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Lost medication when travelling

Staticdonkey profile image
17 Replies

Hello everyone.

Sorry to go straight in to a post without proper introduction!

I am from the UK but currently in Norway visiting my sister, when I arrived last night my baggage was missing, I have COPD and several meds for this were in my bag.

My sister doesn't have a GP here yet and I wondered if anyone knows if it is possible to post medication from the UK abroad nowadays?

Thanks for any help

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Staticdonkey profile image
Staticdonkey
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17 Replies
Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer

Sorry to hear about this but I'm don't think they will allow medication to be posted., Although I may be wrong. I do hope you get it sorted out and quickly. I hope you enjoy your holiday have a great time and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌻🌻

Staticdonkey profile image
Staticdonkey in reply toDamon1864

Thank you, I was afraid this might be the case. I will try to find a local GP who might be able to prescribe, unfortunately I have heard it isn't so simple here. Hopefully it won't take too long and I will be able to enjoy my time here. It is a beautiful country 😄

Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer in reply toStaticdonkey

Please let us know how you get o , en joy your holiday and good luck getting your meds 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌻🌻🍀❤️

MMaud profile image
MMaud in reply toDamon1864

Medication, per se, can be posted - online pharmacies do it all the time.

If you need meds now, then I suggest you seek a medical appointment. Do you carry a copy of your prescription with your passport and important documentation?

In future, it could be an idea not to put any important medication into the hold, but to take it in your carry on luggage. If your medication is life sustaining, airlines allow an additional hand luggage allowance, by prior arrangement.

If you are travelling with a spouse/partner/companion it could be an idea to split important medication between the luggage.

(As example of life sustaining medication would e insulin for Type 1 Diabetes.)

peege profile image
peege

When I was living in France 6-7 years ago I'd stocked up enough to last 6 months but stayed longer. I arranged for a friend to pick up my prescription from GP surgery, she got it made up at the pharmacy then posted me the well packed medications which arrived safely - though I'm sure she wouldn't have admitted that there were meds in the parcel! Its after Brexit now though so its all changed re posting abroad.

A couple of years ago an English neighbour sent some packs of over the counter co-codamol to her brother in Romania. It was confiscated at Romanian customs due to co-codamol being prescription only there so illegal. Her brother had a warning from the police 😬!

Dic uou take a paper copy of your prescription? If so a Norwegian GP could possibly prescibe your meds. If you haven't got one with your gp surgery might email a copy (if they're very nice). Or can you get someone to get a paper copy from your home? (I always get a copy when I pick up my meds from the pharmacy).

I dont know what else to suggest.

Last time my baggage went missing it was delivered to my home 2 days later, I arranged that at Heathrow. I hope the Norwegian airport & airline can do that.

Staticdonkey profile image
Staticdonkey in reply topeege

Oh no! All over a pack or two of co-codamol! Thankfully my luggage turned up so I won't have any problems but I'll definitely be packing everything in my hand luggage in the future.

peege profile image
peege in reply toStaticdonkey

Ah that's brilliant news 👏👏 and yes, always in hand luggage , once bitten twice 🤭

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuff

It’s not legal for individuals to post medicine to Norway. Online pharmacies probably have a license to do so. When I had to get medications 2 years ago in Norway they wouldn’t accept the EHIC and the pharmacy wouldn’t accept my nhs prescription so I had to get a doctors appointment to get a prescription then get the Norwegian equivalent of my medicine from the pharmacy. I had to pay for everything and didn’t get reimbursed after. I’m going to Norway in a few days to visit my brother. 👍

Staticdonkey profile image
Staticdonkey in reply toHungryHufflepuff

What a nuisance that sounds, my bag turned up which saves a lot of hassle by the sounds of it! Have a great time with your brother, we are in Oslo and I'm quickly falling in love with the country... maybe I won't return home 😀

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuff in reply toStaticdonkey

I’m so glad your bag turned up. When I visited my brother 2 years ago, the pandemic happened. I’d traveled with hand luggage, expecting to stay 3 and a half weeks, I got stuck there for almost half a year. Hopefully this time will be less eventful! My brother lives near Tromsø which also is very beautiful.

Joy123 profile image
Joy123

I’d seek the help of a local GP as soon as possible and be prepared to pay. When travelling all prescribed medication should be in hand luggage with a doctors letter stating that you have permission to be carrying it. I used to pack it in a small lunch bag, with the letter, and show it at bag check. They used to read letter, never checked it, and then push it through the scanner, shouting “medicines”! I felt like a drugs mule. I hope you get sorted and have a great time in the fresh air. Joy. x

Staticdonkey profile image
Staticdonkey in reply toJoy123

Thank you, all medication won't be leaving my sight again.

knitter profile image
knitter

I think the nearest British Embassy can help too.

Staticdonkey profile image
Staticdonkey

Thank you all, the bag has turned up!! Phew! That was a relief, I'll follow all your advice and take it in my hand luggage next time.

Suzie42 profile image
Suzie42

Glad your bag turned up. I always carry meds in hand luggage and have prescrption handy. As I have codeine prescribed which is illegal in many countries you need prescription. I always take rescue pack with me as well in case its needed.

Joy123 profile image
Joy123

Excellent news. Enjoy your holiday now x

Axolotl1 profile image
Axolotl1

Glad it’s all worked out. Just for reference for the future. You meds are classed as a totally de ok state allowance. I’ve had no problems taking mine to Israel and Poland. The one time I decided to decant my special mouthwash into a smaller bottle was the only time I had a problem. Security were very pleasant but firm. They wouldn’t allow it because it wasn’t the official bottle. I explained I had decanted it to make it less to take on as carry o as I already had a large carrier full of my meds. He explained it wouldn’t matter how much meds I had - even including the 500ml of mouth wash as long as it was all shown on my prescription. I said the bag of meds were as large as my carry on case as nd he repeated it wasn’t an issue as long as I had my script with me for proof. It wasn’t the end of the world to do without the mouthwash but it was a valuable lesson learned: don’t decant to save space. Just take the whole bottle! Plus ALWAYS take extra meds in case for whatever reason you can’t come back when planned.

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