Hi all, I've been diagnosed with SLE not long time ago, and never had so much medication to take! I am planning 5 days trip abroad first time after diagnosis. How do you plan your medication for it? Do you take any extra tablets, just in case? Does airlines accept those daily containers, or better to take medications in original packaging? I started to prepare container and am quite overwhelmed that I look like drug dealer 😅
Thanks a lot.
M.
Wherever you are going always carry your medication in the original boxes - and advisable to take a copy of your prescription as well… and all in your hand luggage.
Taking loose medication is fraught with danger - so don’t risk it - it may well be confiscated - and you could be in trouble, certainly in some countries…
I have only traveled within Europe. I also have a LOT of medication (10+ and thats not including pain meds) and some in quite large boxes, so taking the boxes is just not an option. What I do is put all my tablets in those daily pill boxes and have that in my carry on. I also carry with me an updated list of all my prescriptions prepared and signed by my doctor, the latest medical report from my doctor and the cut off medicine box tops of the medications that I am taking. If questions are asked then you show the prescription list and the box tops and if they confiscate everything, then you have the prescription form that you can take to a pharmacy when you arrive at your destination. But maybe it is best to call the airline to explain the situation and ask their advice.
It’s not just the airline, it’s the countries as well.. my daughter lives in New Zealand [and I know Morke isn’t going there] but they are very stringent about taking anything in - including medication.
Morke
Easy enough to check - go to UK Govt site and there are links to most countries rules on importing …
Good to know! Thank you! I might have to request smaller boxes for the next time I travel out of Europe so that I can fit everything in. I have never gone out of Europe since my diagnosis. Sheesh. What a pain. But I highly recommend bringing your latest doctors report in case something happens. I had to go the hospital because we thought I had broken my foot so it was great that they could look over the report. Even if it was in a different language…!
Actually because I go for extended periods to NZ - and need a couple of months of meds you can sometimes get 2 months worth in one box… needed to do that first time I went as I had GCA then - so on steroids and other associated meds.. not too bad recently- lot less medication.
I always take a few extra days supply with me just in case of delays or cancellations. Enjoy your trip!
I travel a fair bit, most airlines state must be in original packaging and to have a copy of your prescriptions, injectables must be covered by a letter from your doctor. Always take more than you need, you may be delayed or cancelled , i usually just do a prescription before i go and take all the new drugs, yep looks awful...20 tablet boxes and and injectable too but hey ho at least I can still go away! have a lovely time
Hi Morke,My father lives in Portugal and we visit twice a year. Like you I have a lot of medication so I do both the previous contributor's suggestions, I have the pill compartment box with me in my hand luggage with a prescription but I my case I also carry a supply of my meds in the original boxes, just in case something goes wrong.
I have recently started to take photos of my meds on my phone incase all else fails.
Hope this helps and enjoy your holiday .
I think better to take them in the original boxes where you have your name and take a copy of your prescription and carry it in your hand luggage. I travelled recently to South America and my hand luggage was requested to put with the rest of the check in luggage during boarding as the airline didn’t have enough space in the cabin. I didn’t have time to think to take my medication in my small handbag where I keep my passport and didn’t think it was going to be checked in all the way to my final destination. But then it happened that the airline sent my luggage to another country and I was without medication for 10 days.
Oh dear that’s not good…
I always took at least double I expected to need and packed them in their original packs in 1 litre ziplocks like you use for liquids, kept them in my handluggage (with spares in hold luggage) which I refused to be parted from, and laid them in the trays alongside liquids at security. No-one ever queried - even Australia.
Take the original boxes and blister strip's. Save space and flatten the box down and only take enough blister packs for the time you're away (plus a few days) but it looks much less suss than a box full of random pills. 🤣
Hi Morke, It's always best to travel with medication in original packaging and to take a GP letter about your medical diagnoses. I also take the printed prescription. I take my medication organiser with me to use during my holiday. Depending on what you are taking most airlines will give extra allowance for a medical bag/case so check with yours. I hope this helps.
I travel a fair amount. Most recently to Canada, usually 2-3 weeks at a time. I use pill boxes to measure out a 2 -3 week supply to cover period away. Then I add enough medication to cover a further 2 weeks (incase of delays or natural disasters) , plus an emergency course of prednisolone 5mg tablets (from GP) antibiotics and Paxlovid (obtained on private prescription) into a large ziplock bag. I flatten the medicine boxes with the labels on them, and put those in the ziplock bag together with the most recent prescription printout that comes with medication. This all goes into my hand luggage. I only been stopped and searched once, at Luton airport and they weren’t interested in my bag o’ meds. I’ve never had any issues in either Europe or North America. GP tells me issues only tend to arise with injectables but that doesn’t apply to me.
All my medical notes/letters are available online so I can access those anywhere I also wear a Medic Alert bracelet so any Dr can access my records if I end up in hospital abroad.
If you travel to the US, take your own sunscreen with you. Don’t buy it there. SPF values on US sunscreen isn’t regulated. Canada, however, has rigorous regulation so I buy mine there and stock up to bring back. Neutrogena. I have a SPF 65 facial sunscreen for summer and a SPF 30 and 45 for winter/ spring. Brilliant stuff. Costs about £15 for a 90ml tube.
Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE
Otherwise, enjoy your holiday. Don’t overthink it. Everything will be just fine!
Just as long as you aren't due to fly out of Heathrow today! Nightmare!
Total nightmare for sure. Thankfully I’m not.
I’ve started just taking 2 sides of the boxes showing the pharmacy label with my name and the box medication print and using a rubber band to strap it to the blister packs, as I have 11 different pill prescriptions to carry and that takes a lot of space in my carry on luggage. And the repeat prescription slip lives with them, plus copies in my suitcase and handbag. I also have my methotrexate injections and a pharmacist letter with them. My last trip I discovered labelling that said the methotrexate shouldn’t go through x-ray machines and it was a nightmare as they insisted on swabbing it in Dubai and they were very suspicious and unsympathetic. I think I’m just going to send it through x-ray next time. It didn’t seem to affect it in the past.
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