Taking prescriptions and other medicine to England

Hello all -

I'm traveling to London this summer for a month and need to know what the policy is on taking prescriptions and other medicine into the country.

My girlfriend has a prescription for Percocet (painkiller, don't know if you guys have the same name there) for acute pain in her lower back. She rarely needs to take it, but with sleeping on a new surface several different times throughout the trip, she wants to have it just incase. We don't want multiple days ruined to that kind of pain, and it's the kind that will do such a thing! Would she have any trouble getting it over? We don't want to risk getting in trouble and certainly don't want a black stamp on our passports.

Would I have any trouble bringing Melatonin ( an all natural sleepaid )? Or Papaya Enzyme ( for stomach pain )? Would it have to be in a sealed, new container?

Thanks all!

Percocet/Oxycodone is a controlled substance in the UK and is covered under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.  You are allowed to bring in a small amount without a personal license, if your stay is under three months.  However, it is advisable to follow the instructions in this document, as outlined by the Home Office.

Further information at: http://www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs-laws/licensing/personal/

Can't comment on the Percocet, but I always have Melatonin with me when I travel long distances and have brought it with me to the UK without the slightest issue.  Same would be true I'm sure for the papaya enzime if it's an over the counter type thing like Melatonin...but I've never heard of that one, so I'm not sure if it is.....

Can't comment on the Percocet, but I always have Melatonin with me when I travel long distances and have brought it with me to the UK without the slightest issue.  Same would be true I'm sure for the papaya enzime if it's an over the counter type thing like Melatonin...but I've never heard of that one, so I'm not sure if it is.....

Papaya Enzyme is a herbal remedy and is available to buy in 'Holland and Barratt' (UK health food shop), so I'd imagine there'll be no problem at all with bringing it with you. I found a Telegraph.co.uk news article saying that Melatonin is okay to bring with you (a lot of people use it when flying long distances) as long as you don't try to sell it on or anything (it is viewed as a medicine in the UK and so is not licenced for sale).

definitely get a letter from her doctor regarding the percoset.

What's the worst thing that would happen without a doctor's note? The prescription bottle has her name on it with the dosage/need, etc and is dated about a week ago. They'll just take it or send it back to the states right? I'm worried...

I don't see her being able to get a doctor's note becuase Friday was a holiday, and they are closed through Monday (when we leave at 4:30am!)

What's the policy on storing it? Carry on only? We do not want to make it appear that she's trying to hide anything... Do they just always ask?

Thanks.

What's the worst thing that would happen without a doctor's note? The prescription bottle has her name on it with the dosage/need, etc and is dated about a week ago. They'll just take it or send it back to the states right? I'm worried...

I don't see her being able to get a doctor's note becuase Friday was a holiday, and they are closed through Monday (when we leave at 4:30am!)

What's the policy on storing it? Carry on only? We do not want to make it appear that she's trying to hide anything... Do they just always ask?

Thanks.

Just curious.  You've been planning this trip for months and months.  Every little detail has been discussed on this forum but why did you leave this till the last minute?

As far as as vitamins / hebs / supplements, I have always traveled with them.  Sometimes in their labelled bottles sometimes in little ziplock bags where I have just written on them what they are.  I've had them in my checked luggage.  Everything from Vitamin C, digestive enzymes, calcium, stuff for colds and flu.

I've travelled with prescription topical stuff for my rosacea--that I've carried on with me without anyone taking any interest in it.  Percoset is a different story, though I guess.

Just curious.  You've been planning this trip for months and months.  Every little detail has been discussed on this forum but why did you leave this till the last minute?

It wasn't intentional...

They wouldn't black stamp our passports right...? We'll probably just not be able to take it and she'll have to survive with whatever store bought stuff we can find.

not sure if this would help her- but tynenol + codeine are available OTC here.

I always travel with my meds, and have never been checked or questioned or anything.

As long as it's a small prescription I can't imagine anything worse than having it confiscated, but I would go to the source and read the rules!

If she can't take it, you can get some stronger pain medication over the counter here than you can in the states.