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Original poster

Forgotten medication on holiday

40 replies

shoes4life · 02/08/2023 15:19

So my son is taking Citaopram, we've just arrived on holiday and he has forgotten his tablets 🤦🏼‍♀️ I called the GP to see if they could email me a prescription just for a week so we could get them here - and was told that was impossible and the doctor would be struck off for doing so 🤷🏼‍♀️
A) is this true?
B) anyone know what our options are?

OP posts:
justteanbiscuits · 02/08/2023 15:31

I have the NHS app which shows my regular prescriptions so I did show that.

Jazzybean · 02/08/2023 15:31

Call your travel insurance provider and see what they recommend?

Failing that, I’d pay to see a doctor there (there’s usually a travel doctor/expat GP type clinic in most touristy places) and get a prescription.

Withdrawal from SSRIs is awful, and potentially dangerous so just not having them isn’t an option.

justteanbiscuits · 02/08/2023 15:30

shoes4life · 02/08/2023 15:26

Sorry I thought I'd put that I'm in Spain

Ok, it is Spain. You need to find your local Centro de Salud - resort towns will have them easily accessible - and take your GHIC.

I was given a prescription for free covering length of holiday. It was then about €14 for it to be filled.

Do sooner rather than later as citalopram withdrawal has the ability to ruin your holiday.

continentallentil · 02/08/2023 15:28

… I was assuming you weren’t in the UK but if you are you can use 111 online

NHS page -
111 online
Emergency prescriptions

Use this service to request a limited emergency supply of a medicine you’ve completely run out of.

This must be a medicine you are prescribed regularly, through a repeat prescription.

You will be charged your usual prescription fee. If you do not usually pay, it will be free

Original poster
shoes4life · 02/08/2023 15:27

justteanbiscuits · 02/08/2023 15:26

If you are in the EU, go to the nearest public medical centre with your GHIC card and they will prescribe. I did exactly the same in Spain last year.

Oh that's helpful thank you. We have insurance or I'm happy to pay - I just thought we would need a prescription to prove that he is on it usually

OP posts:
Original poster
shoes4life · 02/08/2023 15:26

Sorry I thought I'd put that I'm in Spain

OP posts:
justteanbiscuits · 02/08/2023 15:26

If you are in the EU, go to the nearest public medical centre with your GHIC card and they will prescribe. I did exactly the same in Spain last year.

continentallentil · 02/08/2023 15:25

It sounds more like they don’t want to bother the doc

Check if you can just buy them where you are, or make an emergency appointment with a local doc. Probably be useful to show them you normally have it prescribe so if you have online GP service take a screen shot of his meds list plus Passport

caerdydd12 · 02/08/2023 15:24

Are you in the UK or abroad?
And have you asked for them to email YOU a prescription or a local pharmacy? I can understand a GP not being able to send a prescription directly to you.

WWPPSLKD · 02/08/2023 15:24

DismantledKing · 02/08/2023 15:22

Everyone is assuming the OP is on holiday in the UK

I think it's more that everyone is hoping they're in the UK.

PumpkinPie2016 · 02/08/2023 15:22

Are you away in the UK?

No idea whether what you were told is true or not. Could you visit a local GP where you are, explain the situation and see if they can help in some way?

Or, can someone get the medication from your home and post it special delivery to you? It could be there before 1pm tomorrow?

DismantledKing · 02/08/2023 15:22

Everyone is assuming the OP is on holiday in the UK

Changethetoner · 02/08/2023 15:21

Go into a pharmacy and ask them to contact your regular pharmacy back home. I did this a couple of years ago, and the pharmacies were able to check my repeat prescriptions and issue me with enough to last the holiday. UK.

ajandjjmum · 02/08/2023 15:21

GPs email prescriptions through to pharmacists regularly. Doesn't sound right to me.

Hufflepods · 02/08/2023 15:21

Where are you on holiday?