Travelling Abroad with Medication

So, you’ve just booked your holiday, and now you’re working through a mental checklist of what needs to be done before you go, including what to do with your medications and of course getting your travel insurance sorted. Don’t worry, here at Fit2Travel we can help you with both!

Medication – where to start

You should begin your plans by talking to your doctor at least two months before you travel, more if you have a serious medical condition that may need additional care. This timeframe will allow for any special care that you might need, such as vaccinations, ordering additional medication and checking if any of your prescriptions are classed as a restricted or a controlled drug either here in the UK or at your destination.

If you have a chronic medical condition you may also need to consider what travelling may do to your care or medication regime, especially if you’re travelling through time-zones that affect how and when you take your meds. But don’t worry, your doctor or medical team should be able to help you through any questions that you may have.

Be aware

It’s up to you to check if your prescription drugs are classed as controlled or restricted in the country that you are travelling to or even in the countries that you’re passing through. In some countries you may be deported, fined or in extreme cases, face legal action for carrying some types of medication or medical equipment, so it’s worth checking. Here’s how:

If you want to go abroad with your medication and it’s classed as a controlled substance according to the Misuse of Drugs Act, you’ll need to take additional steps to travel with it. This could be a letter from the doctor who prescribed your meds or in some cases you’ll need a Personal Licence from the Home Office.

Don’t worry, there’s lots of support out there, your doctor or a pharmacist should be able to let you know if your medication is classed as a controlled substance here in the UK or you can check GOV.UK - Controlled Drugs List. The list gives all ingredients that fall under the act, not necessarily the medication itself so it’s probably best to check with a medical professional.

If your doctor says that you’ll need a personal licence you should begin the application process as soon as you can as it can take some time. The GOV website has full instructions on how to apply for a GOV.UK - personal licence.

Contact your airline if you need to travel with specialist care equipment like oxygen, glucose monitoring devices or needles, they should be able to offer advice on what you’ll need to do to take them on the plane.

For more information visit the GOV.UK - Hand Luggage Restrictions.

Next, check the rules of the country or countries you’re travelling to, even if you're just passing through. You can do this via the embassy of the country you're travelling to. You can check the full list of foreign embassies via the GOV.UK website.

General Tips

Carry your medication in your hand-luggage, keep it in its original packaging this should make things easier at security or boarder control.

Aim to take more medication than you’ll need, if your condition is potentially serious without your medication, your GP may recommend that you take double, especially in the case of diabetes when travel, change in diet and temperatures can affect your insulin levels.

Some medicines need to be kept at a controlled temperature, so ensure that your accommodation has the facilities to deal with this. You can speak to your pharmacist about how best to store and ravel with your medication.

Make sure you're covered

If you have a pre-existing medical condition that requires medication or specialist equipment, make sure that your travel insurance covers you for any loss or damage while you're away. You’ll also need peace of mind should you become unwell on your travels.

Here at Fit2Travel we specialise in medical travel insurance and matching customers to policies that are right for them, so get a quote today!