different opioid is appropriate for you. Oxycodone, morphine, tapentadol, fentanyl and tramadol all have French marketing, as listed above. The doctor makes that choice after reviewing your history, never a pharmacy assistant or this guide.

Emergency phrases in French

“J'ai besoin de mon antalgique opioïde.”

I need my opioid painkiller.

“Je prends ce médicament tous les jours contre la douleur.”

I take this medicine every day for pain.

“Appelez un médecin, s'il vous plaît.”

Please call a doctor.

“Où est l'hôpital ou la pharmacie de garde la plus proche ?”

Where is the nearest hospital or duty pharmacy?

Call 15 for the ambulance service (SAMU) or 112 from any phone in France. Pharmacies display the nearest duty pharmacy (pharmacie de garde) on the door.

Your medication details, ready to share

Nomedic stores your medication name, INN, dosage, and frequency in your IPS, readable by any clinician worldwide.

Go to my record

Frequently asked questions

Is opioid pain medication legal in France?

Yes, with a prescription. Oxycodone, morphine, tapentadol, and fentanyl sit in the same category. Travellers carry their own prescription or certificate.^[8]

Can I bring opioid pain medication into France?

Yes, if you carry it personally and the quantity matches personal therapeutic use. Customs ask for a certificate from Schengen departures, or the prescription from elsewhere.^[1]

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with opioid pain medication?

Customs ask for a certificate or the original prescription, not a letter. A letter naming each INN still helps French doctors and pharmacists read your treatment. Ask your prescriber to include doses and total quantity.

Which opioid pain medications are available in France?

Oxycodone (OxyContin LP, Oxynorm, Oxynormoro), morphine (Actiskenan, Oramorph), tapentadol (Palexia), fentanyl (Durogesic, Matrifen), tramadol (Topalgic, Ixprim) and codeine products are all marketed. Hydrocodone has no French product. Every ingredient needs a prescription.

Is Vicodin or Norco available in France?

No. Both contain hydrocodone, and no hydrocodone product is listed for France. A French doctor can discuss locally marketed options, such as the oxycodone and morphine brands above.

What if my specific opioid pain medication brand isn't available in France?

A French doctor decides whether another product suits you, after reviewing your history. Bring your INN and dose in writing. Do not swap ingredients yourself, including between products listed in this guide.

What if I run out of opioid pain medication in France?

See a French doctor promptly, because a pharmacy supplies stupéfiants only against a secure prescription. Contact your own prescriber at the same time. Call 15 if your pain becomes severe.^[5]

Related practical guide

Opioid Pain Medication Abroad: Strict Countries, Required Paperwork and What to Do When You Run Out

Carrying opioid pain medication across borders is legal in most countries, but the paperwork gap between 'legal' and 'detained at customs' is razor thin.

Opioid Pain Medication in France: Rules, Brands and Access