Short Answer
Severe allergic reactions to medication require an immediate call to the 112 emergency services.
For non-life-threatening side effects, you should contact the medical on-call service at 116 117 or your prescribing doctor.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You noticed a strange rash after taking a new German antibiotic but decided to "tough it out" until your scheduled follow-up. By the next morning, the reaction had spread to your throat, and you ended up being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. You lost €10 for the prescription and was billed a €10 daily hospital stay fee because you ignored the initial warning signs of a drug intolerance.
What To Do
- Call 116 117 the moment you notice unusual itching, dizziness, or swelling after taking a new drug.
- Book an "Akutsprechstunde" with your doctor the next morning to request an alternative "Ersatzpräparat."
- "Ich vertrage dieses Medikament nicht und habe Nebenwirkungen." (I cannot tolerate this medication and have side effects.) Say this to the doctor to ensure they update your patient file.
The Truth
German dosages or specific stabilizers in local generic drugs may differ from what your body is used to. The system expects you to stop treatment and seek advice immediately if a prescription causes a negative reaction.