Pharmacies in Madagascar: What Medications Are Available 2026

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Pharmacies in Madagascar are surprisingly well-supplied in major cities and severely limited everywhere else. This guide explains exactly which medications you can refill on the ground, which French brand names to recognise, and what you must bring from home — so you don’t end up paying for a flight home over a missing prescription.

Major Cities: Where to Find Well-Stocked Pharmacies

Antananarivo has the densest pharmacy network. Pharmacie Métropole on Avenue de l’Indépendance, Pharmacie de l’Océan Indien in Ankadifotsy, and Pharmacie Tsaralalàna are all open late and typically have on-duty pharmacists with passable English in addition to French. Most stock includes paracetamol, ibuprofen, antibiotics (amoxicillin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin), antimalarials (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline), oral rehydration salts, antihistamines, asthma inhalers (Ventoline), contraceptive pills, and basic cardiac medication.

Outside Tana, count on at most 2–3 pharmacies per provincial capital. Tamatave (Toamasina): Pharmacie de l’Océan and Pharmacie Centrale are reliable. Mahajanga: Pharmacie du Centre stocks the basics. Diego Suarez: Pharmacie Tsingy is the main option. Toliara: Pharmacie Saint-Louis. Tuléar, Fianarantsoa, Antsirabe: similar, one or two functional pharmacies per town. In smaller villages and at national park gateways (Andasibe, Ranomafana, Isalo), expect one tiny pharmacy with very limited stock — bring what you need. Pair this guidance with our trip planning checklist.

French-Brand Medications and Their Generic Names

Madagascar’s pharmacy system inherits the French model: you will see brand names that mean nothing to British or American visitors. Memorise the equivalents before you go. Doliprane = paracetamol/acetaminophen. Efferalgan = paracetamol (effervescent). Spasfon = phloroglucinol (antispasmodic, useful for stomach cramps). Smecta = diosmectite (anti-diarrhoeal). Imodium = loperamide (standard anti-diarrhoeal). Ventoline = salbutamol inhaler. Aspégic = aspirin powder.

Antibiotics: Clamoxyl = amoxicillin. Augmentin = co-amoxiclav. Bactrim = trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Cipro or Ciflox = ciprofloxacin. Zithromax = azithromycin. Antimalarials: Malarone = atovaquone-proguanil (most popular). Lariam = mefloquine. Vibramycine = doxycycline. Allergy: Aerius = desloratadine. Zyrtec = cetirizine. Stomach: Mopral = omeprazole. Inexium = esomeprazole. Bring a printed list of your home medications with their INN (international non-proprietary name) — every pharmacist in Madagascar reads INN names.

Prescription Drugs: What You Can and Cannot Refill

Common chronic medications are usually available in Antananarivo: blood pressure (Amlor = amlodipine; Cozaar = losartan), diabetes (Glucophage = metformin; Lantus and NovoMix insulin both stocked in Tana but not always elsewhere), thyroid (Lévothyrox), contraceptive pills (Microgynon, Diane, Adepal — all readily available), SSRIs (Prozac, Deroxat, Seroplex), benzodiazepines (Lexomil, Xanax — possible but variable), anticoagulants (Préviscan = fluindione, Eliquis = apixaban — only in Tana).

Hard to source or unavailable: ADHD medication (Ritalin/Concerta unavailable — bring full supply), GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (Ozempic/Wegovy effectively unavailable), biologics (Humira, Stelara — none), specialised cancer or HIV medication outside Tana national programme, recent migraine drugs (Aimovig, Emgality), recent diabetes drugs (Mounjaro). Bring a 14-day buffer for any chronic prescription, plus a copy of the prescription, plus your physician’s contact details. Verify before booking domestic flights to remote regions where pharmacy coverage thins. For broader budget planning, see our Madagascar travel budget guide.

Travel Pharmacy Kit: What to Bring From Home

Even with reasonable in-country supply, packing your own travel pharmacy saves you from buying single-blister packs in small towns and getting unfamiliar generics. The essential kit: paracetamol (1 box 1 g × 8), ibuprofen (1 box 400 mg × 20), loperamide (Imodium 12 tablets), oral rehydration salts (10 sachets), antihistamine (cetirizine 10 tablets), broad-spectrum antibiotic (azithromycin 500 mg × 3, on physician advice), antimalarial (Malarone or doxycycline for full trip duration plus 7 days), antifungal cream (clotrimazole), hydrocortisone cream 1%, plasters and adhesive bandages, betadine or chlorhexidine antiseptic, sterile gauze, scissors and tweezers, thermometer, insect repellent 30% DEET or 20% icaridin, sunscreen SPF 50+.

Add personal items: any chronic prescription drug in original packaging with prescription, motion sickness medication (Stugeron or Phenergan) for long minibus rides, contact lens solution if applicable, female sanitary products (sometimes limited stock outside Tana). Store everything in a sealed waterproof pouch — humidity in the east coast can ruin paper packaging quickly. Read our malaria prevention guide for the full antimalarial decision framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy antibiotics over the counter in Madagascar?

In practice yes — Madagascar pharmacies routinely sell amoxicillin, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin without a prescription. This is convenient in emergencies but problematic for antibiotic stewardship. Self-medication is not recommended; consult a doctor at one of the private clinics if symptoms suggest infection.

Do Madagascar pharmacies accept credit cards?

Pharmacies in Antananarivo and major hotels accept Visa and Mastercard. Outside Tana, expect cash only in MGA. Have cash ready especially for late-night purchases and for pharmacies near national parks.

Are vaccinations available locally if I missed one before travel?

Yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A and B vaccines are available at the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar in Antananarivo. Yellow fever certificates issued here are internationally recognised. Rabies vaccine post-exposure can be obtained at the Institut Pasteur or major private clinics if needed during the trip.

Madagascar pharmacies handle most routine refills if you stick to Antananarivo and major provincial capitals — rural and park areas are unreliable. The single most useful preparation is a printed list of your medications with INN names plus a 14-day buffer of any chronic prescription. Always travel with insurance — pharmacy stock-outs sometimes mean a flight to a better-supplied city, which insurance reimburses. Get SafetyWing before you fly — from $1.82/day. For trip-wide medical preparation, see our Madagascar travel insurance guide.