Newly diagnosed with travel plans.

[Wildmoose]

Thanks very much to those who replied to previous post re travel plans.

I will be travelling with my husband who has been newly diagnosed with RA to Mauritius via a 4hr stopover in Dubai.

Have read that Methotrexate is classed as an illegal drug in UAE and it cannot be taken into the country even if just transiting through the the airport.

Does anybody have experienced of this situation in UAE or have any advice.

Have thought of posting some Methotrexate to the Hotel in Mauritius but not sure if this is legal.

Any thoughts welcome.

Thanks

[Hidden]

are you staying somewhere nice like Shandrai? I know it is a long flight from UK but from SA only two hours. I have many friends on the island.

Do not put tramadol, methotrexate or anything banned in your hand luggage going through UAE but if you must, put it in the hold with your main luggage in original packets letters and signed scripts.

Do not have any prohibited meds in your hand luggage! I cannot stress it enough as if you get caught in your hand luggage you will be there for ten days in a cell minimum if you are arrested before they kick you out if you are lucky.

All hand luggage is Put through X-ray on entering and leaving at UAE.

Get a copy script from doctor and get it rubber stamped plus the doctors GMC number on it and his signature or a letter but scripts are harder to forge and only take the correct amount of days that you are away.

You would have been better to have flown from UK via Johannesburg to Mauritius

Your other option is to get a local scrip in Mauritius from a hotel or local doctor by showing your UK script and claim on your travel insurance as lost meds, hmm did I say that.

[AgedCrone]

Contact UAE authorities....& find out what you are advised to do.

If the drug is illegal in Dubai......that,s the law ...it doesn't matter where you pack it...it's still illegal, & Dubai is NOT a place to mess around.

Ask your travel agent how you could get a prescription filled for the amount of pills/injections you need in Mauritius....or phone the hotel yourself & explain your predicament.

On the other hand.....missing one week of Mtx will probably not make much difference. When I was on it I forgot to take it a couple of times & my Rheumy nurse said to just take the next dose. When it was due.

Why not get your husband to get some advice from his nurse? Might solve all your Problems!

[HMSHelene]

Hi Wildmoose,

I’ve been to Dubai quite a few times. Is he taking tablets or the injections? I had tablets at the time and had no issues. I went into the country with Steroids, methotrexate and a bunch of other things.

It’s true, don’t take strong painkillers such as tramadol as it’s classified as a opioid. But I never had any issues, just unsure you take the amount of medication you require and a doctors/hospital note.

[helixhelix in reply to HMSHelene]

Sounds like you were just lucky that your luggage was not checked. Most things are ok if you have a prescription, but not the ones that are considered illegal in the UAE which does seem to include MTX. Not worth the risk!

independent.co.uk/travel/ne...

[HMSHelene in reply to helixhelix]

Very true. I’ve been to Dubai 3 times since being on methotrexate and never had a problem.. I guess it’s either me or down to pot luck. If it’s tablets it’ll be fine in hold luggage. Also let’s face it, missing a dose for 1-2 weeks isn’t going really make too much of a difference.

When I went to Cambodia my nurse told me not to bother with anything and gave me a lovely supply of steroids 🤫.

[HMSHelene in reply to helixhelix]

Also it’s about being in your own supply and enough to supplement that, like 1-2 weeks. If your being in 3 months worth that’s abit OTT unless you live out there.

What happened with the woman in Egypt was just pure madness. Not entirely sure what else you’d expect, she was carrying enough painkillers to kill 10 horses.

[helixhelix in reply to HMSHelene]

Yes the Egyptian episode was weird, and highly suspicious. I'm thinking more of the cases over the years where people have had nasty experiences with much more straightforward prescription drugs.

You are right, easiest thing to do for a short holiday is just not take it with you!

[Hidden in reply to HMSHelene]

She was supplying her boyfriends

[HMSHelene in reply to Hidden]

How many boyfriends?

[Hidden in reply to HMSHelene]

Exactly