Travelers are often unaware that certain medications may be restricted in other countries
Jolting in your sleep is pretty common(Image: Getty)
A GP has issued a warning about six medications that may be restricted when travelling – and it all hinges on your destination and the quantity of medicine you have. Saga Travel Insurance highlighted this often-overlooked issue in a conversation with Doctor Deborah Lee of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, who revealed that some commonly used medications might be unexpectedly banned abroad.
While many countries allow travellers to carry up to a three-month supply of medication, others may impose stricter rules depending on the specific type of medicine.
To help people avoid this predicament, Dr Lee stated: “The vast majority of commonly prescribed medicines are completely safe to travel with. But some are more strictly regulated.”
So which medications should you be cautious with?
Six medications you may not be able to fly with, reports the Liverpool Echo.
1. ADHD medications.
According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), there’s been an 18% increase in ADHD prescriptions year-on-year in the UK since the COVID-19 pandemic. Just like the UK, “you need a prescription to access this type of medication in most of the world, and you may be required to present your prescription on entry to other countries.”
2. Codeine.
Doctor Lee points out that “despite being available over the counter in the UK in the form of co-codamol (codeine with paracetamol), this opioid painkiller is banned without proof of prescription in some countries, being classed as a narcotic.”
This means that if you are travelling to “countries such as Saudi Arabia or Greece”, they will require you to have a prescription to carry any form of codeine-containing medications into the country and may have limits on the amounts you can take.
Discussing another popular destination, they add: “Japan has very strict rules and restrictions on narcotics and will require you to apply to import and export your medication as well as have a medical certificate for them from Japan’s Narcotics Control Department.”
3. Sleeping pills.
The doctor explains that the UK has a “large variety of prescription and over-the-counter sleeping pills available. However, many sleeping pills require a prescription in popular European travel destinations (such as France, Germany, and Spain) and are banned in several Middle Eastern and Asian countries, including Japan and the UAE.”
4. CBD oil.
A report from the Centre for Medical Cannabis projected that the UK’s CBD market would reach a value of £1 billion by 2025 – a significant jump from just £300 million five years earlier. The doctor observes that “CBD is the non-psychoactive chemical derived from cannabis.”
In recent years, it has become increasingly popular as an over-the-counter treatment in the UK for pain relief and relaxation. However, the doctor highlights that scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness remains limited.
“Some countries have incredibly strict anti-cannabis laws which also extend to CBD oils. Singapore, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and China, all have bans on CBD oils. In Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, and Brazil, the only legal CBD oils are those for medical purposes and these require a prescription”, Lee says.
5. Decongestants.
Pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in over-the-counter decongestants such as Vicks and Sudafed, is prohibited in countries like Japan and the UAE. In some places, like Australia, you may need a prescription or special permit to carry medications containing pseudoephedrine.
6. Vapes and e-cigarettes.
Despite not being classified as prescription medications, vape pens and similar devices are often used to help people quit smoking. Countries like Belgium, France and the UK have banned nicotine-containing disposable vapes.
However, the expert warns that vaping is completely outlawed in countries such as Singapore, India, Australia, and Qatar.
Taking medicine out of the UK.
According to GOV.UK, “you must carry medicine containing a controlled drug with you in your hand luggage when entering or leaving the UK. It may be taken away from you at the border if you cannot prove it was prescribed for you.”
Bringing medicine back to the UK.
UK residents who have been prescribed medication whilst overseas are required to get in touch with the Drug and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU). Those not residing in the UK should carry a letter confirming that the medication was specifically prescribed for them.
The letter must include:
When travelling, you’re allowed to bring up to a three-month supply of your medication. Your GP or pharmacist can assist in determining whether your medicine contains a controlled substance.
You can also verify this by checking the ingredients listed on your medication’s packaging and cross-referencing them with the controlled drugs list. Bear in mind, the list refers to the active substances used in medicines, not brand names, warns the government.
