Pharmacies in Cotonou

24/7 Pharmacies Worth Knowing

If you're new to Cotonou, think of these as your equivalent of a 24-hour CVS or Walgreens back home — reliable, well-stocked, and used to serving both locals and the expat community.

Haie Vive

Pharmacie de l'UAC (Zogbadjè)

• Address: Facing the UAC campus, Zogbadjè
• Phone: +229 21 36 12 00
• Hours: Open 24/7
• Good to know: Full-service pharmacy carrying international brands — a safe first stop if you're unsure what you need.

Pharmacie Soma Santé

• Address: Main Street, Haie Vive
• Phone: +229 21 31 50 50
• Hours: 8am–8pm (emergency line 8pm–8am)
• Good to know: Premium pharmacy with staff who can walk you through medical advice, not just fill a prescription.

Pharmacie du Port

• Address: Near the Autonomous Port, Ganhi
• Phone: +229 21 30 44 44
• Hours: Open 24/7
• Good to know: Well set up for urgent needs — malaria treatment, fever, that kind of thing.

Ganhi–Cadjehoun

Pharmacie Centrale Cotonou

• Address: Downtown Ganhi, near the main market square
• Phone: +229 21 30 22 22
• Hours: 7am–10pm (emergency after hours)
• Good to know: Wide selection, and they'll deliver — free, which isn't a given everywhere.

Pharmacie Benin Plus

• Address: Cadjehoun, Business District Street
• Phone: +229 21 31 44 44
• Hours: 8am–8pm plus an emergency service
• Good to know: Stocks both local and imported medication.

Akpakpa–Non-Gbessi

Pharmacie Akpakpa Zone

• Address: Akpakpa Shopping Center
• Phone: +229 22 41 50 50
• Hours: 8am–7pm, closed Sundays
• Good to know: Solid value for money if you're in that part of town.

What You Can Expect

• ✅ Prescription medication, dispensed as written
• ✅ Over-the-counter basics — acetaminophen, common antibiotics
• ✅ A nurse on-site for quick consultations (free or a small fee, depending on the pharmacy)
• ✅ Home delivery in the Haie Vive/Ganhi area
• ✅ Cash accepted everywhere; some pharmacies take cards

Finding an Open Pharmacy After Hours

In a middle-of-the-night emergency:

1. Call the ambulance service (SAMU): +229 21 30 06 66
2. Ask for the "pharmacie de garde" — the on-duty pharmacy for that week — and they'll point you in the right direction
3. Or just take a taxi to Pharmacie UAC or Soma — both stay open around the clock

Other ways to check:

• Expat WhatsApp groups are surprisingly reliable for "which pharmacy is open right now" questions
• Search "Pharmacy" or "Pharmacie" on Google Maps for whatever's closest to you

What Things Cost

Prices are refreshingly reasonable compared to what you might expect coming from the US or UK:

A Few Tips From People Who've Done This

✅ Get your yellow fever vaccine sorted before or shortly after you arrive ✅ A prescription written in French works fine — no need to translate it yourself ✅ Drug names differ from what you're used to — describing your symptoms usually works better than naming a brand ✅ When in doubt, ask the pharmacist rather than self-medicating — most speak enough English to help ✅ Hang on to your prescriptions; you'll want them for your medical file

⚠️ Counterfeit medication does exist in some markets — stick to established pharmacies like the ones listed here ⚠️ Not every medication you're used to will be available — worth bringing a stock of anything essential when you first arrive ⚠️ Some French-brand medications simply aren't sold locally

If You Need More Than a Pharmacist

For an actual doctor's visit, see our Clinics & Hospitals directory.

Clinique Soma (24h emergency care): +229 21 31 50 50 Cotonou Public Hospital: +229 21 30 01 01

Browse the full directory below for more verified clinics, health insurance options, and medical services in Cotonou.