Travelling with Prescription Medicines | VitalMeds UK

Going out of the country may be exciting, and for those travelling with prescription medicines, it may raise questions and cause misunderstandings. Your medication: How do you pack it? Will you be able to carry it to airport security? What in case you are in possession of a controlled drug?

And these are some of the questions that you are asking, are you? Being unable to know before flying is the same case with many travellers. This is the reason why VitalMeds Liverpool travel clinic has designed this comprehensive guide to ensure that you travel with your prescription drugs safely and securely.

Why Travelling with Prescription Medicines Needs Careful Planning

When going to find work, study, or a holiday in a foreign country, it is highly important to prepare well when it comes to the bringing of prescription medicine. There are tough regulations regarding the transport of medicine, particularly of controlled drugs like painkillers or tranquilizers, by airlines, customs, and border agencies.

This may result in a holding up at the airport in case of failure to conform to the right procedures. To prevent this, the UK travellers especially those in Liverpool should ensure that they prepare their medication in advance by consulting an approved travel clinic or pharmacy.

In VitalMeds Liverpool, the pharmacists provide professional guidance on prescription drugs, travel vaccines, and malaria pills, so that when you are leaving you have all the travel health needs.

Prescription Medicines Travelling to the UK.

When you are going abroad, you must be aware of UK government regulations regarding the carrying of prescription medicine.

Here are a few key points:

• Medicines must be stored in their dispensing container with a clear prescription label on it, including your name and dose.
• Keep your medicines in hand and carry bags so that they are not damaged or lost.
• When your medicine is a controlled substance, i.e. morphine or diazepam, you might require further documentation or approval of the Home Office.

More information will be provided on the official GOV.UK site on the page titled Taking medicines abroad, however, to get a more specific form of advice, it is best to visit a local pharmacy, like VitalMeds Liverpool travel clinic.

Controlled vs Non-Controlled Medicines – Know the Difference

The distinction between controlled and non-controlled medicines is one of the greatest confusions to UK travellers.

The drugs that are not controlled are more common prescriptions such as the following:

• Antibiotics
• Blood pressure tablets
• Inhalers
• Insulin pens
• Oral contraceptives

They are usually safe to take to the foreign countries provided they are well labeled. Controlled medicines on the other hand encompass more powerful painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleep drugs like:

• Codeine
• Morphine
• Diazepam
• Temazepam

Around the same time, should you take any of these you might have to obtain a Home Office licence, provided that you are travelling more than 3 months or are carrying more than a 3-month supply.

The necessary documentation can be done by your Liverpool travel clinic or GP.

Getting a Travel Letter from Your GP or Pharmacist

In transporting prescription drugs, it is strongly advisable to bring a travelling letter to affirm that:

• Full name and date of birth.
• The list of medications you are taking.
• Their dosages and purposes
• The signature of your doctor or pharmacist.

The letter will not only assist you in passing through airport security with ease but also will give the customs officials at your new destination country peace of mind.

Our pharmacists at VitalMeds Liverpool travel clinic can also advise you on the way to get a valid travel letter and also make sure that all your prescriptions are properly recorded before travelling.

How to Pack Prescription Medicines for Air Travel

It is important that you pack your medicines in a proper manner just like it is important that you carry them. Here’s what to keep in mind:

1. Store medicines in original boxes in plain labelling.
2. Carry hand luggage, not a checked baggage – in case your suitcase is lost.
3. Always pack a little more than 7-10 days more than the amount of days you intend to be away.
4. Keep temperature-sensitive medicine in the store, such as insulin, in insulated travel cases or in insulated cool bags.
5. Liquids should be packed neatly in case exceeding 100ml, the liquids must be stated at security.

VitalMeds Liverpool pharmacists can prescribe convenient travel medicine storage supplies that can keep you organised.

Travelling with Insulin, Inhalers, or Other Regular Medicines

When you are diabetic, asthmatic, or otherwise dealing with any chronic condition, there is extra preparation required when travelling.

As an insulin user, insulin pens and needles should always be kept in the carry-on bag and a cool travel wallet should be used to ensure that the temperature does not exceed normal levels.

Asthma patients should always have a spare inhaler and a copy of your prescription.

These measures will prevent medical emergencies in a foreign country and simplify the procedures of checking the security.

The Liverpool travel pharmacy clinic can also give advice regarding insulin syringes or needles or inhaler storage as part of travelling.

Taking Prescription Medicines Across Borders

The rules in different countries on what medicines to bring in vary.

As a case in point, codeine and sleeping tablets are restricted in some Middle Eastern and Asian nations, even when prescribed in the UK.

Before travelling, always:

• Look at the embassy site of the destination country.
• To take your travel letter and prescriptions in your hand luggage.
• Have phone numbers of your GP or pharmacist just in case they are required by the authorities.

VitalMeds Liverpool travel clinic is the place that can assist you in finding out the legality of your medicine in your destination country before you travel.

What to Do If You Lose Your Medicines Abroad

It is stressful to lose medication overseas. If this happens:

• Go to the local drug store and provide your prescription or travel letter.
• Your GP or VitalMeds Liverpool pharmacy should be contacted to discuss or give you a new prescription (where necessary).
• In case of a controlled medicine, seek advice at the closest British embassy or the British consulate.

It will be prudent to keep the electronic version of your prescriptions in your phone or mail in case of an emergency.

Travel Health Essentials to Pack Alongside Your Prescriptions

Although prescription medicine is essential, you must also include a handful of travel health necessities that will cushion you against most illnesses that are connected to traveling:

Malaria prophylaxis tablets (Atovaquone-proguanil, Doxycycline or Malarone).

• Loperamide 2mg traveller diarrhoea.
• Dehydration salts in pills.
• Travel sickness tablets
• The repellent of insects and sunscreen.

They are all available in VitalMeds Liverpool travel clinic whereby our pharmacists can customize your travel health pack depending on your destination and length of stay.

Local Travel Health Advice in Liverpool

VitalMeds Travel Clinic Liverpool is located in Liverpool and its Wirral, and the surrounding places such as St Helens and Bootle have easy access to the facility via face-to-face consultation.

Our team helps you:

• Learn UK medicine travelling legislation.
• Obtain traveling letters and vaccination recommendations.
• Purchase malaria pills and traveling necessities.
• Get individualised travel health care.

Our bookings are also instant appointments and online consultations where we can advise you fast and conveniently before taking off.

When to Visit a Travel Clinic Before Travelling

Ideally, you are supposed to go to your travelling clinic at least six to eight weeks before travelling.

This allows enough time for:

• Vaccinations (such as Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever) are necessary.
• Medicine: how to change time zones.
• Confirming the compatibility of your existing medicines and travel vaccinations or malaria prophylaxis.

We will make sure that your travel preparations are safe, anxiety free, and in accordance with the laws of travel medicine in the UK at VitalMeds Liverpool.

Final Travel Tips for Medicine Safety

• Always have medicines as hand luggage.
• Carry spares in case of unexpected delays.
• Do not share medicines with anybody.
• Reviewing check expiry dates prior to travelling.
• Never forget your list of medicines you should carry in the wallet or the phone.

These are the tips that would enable you to travel freely without fearing that you will lose access to your essential medicines.

Visit VitalMeds Liverpool Travel Clinic Today

VitalMeds Liverpool would be happy to assist you if you are travelling with prescription medicines while going out of the country.

Our professional pharmacists offer:

• Individual travel medical consultations.
• Instructions on controlled medicines and travel letters.
• Availability of vaccines and malaria pills.
• Full travel health services in a single house.

Book your appointment today at the VitalMeds Liverpool travel clinic and travel with a lot of peace.

FAQs – Travelling with Prescription Medicines