|
Post by roseblood on Jun 7, 2009 13:22:58 GMT
My parents are taking me on holiday to Lanzarote in July and I really have no idea how much of an issue it may be at the airports or what you're supposed to do. Mine are 10mg generic methylphenidate tablets. I know it's a class B drug so they'll probably at least ask questions if they find them (will sniffer dogs harrass me? ) but will it be enough to just take a prescription with me as evidence of legality? Should I ring the airline for advice?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2009 14:04:14 GMT
There are legal maximums you can travel with - but inside the EU I don't think its an issue, it definitely isn't for a couple of weeks worth.
As long as you can identify the drugs as issued to yourself (mine have my name printed on a label on the box) then you're good.
As for drug dogs - I used to talk to the dog handlers with MPH in my pocket and they never noticed (I used to work alongside HMRC) and I'm not even sure an amphetamine dog (they specialise) would pick it up.
It'd be worth looking up what the maximums are to include in a wiki. I have seen the numbers somewhere but can't remember where. But it's a good amount
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2009 14:22:48 GMT
I've just had a dig around and stolen this extract from another site, who got it from the Home Office.
'As the regulations stand at the moment it is OK to travel with Controlled Drugs into or out of the UK provided the amount is no more than 3 months supply and does not exceed 900mgs. However it is advisable even if you are travelling with less than this amount that you get a letter from your doctor giving:
The name of the medication both generic and brand name, saying that you are prescribed the medication, what it is prescribed for, the accurate dosage per day, strength of medication, total quantity to be taken out of / into the country.
The patients name, address and date of birth. The country of destination and departure and return dates to the UK or the country you are visiting the UK from.'
It's the usual dogs dinner of 'you should jump through hoops of fire' if you wan't to be completely 'safe'.
In practical terms it's 'can you justify what you are carrying' ie identify it to yourself beyond reasonable doubt, and don't push the limits.
They'll get really shirty with you if you are trying your luck bringing back too many cigs/goodies AND have stimulant drugs too.
Be sensible and not evasive and customs won't be interested. Be an arse with drugs you can't identify as yours and they'll ruin your day.
I've seen it happen.
|
|
|
Post by roseblood on Jun 7, 2009 15:45:21 GMT
Thanks Dave! That's really helpful. I'll speak to my GP about getting some kind of letter.
|
|
|
Post by lostinabook on Jun 7, 2009 19:14:53 GMT
You shouldn't have a problem, unless you look particularly shifty! I went to Barcelona in April and before going I was ridiculously paranoid about taking my 'controlled substances' with me - I was imagining that some sort of Bridget Jones scenario would happen to, but then I am a little bit dramatic. I asked my doctor for advise and he gave me a letter stating that these were my tablets. He also suggested I call the Spanish Embassy to see what their policy on allowing controlled substances into the country. Yeay, this was fun. Embassy said I needed to talk to the Home Office, the Home Office said no, I should ask the Spanish Consulate, they in turn said I should call the airline I was travelling with. Have you ever tried ringing to speak to someone at BMI Baby? You haven't because you can't. You have to write to them. Speedy. Ah, I thought, I'll call BMI instead: "I can give you the number for BMI Baby ..." Argh. Last resort, I thought to myself, give Cardiff Airport a call: "Yeah, no problem, it's not liquid is it? No? Then it'll be fine ..." I know as a nation we can be quite laid back but to hear her you'd have thought I'd asked her if I could take more than one book with me! Remember, I was paranoid ;D This is actually what I did. As well as the doc's letter the next time I took a script to the chemist I asked them to photocopy it for me, to back up the letter. I only took as much as I needed. As mentioned, I flew BMI Baby so I checked on their website about their regulations - I would really recommend doing this as well. They require passengers to keep their meds in their hand luggage, and it should be in a clear plastic bag. When you go through the scanner thingy take them out of your bag, along with any liquids (major rules about this if you are putting them in your hand luggage) or electrical, like phone, ipod etc. Hand luggage goes through, then put the other things in one of those trays that they have. And they didn't bat an eyelash! But then behind me was an elderly woman with a carrier bag full of meds! As you're going to the same country then I can't see there being any problem. And have a great holiday
|
|
|
Post by roland on Jun 7, 2009 21:37:52 GMT
Hey guys, Just a quick note, you don't need to nick this information from any other sites, because we've got the up-to-date version on our own site under FAQ's (it's the last question at the bottom of the screen) and we've got a link to the new, updated home office document: www.aadd.org.uk/faqs.htmlTo make things easy (so that you don't have to go to our faq's page here is the link to the new Home Office document: [a href="http://www.aadd.org.uk/Taking%20medicines%20with%20you%20when%20you%20go%20abroad[1].pdf"]http://www.aadd.org.uk/Taking%20medicines%20with%20you%20when%20you%20go%20abroad[1].pdf[/a]
|
|
|
Post by roland on Jun 8, 2009 7:38:47 GMT
Hi Tremont, Thanks for helping us to clarify the situation as follows: If you are travelling abroad for less than 3 months, you will not need to apply for the personal import/export license from the Home Office to take your medications (including the controlled ADHD meds) with you. The 1998 information provided by the link in our FAQ's and also available from HM Revenue & Customs is the up-to-date version (supersedes the 1996 notice) that is relevant to those of us going abroad for less than 3 months. You can also link to it from here: customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_InfoGuides&id=HMCE_CL_001589&propertyType=documentIf, however, you are planning to travel abroad for more than 3 months, and want to take more than 3 months supply of prescribed controlled drug medication you will need to apply for a personal export/import licence from the Home Office (available from the link provided by Tremont), and you should also contact the Embassy or Consulate of the country you will be visiting to find out what their policy on the importation of controlled drugs is. The link supplied by Tremont has more information about the personal export/import licence. Unfortunately, the instructions for the Home Office Personal Import/Export licence don't explain how you can, in reality, get more than 3 months worth of controlled medications when most healthcare providers are currently prescribing and dispensing controlled medications for 28 days only. The prescribing guidelines for controlled drugs actually state: 4.10.2.2 Up to a maximum of 30 days supply should be prescribed, as a matter of good practice. There may be circumstances where there is a genuine need to prescribe for more than 30 days. Where the prescriber believes that it is in the clinical interest of the patient to prescribe for more than 30 days and would not pose an unacceptable threat to patient safety, the prescriber should make a note of the reasons in the patient’s notes. So theoretically it looks as if you can get more than 3 months worth of controlled medications, but I know from my own case where the PCT is currently forcing me to undertake a day's worth of travelling to the ADHD clinic to pick up my meds, I can't even get 3 months worth of meds in one go, let alone more than 3 months. But maybe that's a matter of local policy, so if ever I get to the truth of the matter, I'll let you know. In the meantime, here is a link (just in case you want to read a 93 page document) to the guidelines for safer management of controlled drugs (England): www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_079618
|
|
|
Post by roseblood on Jun 12, 2009 16:40:42 GMT
Thanks very much everyone, for all that information. The pharmacist confirmed that I should definitely take a letter from my GP but according to my mum letters cost £20, or at least they used to, probably more now. I'm not paying that! If my doctor confirms that when I see her next week I'll just take the opportunity for an 8 day break from the MPH. She wouldn't even give me permission to miss one dose last time but I've gone a day or two without it without ill effects so I'm not worried.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2009 20:22:23 GMT
This is my first post here so be gentle with me please.
When we travel as a family we have more medicines than I care to think about, including methylphenidate and epi pens.
We have a letter from our GP, didn't cost us anything as he was a lovely chap, and a letter from the ADHD specialist. We have never had any problems. We just allow more time for check in.
We have flown to Spain, France and internally in the UK.
Have a lovely holiday.
|
|
|
Post by roland on Jun 12, 2009 20:37:36 GMT
Hi Daisy, Welcome to the forum! And I too have flown regularly (Europe, Australia, & America) with my medications in my hand luggage, in a plastic bag so the screeners can look at it, and nobody at any time has questioned them. Also, I've never had any difficulty getting letters and haven't had to pay for them. Oh and we had to walk past sniffer dogs in Australia, and they got the girl next to me, and a lady further back in the queue, the girl for having a banana in her handbag, and the lady for having a packet of bacon (don't ask me ) in her carry on. Seems the Australians don't like imported food. So in a nutshell Daisy's right, it's not a big deal going on holiday with your meds. Roseblood get the letter from your GP, make sure you've got enough meds for your holiday, and enough to tide you over for a few days after your return, and have a lovely holiday in Lanzarote. And once again, welcome to the forum Daisy
|
|
|
Post by roseblood on Jun 13, 2009 10:37:20 GMT
Hi daisy, and thanks. I'll find out next Thursday when I see her. Hopefully my mum got that wrong.
|
|
|
Post by roseblood on Jun 23, 2009 17:34:45 GMT
Saw my GP yesterday. She says methylphenidate isn't on the list of medications requiring a letter, but if I want one anyway it's £15. Is strange that I'm hearing contradictory information from the pharmacist and my GP, but it doesn't sound likely that anything very bad would happen anyway so I don't think I'll bother with one.
|
|
|
Post by lostinabook on Jun 23, 2009 19:40:23 GMT
|
|
|
Post by random on Jul 5, 2009 3:48:19 GMT
Could you get her to show you the list or find out where it comes from, Apologies if you have already thougt of this
|
|
|
Post by redneck on Jul 5, 2009 13:49:38 GMT
|
|