Prescription Medication Authorisation when Travelling

Grannytomany In France my pharmacist will only give out medicine on a prescription less than 6 months old.

We have always taken more than enough prescribed medication to last while we were away even when away for 2-3 months. Even if a foreign chemist was prepared to sell you UK prescribed medication you’d have to pay for it and the cost might come as a shock.

Co-codamol isn’t illegal in Spain by the way but you can’t buy it over the counter now. I got round the new rule when it started by getting my daughter to buy some in the UK and post it out to me.

Worst case scenario is that you’d have to pay to see a doctor abroad and ask them to prescribe the medication for you. If you have a copy of your latest U.K. prescription as provided by the chemist it shouldn’t be a problem.

I live ‘abroad’ and when I travel a have the doctors’ prescriptions, (several specialists) on me.
Regulations keep changing, depending on the airport/ country. Fez allowed my DGD, 17, through with a liquid drink, totally different from Liverpool when having to separate ventoline from the rest of the medication.
However, I have never had a problem with EpiPens, which I have always thought as dangerous to other passengers.

I take DH meds in their boxes and a copy of the prescription . And make sure the meds are in hand luggage , not hold . In case of delays , cancellations and lost hold luggage . I’ve heard of so many people who’ve put meds in hold luggage and had a long delay .

Receptionist printed out my meds from my med history free of charge.

I've only always just taken along my latest repeat prescription sheet with me. I've luckily never needed to use it but I always carry it separate from my medication just in case I'm asked because I am on some very strong (opioid) medication

When I went to Dubai to stay with DD I got a list of allowed/ banned meds from the UAE website and checked that all mine were OK. I'm on weekly Ozempc injections and had to pack the syringe with an ice pack all wrapped in bubble wrap. That caused a bit of an issue at Heathrow but not at the other end!
I take a copy of my repeat prescriptionn but it is also on my NHS app on my phone.

I take the printout which comes with my repeat prescription, more in case I run out when I’m away than as proof. In all the years I’ve been travelling, I’ve never been asked about medications, nor do I know of anyone who has.

GrannyGravy13 & Dizzyribs thank you for your advice re: non-prescription medication.
It’s been 25 years since we holidayed abroad, so a lot has changed in that time. Trying to ensure any hiccups are minimised.

We both take a copy of our prescriptions as printed out by the pharmacy and meds are left in the original packaging.

Certain pain relief medicines are banned in some countries so it’s crucial to prove possession is justified.

I always take my paper prescription and everything else is digital on my phone. I always order extra or early to cover our whole holiday and a few days when we are home

Just an addendum to the above, I left behind my sleeping tablets when I went to Singapore as I knew how keen they were there on prohibited drugs. Big mistake, I should have got official permission, as I injured my back whilst carrying luggage and hardly slept at all whilst there.

As I’d never travelled before to Albania I opted to take a £45 letter with me last year and also a list of all my prescriptions. The letter was a waste of money as no-one whilst either entering or leaving the country was interested.

My GP just wrote a letter when I was going to Oz as I was travelling through Asia did the same when transiting through Dubai.. no charge. When travelling in Europe I just take my current prescription.

@nurseundercover the over the counter medication that is banned in many countries is cocodamol. Obviously it contains codeine so not really surprising, but easy to not realise. I’m not sure if a doctor’s letter or prescription proof would allow it to be taken into some countries in any circumstances. I know Spain will confiscate it at the border.

I can't afford to go abroad any more.

Nurseundercover

On the back of this question what do you do for non-prescription meds; paracetamol, anti-histamine, sudacrem, clotrimazole, would you need a separate letter from GP as these are things our GP advises we buy ourselves. Would be grateful for any advice.

Just put some of each in hand luggage and rest in hold luggage, always in original packaging.

Always best to check ahead that they are not banned or controlled on the country you are visiting.

On the back of this question what do you do for non-prescription meds; paracetamol, anti-histamine, sudacrem, clotrimazole, would you need a separate letter from GP as these are things our GP advises we buy ourselves. Would be grateful for any advice.

I get batches of meds and every month get my meds . The print out list of meds I take abroad with me as proof .

I got a doctors letter when I needed to take a syringe with me as a ‘just in case’. I don’t think I had to pay but this was a while ago.

Is it necessary to take proof of prescriptions when travelling to Cork in Ireland?

I would advise you not just to take a printout.

It depends on two things, which kind of drug we are talking about, and which country you intend to travel to.

Generally speaking anything listed as a dangerous drug will land you in trouble unless you have a letter from your GP or consultant stating why you need it.

If in doubt, ring the Embassy of the country you are going to, and ask them what documentation you need.

Printout

I just take my prescription. I gather there are some drugs that in some countries are illegal even if UK prescribed.

I took the printout summary and a copy of my prescription when I went to S Africa mid last year, no problems