Brits going on holiday this summer have been urged to check which common over-the-counter pain medications they can take to certain countries. Different countries have different rules when it comes to medication, with some imposing way stricter rules than others. Brits have been advised to check which medication they can take to countries around the world, especially certain countries in the Middle East and Asia.
Countries like Greece, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have particularly strict rules, and travellers have been arrested before for attempting to bring painkillers into countries with such tight rules, experts at Which? have warned. Medicines that contain codeine, such as Nurofen Plus and Solpadeine, could land you in hot water, as this is considered a controlled substance in the United Arab Emirates. So, people heading to places like Dubai need to be careful when it comes to packing.
“You could be questioned or have your medication destroyed, and some holidaymakers have even ended up in jail,” the expert report warned. “Bringing in small quantities of medication for personal use is unlikely to land you in trouble, especially if you can prove it’s for personal use. But it’s important to think ahead and take the necessary steps to ensure your trip isn’t derailed by the contents of your suitcase.
“Even finding clear information online is harder than you might expect, which is worrying when the stakes are so high if you get it wrong.”
To avoid trouble, tourists have been advised to keep their medications in their original pharmacy packaging and carry a copy of their prescription. Bringing medication containing codeine could get you detained in Thailand and the UAE.
“The United Arab Emirates has a reputation for being one of the strictest countries in the world with regards to bringing in medication,” the report says. “It has a zero-tolerance approach for drug-related offences, so make sure you check the UAE Ministry of Health website and seek approval to bring in any medication on its list of controlled substances. This includes Exedrin headache tablets, Tylenol arthritis medication and Niquitin mint lozenges, as well as skincare products, herbal medicines and poppy-seed-based opiate painkillers, not to mention any poppy seeds themselves.”
Meanwhile, Japan and Greece require travellers to get permission to bring certain amounts of medication. If you are heading to Mexico, you will need to bring a prescription or letter from your GP that states the amount of medication you’ll need during your stay, what daily dose you take and how much you’re bringing into the country in total.
Medicines that are commonly banned or restricted in countries around the world are opiate painkillers, antidepressants, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication, ADHD medication and cannabidiol.