Is Zolpidem legal in Brazil?
- Legal status
- Zolpidem is a List B1 psychotropic under Anvisa Portaria SVS/MS 344/1998, transposing its 1971 Convention Schedule IV status; since 1 August 2024 all zolpidem products must be prescribed via the blue Notificacao de Receita B, removing the prior lower-strength exception.
- Consequences if caught
- Unauthorised supply of this List B1 psychotropic is an offence under Brazil's controlled-substances rules; a prescribed personal supply is lawful.
- If prescribed or medical
- Zolpidem is prescribed short-term for insomnia and dispensed only against the blue Notificacao de Receita B, with the prescriber registered with the local health-surveillance authority.
- Documentation
- A traveller carries prescribed zolpidem with the blue-prescription documentation; personal-use import for treatment is permitted within List B1 limits.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Brazil’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →