Medication whilst abroad
Hi everyone
Asking this question in case we manage to get away this year. We normally go abroad for 3 months over the winter period. Would really like to go for longer but my husband's GP practice will not issue him with more than 3 months. I was wondering if other members have had this problem and whether they have been able to find any solutions. Would be extremely grateful for any help, thanks.
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Comments
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Michelina
I think Doctors are only allowed to give prescriptions for a maximum of three months at a time. It depends what sort of system you have in place and how long before you go. Most automatic online ordering systems allow you to order two weeks before they are due which allows you to harvest medication over time. Depending on which country you are visiting you may find pharmacies perfectly happy to supply you with medication and all they usually require are the prescription "scripts" ie the second half of the prescription so they know they are providing the correct medication. You will have to pay but if Italy is anything to go by basic drugs are quite cheap. It will depend on what sort of medications as some drugs are controlled which makes the whole situation more difficult. Do you have anyone at home who could collect your prescriptions and send them onto you? If you do that you just have to make sure that the carrier allows the sending of medication. Its surprising how many have restrictions in place as I found out recently when wanting to return an incorrect lithium battery!
David
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Good post from DK - although if an overseas pharmacy is not willing to dispense from the copy of a UK prescription you may need to see a local GP to issue a fresh prescription.
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As stated above. My experience of staying in Italy in particular is that pharmacies are happy to dispense medication on request and even without the NHS prescription sheet. As DK says, the costs are not particularly high but i assume this depends on the medication involved. Our NHS repeat prescription items are on a rolling 3 months cycle and our local surgery and pharmacy is happy to provide us sufficient items for when we’re away for 3 months at a time.
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As others have said ..it can be surprisingly easy to buy prescription drugs overseas. We needed anti biotics in Udaipur, Rajahsthan (yes, for the usual problem) and went to a pharmacy in a sort of cave in the oldest part of the old town - he produced an old fashioned 7 lb sweetie jar and tipped tablets on to his grubby shop counter. I thought for a moment he was going to sell them by weight, but he counted out 20, said that should be enough, and put them in a paper bag. Cured within a couple of days.
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When people say they are going to over winter this usually means Spain or Portugal which I have little experience but I know a lot of people that post on this forum do spend winter in these countries so it would be useful if someone could comment on those countries.
David
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Hi
We live in Spain and all you need to do is take the mediicine boxes in to the Farmacia with you and say you have run out, you will have to pay but things like statins are around the 2 euro mark because they are a necessity where as something like Lansoporole which they consider non essential will cost around 12 euros but should have no problem with medicines here. One last thing please don;t tell your GP you are going away for more then three months because they can take your insurance card off you if you leave the country more then that.
Phil
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Thanks Phil for providing information on Spain. Mind you a strange way of classifying prescription drugs, surely any prescribed is essential? I can see that that different drugs might cost more.
David
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For those who go further afield ...there are Boots Pharmacies all over Thailand , selling identical things to the range they sell in the UK. I told their pharmacist in Hua Hin that it was just like Boots at home. She said, "Oh, do you have Boots in your country now?"
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Phil
There are many people who would disagree with that. Drugs such as Lansoprazole are often used to protect you when taking certain painkillers on a regular basis. There is a view that statins are over prescribed, unfortunately I take both!!!
David
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Quite right ET, we've used pharmacies in the USA, Thailand, Spain, Malta, Italy and the Caribbean. Not had a problem getting something for the complaint that we had, even antibiotics.
We do however take a copy of our prescriptions with us on holiday's
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