Taking These Medications Abroad Could Land You In Hot Water

If you’re anything like me, you pack half your medicine cupboard before going away on holiday ‘just in case’.

But if you’re planning to venture abroad anytime soon, a pharmacist has warned that common prescription and over-the-counter medicines could result in confiscation, hefty fines, or even arrest in some countries.

So, make sure to do your homework before you travel.

Ian Budd, lead prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4U, said: “Most people don’t think twice about packing their regular medicines for a holiday, because they assume that if something is legal in the UK, it will be legal everywhere else.

“Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Every year, travellers are caught out by medication restrictions they didn’t know existed.

“In some countries, medicines we consider completely routine in the UK can be treated as controlled substances, even when they have been legitimately prescribed by a doctor.”

This is considered a controlled substance in many countries. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it’s led to confiscation, detention and in some cases, prosecution, said Budd.

The medication, used for anxiety and sleep, is restricted in several destinations.

Budd noted that in Singapore, bringing these in without a Controlled Drugs Permit from the Health Sciences Authority “is treated as a drug-import offence, and can carry fines or imprisonment, even with a valid UK prescription”.

These are used for nerve pain and are controlled in the UAE. Without a prescription and a doctor’s letter, they can be confiscated and, in serious cases, lead to arrest.

Several countries, including Japan, ban amphetamine-based medicines outright, even with a valid foreign prescription.

Many countries treat these as controlled drugs – without the right documentation, they can be seized, and in some cases, lead to detention or prosecution.

Some of these are restricted or banned in a handful of countries, including Japan.

The pharmacist urged travellers to be aware of the extra steps needed so a routine prescription doesn’t turn into a stressful situation at the border.

“My advice is to check the rules for your destination as soon as you book your trip, rather than the night before you travel,” he said.

“That gives you enough time to speak to your GP or pharmacist, get any paperwork sorted, and travel with confidence.”

The UK government warns that people can be fined or even go to prison if they travel with medicine that is illegal in another country. It advises checking with the embassy of the country you’re going to before you travel – you might require a permit or supporting documentation to take your medication in with you.

For example, travellers must get approval in advance from the UAE Ministry of Health to bring medication – applications are generally processed within five working days.

Budd recommends asking your pharmacist for a short covering letter confirming your name, dosage and how much medicine you’re carrying. This, he said, “is often enough to avoid questions at customs, especially for controlled medicines such as codeine, tramadol or diazepam”.

The pharmacist also recommends keeping medicines in their original packaging when travelling, with the pharmacy label attached, as loose tablets in a pill organiser are hard to identify if you’re stopped at customs.

“Make sure to check any countries you’re passing through, not just your final stop,” added the expert. “These rules apply to layovers too, so check the requirements for any country you’ll pass through, even if you’re not leaving the airport.”