Taking B12 to Spain

[Eoperez]

Hi all,

I'm due to go to Spain in the summer for 10 days and worrying how I get my b12 and syringes etc there. Does anyone know the rules surrounding this? Do I pack them in hold or hand luggage. As I self inject I don't have a prescription and at the mo doing an injection every 4 or 5 days, I really don't think I'll be able to go the whole 10 days without!

Thanks a lot

Emily

[spacey1]

I put a couple in my hold luggage when I went to Malta earlier this year and it was fine; I took them because you can't buy B12 there. When I went to Greece, I just popped into a pharmacy and bought a pack of three ampoules and syringes for when I was there. Do they sell them in pharmacies in Spain? Because if they do, you can just buy what you need over there and not worry about it.

[Eoperez in reply to spacey1]

I really don't know!! Will have to do some research!! What did you then do with your used needle?

[spacey1 in reply to Eoperez]

I've just had a look and found one site which said it was available in Spain (as cyanocobalamin) and one which said it wasn't!

I threw away the syringe and brought the needle back in the sheath in my toiletries, then disposed of it at home.

[Clematisa1]

Will ask my relations who live in Spain and let you know.

[Clematisa1]

Eoperez My cousin says "I've been able take acupuncture needles in hand luggage, but I think even sealed syringes may have to be hold suitcase.. she's best ringing the airport. She'd probably need to show a prescription to buy syringes here, might be easier to just visit her GP, then with the medical script, it's only 2 needles, so she should manage that in hand luggage with the prescription... hope that helps...? I'm also wondering if it may be different depending on the area of Spain that you are going to...? I have relations near Malaga and also near Alacante only asked the Alicante ones so far as they are more likely to know the regs.

[Eoperez in reply to Clematisa1]

Thank you. We are flying into Malaga. Think I'll just try and get GP to do a letter as don't get them on prescription....well once every 12 weeks!

[Clematisa1 in reply to Eoperez]

Hope all goes well - look out for Malaga Airport as friends once had their hand luggage stolen there and had a terrible time but hopefully it's much safer now!

[Eoperez in reply to Clematisa1]

Funny you should say that as I was there earlier this month and an item went missing from our case, had thought I'd left it at home but definitely hadn't it was a small case that was supposed to be hand luggage but ended up having to go in hold and wasn't locked, learnt my lesson!

[Clematisa1 in reply to Eoperez]

Oh well maybe not so much change at Malaga after all then... Alicante is a much smaller and friendlier airport or maybe my Spanish relations make it all easier there...? Anyway enjoy your stay in Espagna and hope all goes well for you!

[Wmffra]

You can buy them in pharmacies or any medical centre will inject you for €20.00

[jonlyme]

Hi you can buy B12 injectable over the counter without prescription in Spain and most Chemist’s will actually administer it for the cost of the syringe. If you are buying other stuff as well there is usually no charge. Enjoy your Hol

[Jojogaunt]

I’ve always put them in my hold luggage, in my wash bag!

Never had an issue!

You can always go into a pharmacy out there an get it over the counter if need be, you don’t need a prescription. Saying that, I did it in Greece and oh my, the needle was a bigger and the b12 stung like hell.

[Miss-guineapig in reply to Jojogaunt]

Yes, I put them directly in my case. I was going from Scotland to America during my loading doses and put needles, syringes and ampules in a plastic box in my case. No problems what so ever, and if asked I would have no problem explaining the situation.

[Emyloulou]

Not B12 but I’ve just come back from the US and carried hydrocortisone injections, needles and syringes in my hand luggage with no problem. They just opened the bag everything was in and put the vials through the scanner with all the other liquids. It’s obvious they are for medical use not illicit drug use so you shouldn’t have a problem.

[Hidden]

I have just returned from a 2 week visit to friends in Germany so injected the night before we flew, took 2 sets of kit each wrapped in 2 paper hankies in a snap shut box in my hold luggage, used 1 set there putting the needles back into their sheaths and wrapped them back into the hankies and into the box. The used kit was disposed of when I got back home. I also included a repeat prescription request form to show all drugs were as issued through the surgery. (The ampoules were bought for me by my German friends so I didn't think they would be a problem)

As B12 ampoules are available readily in Spain it should be just the same.