Dorothy House
Taking Medicines Abroad

Taking Medicines Abroad

November 17th 2009



Discuss your travel plans with your GP in plenty of time before you travel and ask if you need to make any special arrangements. If you have a condition that could flare up when you are away, ask your GP to give you a written record of your health details.

Make sure that you have enough medicines with you to last for your whole trip. It is also useful to note the drug (generic) names of your medicines as well as their brand names in case of emergency.

Some countries limit the amount of particular drugs that you can bring in. Check for restrictions before you travel.

For some types of medicines, you will need a letter from your doctor or a licence from the Home Office in order to take them in or out of the UK.

These website links have a lot of helpful advice on taking medicines abroad.

Contacts

BUPA

0800 600 500

hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/travel_medicines.html
Cancer Research UK
020 7061 8355
Freephone 0808 800 40 40
www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=24328

Home Office

Direct Communications Unit
2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF
0207 035 4848 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs-laws/licensing/personal/
Macmillan Cancer Support
89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UQ
0808 808 00 00 (help line)
www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Livingwithandaftercancer/Practicalissues/Travel/Takingmedicinesabroad.aspx

Review date: October 2010