The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is responsible for regulating and supervising the pharmaceutical sector in Saudi Arabia. The SFDA maintains a list of banned medicines that are not allowed to be imported, manufactured, or sold in the country ¹. The list includes both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as herbal and dietary supplements. The following is a partial list of some of the banned medicines in Saudi Arabia:

1. Codeine: A narcotic pain reliever that is used to treat mild to moderate pain. It is banned in Saudi Arabia because of its potential for abuse and addiction ¹.
2. Dextromethorphan: A cough suppressant that is found in many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. It is banned in Saudi Arabia because of its potential for abuse and addiction ¹.
3. Pseudoephedrine: A decongestant that is used to relieve nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies, and other respiratory illnesses. It is banned in Saudi Arabia because it can be used to make methamphetamine ¹.

List of Prescription Drugs Not Allowed in Saudi Arabia 2018

Narcotic Drugs
Alfentanil
Amphetamine
Buprenorphone
Codeine
Fentanyl
Ketamine
Methadone
Methyphenidate
Morphine
Pentazocine
Pethidine
Remifentanil
Sufentanil

Ketalar
Physeptone
Ritalin
Sosegon
Subutex
Ultiva

Controlled Drug Class A – Psychotropics 
Acitretin
Alprazolam
Aripiprazole
Bromazepam
Buprenorphine
(200 µg tablets and 500 µg injection)
Butorphanol
Chlopromazine
Chlordiazepoxide
Clobazam
Clonazepam
Clorazepate
Diazepam
Dihydrocodeine
Droperidol
Flumazenil
Flupentixol
Fluphenazine
Haloperidol
Isotretinoin
Lorazepam
Medazepam
Mephenoxalone
Midazolam
Misoprostol
Nalbuphine
Olanzapine
Phenobarbitone
Pimozide
Prazepam
Prochlorperazine
Propofol
Prostaglandin
Quetiapine
Risperidone
Sulpiride
Sultopride
Temazepam
Thiopentone
Tiapride
Tramadol
Trfluoperazine
Zaleplon
Ziprasidone
Zolpidem
Zuclopenhtixol

Controlled Drugs Class B 

Amitriptyline
Baclofen
Benzhexol
Biperiden
Buspirone
Carisoprodol
Citalopram
Clomipramine
Codeine
Cyclobenzaprine
Dextromethorphan
Diphenoxylate
Dotheipin
Duloxetine
Escitalopram
Estradiol
Ethinylestradiol
Etonogestrel
Fluoxetine
Flupenthixol
Fluvoxamine
Imapramine
Isotretonin
Lithium Carbonate
Maprotiline
Menotrophin
Meserolone
Methocarbomol
Mianserin
Milnacipran
Minaprine
Mirtazapine
Moclobemide
Naltrexone
Nandrolone
Nefazodone
Norethisterone
Norethisterone
Norgetrol
Noscapine
Octreotide
Oestradiol
Opipramol
Orphenadrine
Oseltamivir
Oxazepam
Paroxetine
Pholcodine
Pimecrolimus
Procyclidine
Propoxyphene (with paracetemol
Pyrisuccideanol
Reboxetine
Sertraline
Somatrophine
Testosterone
Ticlopidine
Tizanidine
Tretinoin
Trimipramine
Vecuronium
Venlafaxine

Controlled Drugs Class A Psychotropics

Abilify
Anexate
Arthrotec
Ativan
Barnetil
Buccastem
Clopixol
Cytotec
Deanxit
Dehydrobenzperidol
Demetrin
DHC continues
Dialag
Diapam
Diprivan
Dogmatil
Dormicum
Dorsilon
Frisium
Gardinal
Genprid
Haldol
Intraval
Largactil
Lexotanil
Limbitrol
Neotigason
Nobrium
Noctran
Nubain
Orap
Prolixin
Propess
Risperdal
Rivotril
Serenace
Seroquel
Sonata
Stadol
Stelazine
Stemetil
Stesolid
Stilnox
Tekam
Temgesic
Tiapridal
Tramal
Tramundin
Tranxene
Valium
Xanax
Zaldiar
Zeldox
Zyprexa
Controlled Drugs Class B
123 Cold
Actifed Compound
Actifed DM
Activelle
Adol Cold
Adol Compound
Adumbran
Akineton
Algaphan
Anafranil
Andriol
Artane
Athymil
Aurorix
Benxtrone
Bepro
Broncholar
Broncholar forte
Bronchophane
Buspar
Cancolite
Cantor
Cipralex
Cipram
Climen
Codaphen
Codaphen plus
Codilar
Codipront
Codis
Coldex-dD
Cymbalta
Deca durabolin
Decutan
Dextrocuf
Dextrolag
Diarsed
Diaxine
Dicton
Distalgesic
Edronax
Efexor
Elidel
Estracomb
Estrofem
Faverin
Femoston
Flexiban
Flozak
Fluanxol
Flumed DM adult
Fluneurin
Fluoxone
Fluran
Flutin
Fluxetyl
Genotropin
Insidon
Intard
Ixel
Kafosed
Kemadrin
Kliogest
Lagaflex
Linz
Lioresal
Lomotil
Ludiomil
Menogen
Muscadol
Myogesic
Noracod
Norcuron
Norditropin
Norflex
Norgesic
Nuvaing
Oxetine
Paracodol
Phensedyl
Primotestone
Progyluton
Prothiaden
Proviron
Prozac
Remeron
Revacod
Rhinotussel
Riaphan
Roaccutane
Robaxin
Robaxisal
Robitussin-CF
Romilar
Saizen
Salipax
Sandostatin
Saroten
Sedofan DM
Sedofan-P
Seroxat
Serzone
Sirdalud
Somadryl compound
St Joseph cough
Sterandryl
Stivane
Surmontil
Sustanon
Tamiflu
Ticlid
Tixylix
Tofranil
Trexan
Tripofed dm
Trisequens
Tryptizol
Tuscalman
Tussifin with codeine
Unified DM
Vesanoid
Virormone
Zoloft

What will happen is found with prescription-banned drugs in Saudi Arabia?

It is illegal to import drugs or medical materials that are banned in Saudi Arabia or internationally. If you are found with banned prescription medicines in Saudi Arabia, you could face legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment ¹. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is responsible for regulating and supervising the pharmaceutical sector in Saudi Arabia, and it maintains a list of banned medicines that are not allowed to be imported, manufactured, or sold in the country ². It is important to note that this is not a comprehensive list of all the banned medicines in Saudi Arabia. If you have any questions or concerns about a specific medicine, you should consult with a healthcare professional or contact the SFDA directly.

Is paracetamol banned in Saudi Arabia?

According to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), Propoxyphene (with paracetemol) is indeed banned in Saudi Arabia ¹. It is important to note that the SFDA maintains a list of banned medicines that are not allowed to be imported, manufactured, or sold in the country ¹. If you have any questions or concerns about a specific medicine, you should consult with a healthcare professional or contact the SFDA directly.

References

Drugs List | Saudi Food and Drug Authority (sfda.gov.sa)

Drugs List | Saudi Food and Drug Authority (sfda.gov.sa)