Taking Medication Abroad

Everyone needs a break once in a while, and people suffering with pre-existing medical conditions are no exception. However, travelling abroad whilst using medication can be worrying, how should you transport it? How much should you bring with you?

To help ease the confusion, here is our guide for taking medication abroad;

• Firstly, make sure you are allowed to bring your medication into your destination country. Some countries ban medications which are perfectly normal and acceptable in the UK. Or on the other hand, they may have a limit on how much you are allowed to bring into the country. Make sure you check this with their embassy before you travel.
• You may also want to get a letter from your doctor to say that it is medically necessary for you to be on your medication.
• Photocopy your prescriptions and bring them with you, just in case.
• Always keep your medication in its original packaging.
• If it isn’t on the box, make sure you have made a note of your medication’s full name – not just the trade name.
• If possible, always pack your medication into your hand luggage – just in case your hold luggage goes missing.
• Always make sure you have enough medication to last your entire trip, you should bring a little extra too, just in case.
• Make a list of important phone numbers, for example your Doctor in the UK and any specialists you are seeing, along with your conditions –keep this with you at all times, just in case.
• Make sure you have invested in travel insurance before you depart, and have declared your pre-existing medical conditions. If anything goes wrong with your medication or health, they will be able to offer help and advice.

Safe travels!