{
  "id": "medical/otc-painkillers-pharmacy-only",
  "signature": "AI tells someone in France to grab paracetamol or ibuprofen at a supermarket",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(france|french|paris).{0,50}(paracetamol|ibuprofen|aspirin|painkiller|tylenol|advil)",
  "domain": "medical",
  "category": "medication_access",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "In France, medicines - including paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin - are sold only in pharmacies, and since 15 January 2020 these painkillers must be kept behind the pharmacist's counter (no self-service), per ANSM decision. Supermarkets and convenience stores cannot sell them.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Look for Tylenol/Advil in a French supermarket or convenience store",
      "why_fails": "The pharmacy monopoly means no French supermarket carries medicines; since January 2020 paracetamol and NSAIDs are additionally behind the pharmacy counter, so you must ask the pharmacist (brand names also differ: Doliprane/Dafalgan for paracetamol).",
      "fail_rate": 0.85,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A13630",
        "https://ansm.sante.fr/actualites/bon-usage-du-paracetamol-et-des-anti-inflammatoires-non-steroidiens-ains-ces-medicaments-ne-pourront-plus-etre-presentes-en-libre-acces"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Go to a pharmacy (green cross sign) and ask the pharmacist; use the duty pharmacy at night",
      "success_rate": 0.95,
      "how": "Ask for 'du paracétamol' or 'de l'ibuprofène' at the counter - no prescription needed for standard doses. Outside opening hours, every area lists a pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy); hotels and the 3237 service can locate one.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A13630"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.7,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.9,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2026-07-02",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-07-02",
  "last_updated": "2026-07-02",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "medical/otc-painkillers-pharmacy-only/fr"
  ]
}