Can I take my medicine abroad?
You need to check what rules apply to taking your medicine:
- out of the UK
- into the country you're going to
Plan well ahead
If you need prescribed medicine for your health condition, talk to your GP or practice nurse about your travel plans at least 2 months before your departure date. They can tell you if you need to make any special arrangements.
Checking what's allowed
Check the rules for all the countries you're going to, including countries that you're just passing through.
Different countries have different rules and regulations about:
- the types of medicine they allow to be taken into the country
- the maximum quantity you can take in
Some medicines available over the counter in the UK may be controlled in other countries and vice versa.
Some countries such as India, Pakistan and Turkey have a list of medicines they will not allow into the country.
International rules vary – contact the embassy for the country you're visiting. GOV.UK has a full list of foreign embassies in the UK.
Travelling with your medicines
Always carry medicines and medical equipment (needles, syringes and so on) in their original, correctly labelled packages.
Carry your medicine in your hand luggage (although check your airline's regulations before travelling) with a copy of your prescription.
Consider packing some extra medicine in your suitcase or hold luggage in case you lose your hand luggage.
Check that the expiry dates of your medicines will be valid for the duration of your visit abroad.
Some medicines need to be kept at room temperature (below 25C) or stored in the fridge.
If you're travelling to a warm country, get advice from your pharmacist about storing your medicine.
For example, to keep your medicine at the right temperature, you may need to store it using:
- a thermos flask
- an ice pack
- a cool bag
- an insulated pouch
Taking health information with you
It's a good idea to travel with a copy of your prescription and a letter from your GP that has:
- details of your medicine, including its generic name (not just the brand name)
- the name of the health condition that you need the medicine for
As well as helping you avoid any problems at customs, this will be useful if you need medical help while you're away.
It may be worth getting the information translated into the language of the country or countries that you're visiting.
Be advised that your GP practice may charge for writing such a letter, as GPs are not obliged to provide the service under the NHS.
Controlled medicines
Some prescribed medicines contain drugs that are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs legislation in the UK. This means that extra legal controls apply to these medicines.
You may need a personal licence to take controlled medicines abroad.
Specific requirements also apply to:
- the information that you must take with you
- how you carry your controlled medicines
Check with the embassy about the rules for the country you're going to before you travel. You can find a list of foreign embassies in the UK on GOV.UK.
You can also visit the GOV.UK website for more information on bringing medicine containing a controlled drug into the UK.