Taking Prescription Drugs Abroad Read Our Tips

I t would be a bitter pill        doctor, and dosage information.    to swallow if you went on                                          holiday to a foreign            A little preparation before you    country and had all your luggage      leave will lessen the need for     and medicine lost. Would you know     panic if the worst should happen   what to do? If your wellbeing or      - and also avoid you missing a     your life depends on taking           dose. Most medicines should be     regular doses of your medicine        available at pharmacies abroad,    then you can't afford to take any     but be aware that they may be      chances when traveling.               known by a different name. (The                                          same applies for many              It can be baffling trying to          over-the-counter medicines, such   organize taking your prescription     as allergy pills and pain          medicines abroad with you. One        killers). Before you leave, ask    important tip is to always carry      your chemist to provide written    the medicines in your hand            instructions about your medicine,  luggage with your travel              the dose, and the name it is       documents, money, and other           called in the country you plan to  important items (it's not      visit. Visit your GP well in       a good idea to take out the doses     advance of your trip to talk       you'll need during the flight and     about any necessary vaccinations   pack the rest in your luggage!)       for your trip - especially if you  Keep all the medicines in your        have a medical condition which     hand luggage for the duration of      might complicate things - as the   the journey in case your checked      courses can take weeks or months   luggage is lost or misdirected.       to complete.                       The medicine should always be                                            kept in its original bottle or        Another tip is to get the          package, with the label affixed       go-ahead from your doctor          showing your name, prescribing        before you book your trip,  and make sure that you will be        diabetes equipment - syringes,     able to obtain travel insurance       etc. With the tight security at    to cover your pre-existing            airports these days, you are       conditions. There are upper age       likely to encounter problems if    restrictions on many travel           you try to get through without     insurance policies, and all           back-up documentation to vouch     pre-existing medical conditions       for your medicines and medical     must be declared. If a         equipment.                         travel insurance company agrees                                          to cover the risk associated with     If you take controlled drugs       your condition there may be an        (such as methadone) check the      additional fee to pay. Some           rules for taking them into         insurers will not accept any          foreign countries as there may be  pre-existing conditions at all,       restrictions. A letter from your   so the process of finding a           doctor must be obtained, and if    suitable policy could take some       you plan to be gone for more than  time and you may need to shop         three months you will also need    around.                               to obtain a personal license to                                          carry the drugs. If in doubt       Your GP is permitted to prescribe     about any medicine or medical      up to a maximum of three months       equipment, check with your         supply of most medicines for your     doctor, travel agent or airline    travels. If you have an extended      or get in touch with the embassy   trip planned check to make sure       of the country you plan to visit.  that your doctor is willing to do     HM Revenue & Customs provides      this before you book. For all         useful information on their        prescription medications you will     website. The Department of Health  need to obtain a letter from your     is a great resource, and the       doctor to take with you,              Foreign and Commonwealth Office    especially for items such as          (FCO) website also contains a lot  of useful tips about travel           treatment which becomes necessary  (especially the 'Know Before You      during your trip abroad due to     Go' section).                         illness or an accident. It will                                          not cover you if you travel        Although it's a good idea to          abroad for the specific purpose    apply for your European Health        of receiving medical treatment.    Insurance Card (EHIC) you should                                         never rely solely on it, but          As a last tip, it's a good idea    always purchase a private travel      to print out detailed information  insurance policy as well. Some        of what is and is not covered      countries do have reciprocal          medically in the countries you     healthcare agreements with the        plan to visit and take it with     UK, but many do not. In most          you. Always check for up-to-date   cases you will be required to pay     advice and information before you  for prescribed medicines and          leave. If you have access to the   apply for reimbursement when your     internet, type in EHIC, or check   return home. Your private             the Department of Health website   insurance may pick up any of the      for more information. A spoonful   non-reimbursable payments you         of sugar won't help the medicine   have to make out of pocket. It is     go down or improve your mood if    important to remember that the        it gets lost abroad and you have   EHIC and your private travel          no idea how to replace it!         insurance policy will only cover       About the Author Jean Andrews is a freelance writer living in the UK. She regularly contributes articles for Travel Cover who feature more information about reciprocal health care agreements in Europe on the site. Published At: www.Isnare.com