Prescription Medication - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**cliffo** · 09-21-2003, 08:13 PM

Hi people,

Just curious about what to do about prescription medication. Do you get your local doc to prescribe enough for the trip before you go or do you visit a doctor whilst touring and hope you can get what you need? I'd be inclined to go the route of taking what i need with me but are there limits on what medications you can carry with you in certain countries?

cheers,

cliffo

**travelpunk** · 09-22-2003, 04:22 AM

Hey...good frick'n question, bro

. I would ask your doctor what your option are. I think that they would either give you enough for your trip, or give you the name of the foreign counter part.
For example, if you take Accutane here (for acne), their version is something called Rocutan(not sure on my spelling for both of those

).
I guess I´m lucky, my sister in law works at a doctors office and gives me any and all kinds of samples of the stuff that I need. Had an acne break out due to serious stress 2 yrs ago. It was bad. I walked around like I had the chicken pox for almost eight months

I bought this topical tube ointment(about the size of a small tube of toothpaste) for something like $70USD! D'oh! I needed other crap too ( family stress, but everythings just dandy now

). Then my sister in law says, "hey, I could´ve gotten you a bunch of free samples of that stuff." Dude, I got majorly hooked up! Loaded me up before I took off to Spain for a year :D Hadn't needed to buy a thing since.

Dio works at a drug store, maybe she might know the answer to your question or can find out for you

Curious for the answer myself

**cliffo** · 09-22-2003, 03:54 PM

I'll be going back to see my doc in the next week so i'll have a chat to him about it then....of course my doc is pretty much clueless about most things so i may have to ask around elsewhere. Will let you know what he says.

cliffo

**Canadian Dude** · 09-22-2003, 05:14 PM

I was told by my dr. when I went away to bring what I needed with me, and he would cover the perscription, depending on what country your in, some perscri[tions may not be honored because the country your in may not recongnize the doctors certificate who wrote the perscription in the first place.

IE: A Doctor from Canada or US writes a perscription, the The governing body of say the French Medical Board may not see your perscription as valid because that doctor does not carry a French medical licence.

(The above is just an example)

I have heard of this happening.

Your doctor will know best, and in Western European countries you should not have a prob, i would be concerned about Eastern European countries or South America, Asia those kinda places.

**cliffo** · 09-22-2003, 08:04 PM

Quote:

I was told by my dr. when I went away to bring what I needed with me

That seems the most logical way to do it for sure. That way you know you've got what you need before hand, plus if i get it all here before i go, my medical insurance covers about 80% of the cost and I know they wouldn't do if I got it overseas. Still not knowing how long i'll be gone for does make it a bit harder to decide how much i'll need but i'm sure my doc will give me some ideas.

**Diorama** · 09-22-2003, 09:31 PM

Haaaaahaaa TP. yeah i work in a drugstore, but i'm a cashier/aisle girl so all I know how to do is to bag shit for customers.

cliffo... YeahI just made my doctor extend my prescription. ANd then i went to the drugstore and loaded up on it. Take it all out of the packaging and try to conserve space that way..though take your prescription with you just in case.

**cliffo** · 09-22-2003, 10:29 PM

Good idea on the conserving space thing Dio...my god!! what will the pharmacist think when i rock up and want 6months+ supply...hehe

**cliffo** · 09-28-2003, 07:57 PM

Well i saw my doctor today...what a waste of time. I asked what I should do - he responded with a blank look, shrugged his shoulders and told me to search the internet and see what the common procedure is!!!

Needless to say i will be looking for a new GP. Not a bad racket they have going though, i was in his office for about 3 minutes and was charged $40. very annoyed

**Canadian Dude** · 09-29-2003, 08:34 AM

40$ just to TALK to the Dr??? dam, that is a nice scam...One of the perks to being North of da border...free doctor visits...

I agree, find a new frik'n GP

**cliffo** · 09-29-2003, 02:48 PM

I'm in Australia so our medicare system covers a portion of it - a whole $17 i think i got back. Better than nothing though.

Oh well, i'm sure i'll find a GP who at least has some knowledge on the subject...fingers crossed anyway

**Canadian Dude** · 10-01-2003, 05:16 PM

Sorry for asuming u were in da US...my bad....

Well at least you get some $$ back, cause every cent saved puts u one step closer to da trip!!

**cliffo** · 10-01-2003, 07:23 PM

the trip is already covered..well as soon as someone buys my house which went on the market yesterday. Pay out the mortgage, invest half the profit and the rest should see me comfortable for a good 6-9 months backpacking...WOO HOO!!!!! can't wait. but still every $$ i save means a longer trip so yeah better in my pocket than someone elses thats for sure

kerouacscabbie · 10-02-2003, 02:38 AM

hey,

with medications it is always best to take everything you will need for your whole trip, or plan on having them sent to a specific location you will be at. most hostel will recieve mail for you if you have a reservation. but, you should also have the doctor write down the chemical name for what ever it is that you need, that way if you lose your meds you have the possibility of getting more, for example the name prozac, is not world wide, in many countries it is sold under the chemical name; of which i forget now. medications are available almost worldwide now and most pharmacist, if you explain your situation do not really care if you have a perscription, this applies in most countries except western europe.

and as for the canadians on the board, i will remind you that even though we pay for our doctors, are cigarettes are half the price and the alcohol about a third. free doctor or cheap cigarettes, i'll take the cheap cigs. but, many americans now take a trip across the border into canada to buy there medications, the american customs officials turn a blind eye to this practice. but, on the other hand with the newe liberal marijauna laws in canada, i would rather be canadian. on that not i recently found out that as a smoker i can apply for political asaylum in canada if i am arrested for it in the states, they will also refuse to extridite me back to the states.

so, with all that said, i would probally pay the taxes, and fight the timber wolves to become a canadian.

**cliffo** · 10-02-2003, 03:09 AM

kerouacscabbie,

thanks for the input...i'm thinking it would be best to take all i need too... have to find a new GP and see what he/she has to say. i think the piece of mind knowing i have what i need will worth lugging the stuff around - shouldn't take up too much space though.

**cliffo** · 11-15-2003, 02:48 PM

Guys,

Finally looked into the whole medication thing. The Australian Government website says to carry with you all the medication you will require for the length of your trip but to also carry a letter from your GP stating that you require the medication and that you have a supply for 'x' number of months.

I'd assume it would be a similar situation for everyone no matter what country you are from. So at least I know now - Ahhh... the internet, provider of useful information that my GP had no idea about. Is there anything the internet cannot tell you? :D