IF you’re heading abroad this summer, packing some preventative medicines might seem like the sensible thing to do.
But be warned, some common drugs, including antihistamines and painkillers, could land you with hefty fines or even jail time in certain countries.
Many countries have strict restrictions on common UK medications – despite millions of us using them.[/caption]
While these meds are legal to buy over the counter in the UK, they’re banned or tightly restricted in several countries.
And being caught with them, even by accident, can mean your dream holiday turns into a nightmare.
Here’s what to watch out for:
1. Antihistamines
Hay fever sufferers, take note.
Japan has some of the strictest anti-stimulant drug laws in the world – and that includes antihistamines, the Foreign Office has previously warned.
Popular allergy treatments like Vicks inhalers and Sudafed are banned and could get you arrested at the airport.
Anyone caught bringing them in risks detention or deportation.
2. Codeine
The opioid painkiller, codeine, is banned in over 25 countries, including several in Europe.
Yet in the UK, you don’t even need a prescription – codeine is available over the counter in pharmacies as co-codamol, which combines codeine with paracetamol.
Even bringing small amounts of the stuff abroad to certain places can get you into serious trouble.
In Hungary, it carries up to five years in jail. In Slovakia, it’s three.
Other risky destinations include:
- Austria – Up to six months in jail
- Belgium – Up to five years in jail
- Croatia – £550 to £2,250 in fines (€650 to €2,600), plus up to 90 days in jail
- Czechia – £510 fine (15,000 Kč)
- Finland – Up to six months in jail
- Luxembourg – £210 to £4,200 fine (€250–€5,000), plus up to six months in jail
- Romania – Up to two years in jail
- Sweden – Up to three years in jail
Even in countries like Greece or Cyprus, you’ll need a valid prescription to carry codeine.
Always check the rules for your destination online before you travel, and speak to your GP in advance to get any necessary paperwork.
3. Sleeping pills
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a zero tolerance on an array of over-the-counter medications that are sold daily in the UK.
Sleeping pills like temazepam, which are legal here, are strictly banned in the Emirates, and getting caught with them could land you behind bars.
Even if you have a prescription from your GP, you’ll need to apply for approval from the UAE Ministry of Health before travelling.
4. Cannabis-related products
It’s generally recommended to avoid travelling abroad with any CBD based products[/caption]
Even CBD oil with zero THC is illegal in countries like Singapore, the UAE, and Japan, among others.
It doesn’t matter if it’s for anxiety or pain, all cannabis products are banned in these regions.
Getting caught with CBD at the airport could lead to arrest, detention, or even deportation.
For example, in China, it is illegal to bring CBD into the country, with possession carrying a potential jail time of seven years.
This is because in some places, possession is treated the same way as carrying hard drugs.
It’s generally not recommended to travel abroad with any CBD based products.
5. ADHD medicines
Stimulants used to treat ADHD are a major red flag in some countries.
In Japan, they are completely banned, even with a prescription.
To bring them in legally, you’ll need special clearance from the Japanese government, including medical proof – a process that takes weeks.
How to check what is allowed?
You can check which medications you can take in and out of the UK here.
The UK government also recommends checking with the relevant embassies before travelling to make sure that you don’t break any rules.
You can find the full list for embassy contacts here.
British prescriptions are not accepted at international pharmacies, so you’ll need to take enough medicine with you for your entire trip.
Ensure that you take your prescription and doctor’s letter wherever you are travelling.
Consider having the doctor’s letter translated into your destination’s language to make the journey easier.
The strict rules are designed to keep travellers safe and to prevent drug tourism.
Can you take medication in your hand luggage?
WHEN you’re travelling overseas, it’s important that you get all the packing done properly.
If you require medication, you may be curious about whether you can bring it along on your flight.
The short answer is yes – it is recommended that you put any medication in your hand luggage.
The main reason being that if the luggage in the hold gets lost, you would still have your medicine to hand.
Before travelling, you should check the airline’s regulations, but most of them will allow it.
Make sure to pack your medicines and any equipment such as needles, syringes, and others in their original and correctly labelled packages.
You should also carry the prescription from your doctor, just in case you are questioned about the medication.
Before packing your medication make sure that the expiry date will be valid for as long as you’re abroad and also check how it needs to be stored.
And be sure to check that your drugs are not banned in the country you are travelling to.
