Every normal person takes medication to treat any physical ailments, and when it comes to travelling abroad, we tend to carry more of these pills, just to be safe. However, the safest option to be traveling to another country with medicine is to check if you have the permission to carry it in the first place. From chronic pains to serious health issues, each country has its own guidelines for carrying medication.
While some medicines may be common in one country, the same may be illegal in another country. United Arab Emirates, for instance, have strict narcotics laws. One could simply end up in jail for carrying such medicines. While in Egypt, one cannot carry any medicine other than the ones bought from their local pharmacies. However, for you, the task will only get easier.
To check if your prescribed medicine is approved in the country you are traveling to, talk to the Foreign Embassy and The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). Foreign Embassy and INCB can help you know all the necessary rules of carrying medicine for physical pain along with prescribed ones. However, give yourself a little heads up as they might not have information of all countries or regions. For this, we would advise you to do some research on your own about the country you are travelling to.
Once you are done learning about the procedure of the medicines you are permitted to carry, consult with a travel medicine specialist or health care provider. They would assist you by providing the required vaccines along with medicines. Save yourself from the last-minute rush of travel booking and packing, and get the tests done at least 4-6 days prior to your flight.
Carry extra medicine if your trip is longer than a month. Seek permission about the time allowance of carrying medicine. Usually, when countries approve of carrying certain medicines, the intake is allowed for 30 days only. For your further assistance, some insurance company will aid you to pay for an extra 30-day supply at a time from the country’s local pharmacies.
In case if your medicine is not permitted, bring your medical prescription with you and ask the pharmacists for medication that matches what you need.
Avoid the hassle of going through an entire packed suitcase to find your medicines for the counter check-up. Always carry your medicine, along with the prescriptions, in a carry-on bag.
Carry a container that tells you the name of your prescribed medicines. Before heading off, ask your doctor for directions on how to preserve your medicine. Humidity levels and temperature vary from one country to another, so you must be careful to avoid damage.
