Liquid medications and flying

[youarenotkiddingme]

Yes! I'm sure I should know this but I'm unsure (want reassurance!) and can't seem to get my head round what google says

I have flown before and taken ds liquid meds on the plane and had copy of consultant reports and repeat prescriptions.

He has changed medications since and has tablets crushed so I know I can take those.

However what about liquid pain meds? He can't swallow tablets and has CP and severe migraine attacks with loss of consciousness and myoclonus and if he gets pain or headache he will need the medication quickly as he deteriorates fast.

We have 1 hold bag but won't have access to that from 10ish until 3 ish (4local time) so putting it in here is not an option.

We have a cabin bag allowance but that is taken off us at plane door and so we wouldn't have it 12-3 (4 local time) but I would have the cabin bag going through security.

Am I allowed to carry a bottle of unprescribed pain relief though security?

The only other option I think I have is that WH Smith in departures may sell it (?) and I'll just buy some there as I can carry it once I'm through?

Sorry for most boring and first world problem thread of the day

I think that if it's unprescribed; you'd need it to be under the liquids limit - you'd probably be better off to buy it on the other side of security; especially if there's a Boots. There usually seems to be!

I flew a couple of weeks ago and the family in front of me at security had a bottle of liquid OTC painkiller and it was confiscated. Not only that, but they were all held up while it was dealt with - they wouldn't let the mum go through with the (clearly a bit under the weather) child while the dad dealt with the security guy.

I overheard the security guy (as I could jump the queue as they got held up with this) say that they needed a headed, dated doctor's letter even for OTC liquid medication saying why it was needed, and ideally even as an OTC medication, a bottle specially prescribed by a doctor rather than self-sourced even with letter. You don't say when you're flying - would getting a bottle prescribed the by the doctor with an official letter and prescription be possible at this stage?

Either that, or one of you will have to forgo your liquids allowance and divide up the big bottle into no more than 10 small ones of 100ml max each (and even then, I'm not sure if they'd let you do that). But if you're flying through a big airport they probably do sell liquid painkiller on the other side. Big airports often have a Boots. Is there any way you could call and double-check?

Good point about decanting it into clear bottles (why didn't I think of that 🤦🏼‍♀️)

We fly weds from a tiny airport (think 4 flights a day!) so the best I get is WH Smith's!

Probably couldn't get gp letters in that time - have to apply private (£30) and takes 1 weeks from accepting request.

Do have consultants letters re CP and pain levels and migraines etc. I don't think any of them say to give painkiller though!

I take it that it’s paracetamol or ibuprofen if it’s not prescribed? Google has lots of reports of people taking Calpol sachets in the clear bag with no issues. Nurofen do sachets too.

Oh yes 🤦🏼‍♀️ forgot about the sachets as well.

I bloody LOVE MN at times like this.

Worry makes it so easy to forget the simple things and seek the right information.

I always carry calpol sachets through.

Our dr has also as a one off prescribed anti histamines for dd when she was going on a residential where you could only take prescribed medication. Maybe your dr will do the same?

Yes it's ibuprofen he takes.

I have sociable co codamol but as he feels very sick (and sometimes is) and they make him feel more nauseous it was only my back up plan.

Plus there's information that says high doses of codeine are contraindicated with his other drug (baclofen) so I don't like giving it. The low dose is ok though in an emergency of no other option is available.

Glad to hear that’ll work! I imagine there’s no issue as it’s sealed and obvious what’s in it.

Yes I can ring gp Monday and ask her - she's bloody brilliant so I'm sure she'd happily do it.

If not because it's neurology who deal with it I'll email the epilepsy nurse who could ask his consultant.

It's my own fault for leaving it this late. I wrote my list today of what we need so as I wash and iron at weekend I can keep clothes we need separate.

I'd ask doc and see if your u can get a one off lot of sachets prescribed then out what you need for the journey in a clear bag with the box, same on way home.

You can get calpol melt tablets for the 6 plus so they may work?

I don’t know if there is an ibrurofen version as ds can’t take that but worth checking!

OMG sirzy I forgot about them. That's what I did last year 🤦🏼‍♀️

I'm proper crap today!

In my defense it's my b'day today and we had ds b'day day out with his 2 friends today too (his is Sunday!) So sleep was rather elusive last night as per the norm for him on a 'different' day.

(For those who don't know ds is also autistic!)

Off to google if you can get ibuprofen melts too!

www.boots.com/nurofen-meltlets-lemon-12-tablets-10008116

Oh I love you all. You've saved my sanity!

Brilliant! I have started keeping the calpol ones in our bag for days out as it’s much easier than trying to do the liquid one.

You'll be fine with the melts.
I took shit loads of tablets in my hand luggage this week and nobody batted an eyelid. UK end I didn't even need to put them in the security trays but in Spain I had to. All. 7. boxes.

Ds needs nurofen for his attacks/episodes so this may have just solved many an issue as I usually have to take his baclofen out in the pill holder and the pill crusher as well as a whole bottle of nurofen.

I'll also send some of these into school too - I'm sure they'd prefer that to the rigmarole of measuring out medication!

I may even treat myself to a smaller handbag with my next voucher I got for my birthday 😂

I’ve taken opened bottles of calpol and nurofen through Glasgow, Edinburgh, Malaga and Palma airports this year as DS was teething on both holidays we’ve been on. Bottles were less than 100ml and we just put them in the clear bag to go through security. Not a problem in any airport.