Taking Prescription Medication Abroad

Some prescription medicines contain controlled drugs.

Most prescribed medications are fine to take abroad and, depending on your needs your GP can prescribe for up to three months (opens an NHS page). Sometimes GPs will prescribe on a precautionary basis 'if you need it'; some will write a private prescriptions for this.

NHS Advice

The NHS advice is to plan well ahead:

• Check the rules on leaving UK and at your destination (and in reverse if you buy while abroad)
  • Types
  • Quantities
• Take information with you:
  • Medication details - generic name and brand name
  • Name of the respective health condition

HMRC Advice

There are two main categories of medicine:

• Those bought without prescription, these have no limits.
• Prescribed medicine from a doctor, which are limited if a controlled drug e.g. methadone (see list below)

Average 15 Day Dosage

HMRC advise that prescribed medicines containing 'controlled drugs' have limits on the amount you can take with you. A 'controlled drug' means any drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs legislation. If you are unsure if your medication is controlled HMRC advise to check with them. The permitted allowance for each drug is calculated on an average 15 day dosage, so for a 2 week holiday away you should be fine whatever you have been prescribed.

If the quantity you need to take is more than the permitted allowance, you must apply in writing to the Home Office for a licence.

Drugs controlled in this country are generally also controlled in other countries. Before you travel seek advice about the requirements by contacting the appropriate Embassy or High Commission in the UK.

Check List

• Take essential medication you need for your journey packed in your hand luggage and bare in mind you could be delayed. There are limits for liquids, so some prior approval may be needed for larger quantities. See the .gov restricted items rules.
• Keep your prescribed medication in its original packet/bottle which also shows your name and medication details so you avoid exposure to air, germs, moisture; prevent miscounting or mix ups if you have several similar tablets.
• It's probably a good idea to take a copy of your prescription form too
• Ask your local chemist to write down the name of your usual medication in the language of the country you're visiting. Be prepared.
• Pop a note in your diary a month before travel to order your prescriptions (or obtain a licence if needed for larger doses of controlled medicines)

Missing or Lost Medicine

If it goes missing, don't panic. You can buy most medicines in pharmacies abroad.

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Customs

To avoid problems at Customs, get a letter from your doctor explaining that any needles/syringes are for medication purposes (e.g., insulin).

If you need to carry medicines, make sure you have a letter confirming that you need them for your particular health condition.

AIDS

AIDS patients often need to carry a large amount of drugs so it's vital to have that letter or statement from your GP.

Some medicines are banned in countries such as Pakistan, India and Turkey and some Middle Eastern countries.

Other countries have set limits on the amount of certain drugs (e.g. Methadone) that you can take into that country, even for personal use and with a doctor's letter.

If you have to take more than that limit into the country you could need an import license.

For peace of mind, get in touch with the embassy in advance.

For British Embassy/Consulate details log on to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk. Other embassies, search online using the country prefix, Australia, America (USA), France, Spain etc.

Controlled Drugs List

For current list please see source HMRC List (opens in new window)