Prescription drugs.

[Laysula]

Not sure that his is the right forum but here goes. We hope to be away in France and Spain for several months this year if not longer.SWMBO needs a regular dose of drugs for asthma. Will the doc give her several months supply or will we need to see a doctor abroad for a prescription. Is it a similar system to GB or are ventolin etc availiable over the counter?

 

[SteveSarabande]

Why don't you ask your doctor?

 

[macd]

Why don't you ask your doctor?

Or, in the interim, the NHS, courtesy Dr Google:
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1755.aspx

 

[dslittle]

My doctor gave me six months last year as I wasn't going to be back on the 'normal anniversary' without any problem.

 

[PlanB]

Virtually anything is available over the counter in Spain, inluding Ventolin.

 

[colind3782]

Virtually anything is available over the counter in Spain, inluding Ventolin.

As I have also found. However, I've heard of some Spanish pharmacists getting a bit precious and asking for a prescription.

 

[vyv_cox]

My wife asked our doctor for a six month supply of her daily prescription and after slight discussion it was arranged. Apparently the main reason the health service objects to supplying for this length of time is that the patient might die and the cost of the drugs would be wasted.

In the past it was possible to buy any drugs over the counter in Spain but I have read that this situation may no longer be as simple as it was.

 

[KellysEye]

>Virtually anything is available over the counter in Spain, inluding Ventolin.

Agree. When we went long distance sailing we gave our doctor a long list of targetted drugs from the RYA medical course and explained what we were going to do, she was fine about it and we got two of everything we wanted.

 

[Mistroma]

We've been taking 6-7 months supply with us each year since 2012. The doctor didn't seem to mind when I explained we'd be sailing for the summer. I did cover the situation by saying that we'd probably be back visiting relatives in UK or home for a week or so every few months but would only have hand luggage. So still UK resident etc. simply more convenient for us. Well, I might decide to return, who knows, so not a big porky.

Might be different if our meds. were horribly expensive. Seems OK for normal stuff. We normally stockpile a month and pick up 6 months worth before leaving. My wife will pick up the pack for this summer in a couple of days time.

Link in earlier post supports the case for it varying from doctor to doctor and with different medical issues. But at least you know it must be a fairly common request.

Check storage conditions for your medication. I keep ampules for injections in a sealed container in the bilges for early part of the year. However, they are eventually moved to warmest corner of the fridge once air and sea temperatures increase.

 

[chrisgee]

We've been taking 6-7 months supply with us each year since 2012. The doctor didn't seem to mind when I explained we'd be sailing for the summer. I did cover the situation by saying that we'd probably be back visiting relatives in UK or home for a week or so every few months but would only have hand luggage. So still UK resident etc. simply more convenient for us. Well, I might decide to return, who knows, so not a big porky.

Might be different if our meds. were horribly expensive. Seems OK for normal stuff. We normally stockpile a month and pick up 6 months worth before leaving. My wife will pick up the pack for this summer in a couple of days time.

Link in earlier post supports the case for it varying from doctor to doctor and with different medical issues. But at least you know it must be a fairly common request.

Check storage conditions for your medication. I keep ampules for injections in a sealed container in the bilges for early part of the year. However, they are eventually moved to warmest corner of the fridge once air and sea temperatures increase.

Been doing virtually the same as you for years with no problem whatsoever -- nothing on the NHS is free anyway, been paying for their ( v good ) services since I was 17!

 

[Laysula]

Thank you.

 

[charles_reed]

I take mine with me - but nearly everything is available for purchase over-the-counter in Greece and @ prices lower than the UK.
Now on 23/25 pills every 24 hrs - the 6 month supply amounts to nearly a full hold bag and the scheduling needs a spreadsheet.
The only problem is that UK dosage might not be repeatable - I found no 3mg warfarin in either Greece or Finland - only 1 and 5mg.

It's very much up to your doctor as to whether he'll write up scripts for 6 months' worth, with the consequent costs for the practice.

 

[Lucy52]

You can get a pill splitter, from some chemists or the internet, which will enable you to adjust the dose nearer to what you need without making a mess of things.

 

[Sybarite]

Not sure that his is the right forum but here goes. We hope to be away in France and Spain for several months this year if not longer.SWMBO needs a regular dose of drugs for asthma. Will the doc give her several months supply or will we need to see a doctor abroad for a prescription. Is it a similar system to GB or are ventolin etc availiable over the counter?

In France Ventolin is restricted to medical prescriptions. Visit any GP ("conventionné" ie within the French NH system) in France (€23 fixed fee consultation which you can claim back with your international health insurance).

I tried getting it over the counter as I had done on occasion in the past but two pharmacies recently refused.

 

[Steve Clayton]

......
The only problem is that UK dosage might not be repeatable - I found no 3mg warfarin in either Greece or Finland - only 1 and 5mg.
......

Cut them in half with a knife. (I am adept at breaking them in half with my fingers).
You now have 0.5mg, 1mg, 2.5mg and 5mg and can combine as necessary to make the required dose.

Anyone know where you can get the self-test machine for under £300?

 

[charles_reed]

Thanks for all the advice - I have a pill splitter and was not specifically referring to warfarin - many other UK dosages are not repeatable abroad. I do, however, have far better things to do with my time than act as an apothecary!!

If you're looking for a cheap INR tester, they're two a penny in the US, either via e-Bay or some of the pharmaceutical sites - as a medical import it avoids duty and VAT. Prices abou US$180 when I was looking.
On balance it was less hassle to change to rivaroxiban from warfarin.

 

[KellysEye]

One other thought is apart from one drug being poisonous after the use by date, which you will never buy, we used many out of date drugs and they work fine so don't throw them away.

 

[cavancullen]

Whats the most out of date you have taken?

 

[duncan99210]

The GP practice I'm registered with has an online reorder system for prescriptions. They're happy to give me three months worth before we set off: if we're staying away longer than that, I reorder over the interweb and my daughter picks the pills up and posts them to me.