BTW-if you're searching for medication availability in Spain-here's a link:

[viajera]

The trick is you have to put the correct Spanish "medicinal product" name, as well as the "active substance".

For example, to find Imuran/Azathioprine I had to search for the medicinal product "Imurel" with the active substance "Azatioprina".

aemps.gob.es/cima/fichasTec...

[nomoreheels]

....& to find out the Spanish equivalent generic name UK & USA drugs (& German, French plus the Latin name, listed under Foreign name). Enter the generic name in search box in this link drugs.com/international/

It also gives the brand names worldwide.

[viajera in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks! I've never seen that link! Very helpful!

[nomoreheels in reply to viajera]

You're welcome. It was my GP who first told me about it & I've played with it lots. It's been especially helpful with meds from Spain, especially my h's diabetes meds.... they weren't familiar with them here, not that it helped much as they won't prescribe them.

[viajera in reply to nomoreheels]

Sorry to hear that they wouldn't prescribe them - i'm assuming you checked at the pharmacy to see if they would sell them to you anyway?

(It turned out that most of my meds didn't require a prescription there, and I had no trouble refilling them. On the other hand, my insurance there didn't cover prescriptions, but that's another issue… )

[nomoreheels in reply to viajera]

Sorry, should have made it clearer, we're back in the UK, it's here they won't prescribe the meds he had (& was really well controlled on) in Spain. He's really struggled to be anywhere near as well controlled on the ones they will prescribe here which makes it more annoying, knowing he can be well controlled but he can't have the meds that enable it. Unfortunately in the UK you can't buy prescription meds without a script as you can with many in Spain. Pharmacists here don't have the same qualifications & can only dispense & counsel not prescribed in their own right for minor or non specialist conditions & use their discretion to sell prescription only meds.

[viajera in reply to nomoreheels]

I'm sorry to hear that he can't get what he needs in his home country. Why does this all have to be so complicated for those of us who need help the most?

I'm in "Should I Stay, or Should I Go?" (US or Spain?) mode myself with similar issues .... So confusing

[nomoreheels in reply to viajera]

Actually I spoke too soon. My h had a very helpful hospital appointment at Endo this morning. The outcome is he's not happy with the diabetes side, doesn't think he's seen often enough at our Surgery so is recommending he attends the Diabetes Clinic at the hospital. Other things too but he'll write to my GP about those (my h has decided at long last to see my GP who is far more on the ball than his own) but hoping that his cholesterol & chronic magnesium deficiency issues can be addressed by recommending increasing the frequency per day of one of his existing meds & adding another every 2/3 days. For once we came out of a consultancy feeling he'd been heard & issues which had been pushed to one side were being addressed. He's to have a lipids blood test first thing back at the hospital & will call him back once he's read the results. He was a proper old-school Consultant, in actual fact we know he's semi retired & only works two half days at our hospital as my s-i-l's father is under him so guess it won't be easy getting in to see him but hell, we'll try our level best!

I think as long as you can be assured you can get your meds then go for it, but it will take some homework I'd think. It's a great chance to expand your CV, you know you've been before! 😄

[viajera in reply to nomoreheels]

Glad things are looking up! Having a great provider makes all the difference, doesn't it ? I hope he doesn't retire too soon ! Thanks for your advice-I'll let you know what I decide

[nomoreheels in reply to viajera]

Thanks. Yes, please do keep in touch & let us know what you decide.