Travelling with ADHD meds

[FigmentSpark]

Has anyone had to travel out of country, specifically Spain, with ADHD meds for their kids? Some of these are controlled substances and I wondered if they were even allowed and if so, what paperwork, if any beyond the prescription, is required.

 

[cadien]

When we went to Spain for our honeymoon, my husband brought his own ADHD meds without any issue in either direction. They were in the official prescription bottle with no supplemental paperwork (it didn't occur to us, frankly) and there were no questions. This was in 2010.

 

[Canesfan3234]

Has anyone had to travel out of country, specifically Spain, with ADHD meds for their kids? Some of these are controlled substances and I wondered if they were even allowed and if so, what paperwork, if any beyond the prescription, is required.

keep them in the prescription bottle and don't go out of your way to make an issue out of it. you will be fine. Customs agents aren't looking to stop people with a couple weeks worth of adderol in their bag.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Great news. Thanks. I'm reading stuff about doctor's notes and licences. I'd rather leave it home than cause a problem, but he'd like to have it with him, as he does much better with his meds than off them. His is concerta, not adderall, but I think they're all controlled anyway.

 

[tink1970]

he'd like to have it with him, as he does much better with his meds than off them. His is concerta, not adderall, but I think they're all controlled anyway

Funny you should mention this, I was thinking about my DD and how I'll get her meds to her IF she attends university out of the country since they are dispensed monthly here.

As far as traveling with meds, she has been overseas many times (and will be doing a summer school in Spain this summer) and what I do is ensure meds are in their original bottles and we have a copy of her last visit with her psychiatrist (he calls them Mommy Notes which I find totally offensive...but the note does come in handy!). I also count out each pill for the number of days she'll be in the country (ie not send all 30) so there is no question they are for her for those days and not diverted (ie sold).

 

[FigmentSpark]

Funny you should mention this, I was thinking about my DD and how I'll get her meds to her IF she attends university out of the country since they are dispensed monthly here.

As far as traveling with meds, she has been overseas many times (and will be doing a summer school in Spain this summer) and what I do is ensure meds are in their original bottles and we have a copy of her last visit with her psychiatrist (he calls them Mommy Notes which I find totally offensive...but the note does come in handy!). I also count out each pill for the number of days she'll be in the country (ie not send all 30) so there is no question they are for her for those days and not diverted (ie sold).

So you get your doctor to write something for you, then? Has she ever been questioned at customs?

 

[MUN]

Has anyone had to travel out of country, specifically Spain, with ADHD meds for their kids? Some of these are controlled substances and I wondered if they were even allowed and if so, what paperwork, if any beyond the prescription, is required.

Who would know?

 

[tink1970]

So you get your doctor to write something for you, then? Has she ever been questioned at customs?

Printing off a copy of the appointment notes is just a quirk he has that comes in handy.

She carries all of her medicine in her backpack and knock on wood has never been questioned about them.

 

[Starwind]

See "Traveling to Spain with Medicine" from the Embassy of Spain in Washington website: http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embaja...Paginas/Traveling-to-Spain-with-Medicine.aspx

Especially:

QUOTE


Can an individual bring his/her necessary medication to their destination in Spain?



Article 74 of Law 29/2006 of July 26th states that: "medication that accompanies travelers following a medical treatment is excluded from the established protocols in the previous articles". Thus, in order to avoid problems with the Spanish customs office, it is recommended that the patient traveling with medication to Spain brings a doctor’s prescription/medical report that justifies the treatment. However, one should consider the previously stated regulations of the country of destination.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the case of medicines containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, patients should send inquiries to the Spanish Agency of Drugs and Health Products in order to receive a permit to travel with their medication. Interested parties can direct themselves to the following email address: estupefacientes@aemps.es


END QUOTE

 

[FigmentSpark]

See "Traveling to Spain with Medicine" from the Embassy of Spain in Washington website: http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embaja...Paginas/Traveling-to-Spain-with-Medicine.aspx

Especially:

QUOTE


Can an individual bring his/her necessary medication to their destination in Spain?



Article 74 of Law 29/2006 of July 26th states that: "medication that accompanies travelers following a medical treatment is excluded from the established protocols in the previous articles". Thus, in order to avoid problems with the Spanish customs office, it is recommended that the patient traveling with medication to Spain brings a doctor’s prescription/medical report that justifies the treatment. However, one should consider the previously stated regulations of the country of destination.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the case of medicines containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, patients should send inquiries to the Spanish Agency of Drugs and Health Products in order to receive a permit to travel with their medication. Interested parties can direct themselves to the following email address: estupefacientes@aemps.es


END QUOTE

And that was my worry. Do I need a licence for this item? Is it considered a narcotic or psychotropic substance?

But thanks for the email address. I'm going to contact them to see what the process is.

 

[Starwind]

And that was my worry. Do I need a licence for this item? Is it considered a narcotic or psychotropic substance?

But thanks for the email address. I'm going to contact them to see what the process is.

Always safest to ask the country in question, as what one country considers to be in that category another may not. For example, here in Canada one can actually buy Tylenol 1 (or its generic), which has codeine, as an OTC med - it is sold "behind the counter". In the US one needs an Rx. The US will allow a Canadian resident visiting the US to bring in a very limited supply of Canadian OTC Tylenol 1 for personal use, but there are limits one needs to be aware of [which the US government helpfuly discusses on their website].

And some countries have some interesitng meds laws. For example, unless they have changed the law recently, among other rules, Japan restricts the import of injectible meds and syringes even if you have a legit Rx -- you have to get advance permission. Even something like an Epipen, where it is extemely clear exactly what it is since it is an all-in-one-preloaded-device, is covered under it.

Good luck !!

SW

 

[FigmentSpark]

Always safest to ask the country in question, as what one country considers to be in that category another may not. For example, here in Canada one can actually buy Tylenol 1 (or its generic), which has codeine, as an OTC med - it is sold "behind the counter". In the US one needs an Rx. The US will allow a Canadian resident visiting the US to bring in a very limited supply of Canadian OTC Tylenol 1 for personal use, but there are limits one needs to be aware of [which the US government helpfuly discusses on their website].

And some countries have some interesitng meds laws. For example, unless they have changed the law recently, among other rules, Japan restricts the import of injectible meds and syringes even if you have a legit Rx -- you have to get advance permission. Even something like an Epipen, where it is extemely clear exactly what it is since it is an all-in-one-preloaded-device, is covered under it.

Good luck !!

SW

And see, I wouldn't think twice about bringing an epipen anywhere if I needed it. Very important to check things out.

 

[kiford]

For example, here in Canada one can actually buy Tylenol 1 (or its generic), which has codeine, as an OTC med - it is sold "behind the counter". In the US one needs an Rx. The US will allow a Canadian resident visiting the US to bring in a very limited supply of Canadian OTC Tylenol 1 for personal use, but there are limits one needs to be aware of [which the US government helpfuly discusses on their website].

Wow - I never knew that. I always travel with Tylenol-1's for migraines. I had no idea that you needed a prescription in the US for that. I will have to look up the rules next time.

 

[Starwind]

some tips about traveling with medication from the Government of Canada:

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/drugs-and-travel

e.g. "Medications containing codeine are not allowed into the United Arab Emirates without prior permission from the UAE Ministry of Health."

 

[PrincessShmoo]

some tips about traveling with medication from the Government of Canada:

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/drugs-and-travel

e.g. "Medications containing codeine are not allowed into the United Arab Emirates without prior permission from the UAE Ministry of Health."

You can't take Sudafed (Any product that contains over 10% pseudoephedrine) into Japan. It's a BIG no-no.

 

[Starwind]

You can't take Sudafed (Any product that contains over 10% pseudoephedrine) into Japan. It's a BIG no-no.

Yep, i remember reading that. They also have some other meds that you can't bring in at all that one probably would not think of being on a banned list.

SW

 

[cadien]

Wow - I never knew that. I always travel with Tylenol-1's for migraines. I had no idea that you needed a prescription in the US for that. I will have to look up the rules next time.

Yep. If you live in a border state, it's very popular to bring back Tylenol-1's (they were 222's back in the day) whenever you go to Canada. And they grill you about it at the border now. We just came back from Manitoba last week. "Did you buy any over the counter medications?" I accidentally lied, forgetting I'd picked up Tums at a gas station.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Something else to consider - if you bring meds across the border (out of the country) and you're bringing back the few extra you didn't use, you'd better be sure you're able to travel with them. Again, with a prescription, having the original bottle and a doctor's note is prudent.

 

[bumbershoot]

So you get your doctor to write something for you, then? Has she ever been questioned at customs?

Fwiw DH traveled to Singapore and Australia while taking an injectable drug that’s not typical for men to take. So much is illegal in Singapore, and his drug* was flat out illegal in Australia without a prescription.

Both times he was asked questions and then went along his merry way.

Original bottles with rx label on them, maybe a doctor note, but I wouldn’t worry. Although adhd medications work on the state of the brain, I doubt it’s what they mean when they talk about psychotropic drugs. If you’re going to write, be sure to use the genetics name not the brand name.


*HCG if anyone cares...men sometimes use it as an athletic performance enhancing drug, and that’s what Australia is worried about.

 

[FigmentSpark]

FYI - for anyone else travelling to Spain (Europe?) with these meds, here's what I found out.

I contacted the email PP suggested above and received this response:

Our legal framework (Article 74 of the Royal Legislative Decree 1/2015, of 24th of July, approving the codified text of the Law on guarantees and rational use of medicinal products and medical devices) permit travel with medicines destined for own use in the carry-on luggage. Therefore, in order to justify it, the patient should carry a medical prescription or a medical report.


However, for narcotics and psychotropic medicinal products, under international control, the patient should ask the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (estupefacientes@aemps.es)for a "permit for the entry of narcotics and / or psychotropic drugs for personal medical treatment”. Nevertheless, per International guidelines for national regulations concerning travellers under treatment with internationally controlled drugs, the maximum total quantity of Methylphenidate beyond which the traveller should be required to possess a certificate is 2 g.​

So basically, if your dosage times the number of pills (ie 10 days at 18mg= 180mg) comes out to more than 2 grams (2000mg), a permit is needed. If not, you just should carry a medical prescription or a medical report, along with the meds in your carry on luggage.