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Original poster

Abroad and don't have my medication

43 replies

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/08/2022 07:12

Hi there I'm on holiday in corfu and I brought my box of sertraline only to discover it's empty! What do I do? I only take a very low dose but when I first went on it I felt horrendous so I'm more concerned that if I stop when I get back home to England and restart it I'll be in a bad way. Was planning to go to a local chemist and see if I can get some. Any tips? Anyone had to do this?

OP posts:

Original poster

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/08/2022 10:15

Hi all so I'm sorted. Just been to pharmacy in town- took ages for a taxi. Lovely lady sold me my usual amount for €7! Just showed her the box and there we were.

OP posts:

SolasAnla · 26/08/2022 10:15

Snozzlemaid · 26/08/2022 08:11

I don't think a UK GP can send prescription to Greece.
Dd couldn't get one sent to Scotland once from her English GP.
She had to drive back to the nearest pharmacy in England to get it.

Show quote history

Correct, The UK doctor would not be registered to pratice medicine in Corfu so the doctors ID would not be valid, it is just that some countries allow emergency dispensing and the copy prescription just allows a level of comfort, or a starting point if the want to do checks.
Which is one reason people are advised to travel with a copy.
The best option is always to check to see what the pharmacist wants.

ChloeHel · 26/08/2022 10:20

The reason you can’t get it on repeat is because your GP will want to monitor you. After a while of being on it they will put it on repeat for you.

Take the box of sertraline to a pharmacy and see if they can give you an emergency supply, their equivalent is called Zoloft. If you need a prescription for it then you’ll have to get a prescription from a GP in Greece. Unlikely that you’d be able to get your GP from here to send a prescription across as we have different practices of medical prescribing and the pharmacy may not accept the prescription.

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ChloeHel · 26/08/2022 10:21

And I’ve just seen your update. That’s good OP :)

PasTrop · 26/08/2022 10:24

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/08/2022 08:45

My gp won't let me order it as a repeat. I can go online and order it but not as a repeat as in every month or whatever. As for couriering it err no. But thanks.

DH did this in Cyprus, and the pharmacy called a local GP for him who approved a 1-week prescription. He did have to pay €30 to the GP for the call but it was quick and easy.

We got the impression that they do this quite often.

sueelleker · 26/08/2022 10:26

euphigee · 26/08/2022 08:02

Go to the local chemist with box. Often you can pay over the counter and won't need a prescription for some medicines. Not all countries work the same, so maybe in Greece you can buy this one.

We had this in Tenerife. I took my husband's Epilim (anti-convulsant) but didn't realise the box was nearly empty. Took it to a pharmacy and they gave us enough for the holiday.

MissMaple82 · 26/08/2022 10:34

Sertraline isn't a controlled drug, it should be on a repeat after a successful review.

Original poster

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/08/2022 10:45

MissMaple82 · 26/08/2022 10:34

Sertraline isn't a controlled drug, it should be on a repeat after a successful review.

For the third time I can reorder it but it's not a repeat prescription for me

OP posts:

Snozzlemaid · 26/08/2022 10:54

That's what a repeat prescription is.
It's on your record and you contact surgery each month and request next prescription.

Original poster

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/08/2022 10:54

ChloeHel · 26/08/2022 10:21

And I’ve just seen your update. That’s good OP :)

Thank you. I've been on and off it for years. This latest time was during the first lockdown. Maybe I didn't word it very well. I can do a online reorder every time I need it but it's not an automatic repeat. I didn't see a gp when going back on it. It was on the phone. They just said I can't order it as a repeat

OP posts:

princesspenny · 26/08/2022 11:00

I see you are sorted now which is great! Just came on here to say you'll have no bother at all getting any drug from a Greek pharmacist without prescription

Original poster

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/08/2022 11:01

Snozzlemaid · 26/08/2022 10:54

That's what a repeat prescription is.
It's on your record and you contact surgery each month and request next prescription.

Fair enough. They said it wasn't but our surgery 'care navigators' don't always know everything.

OP posts:

Snozzlemaid · 26/08/2022 12:54

That's the way my repeat prescriptions have always worked but your surgery may do it differently.
Glad you're all sorted now.
Hope you can enjoy the rest of your holiday now.

ChloeHel · 26/08/2022 17:05

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/08/2022 10:54

Show quote history

Ah I see what you mean, but it is actually classed as being on repeat though. There is actually little to no such thing as automatic repeats anymore, England started stopping a few years ago due to medicine wastage where they no longer allowed it to be on automatic repeat and wanted patients to order it themselves when they need it. Only some patients get “batches” where it’ll be a 6 month prescription :)

catandcoffee · 26/08/2022 17:21

Just out of curiosity how can the Chemist just give it out like that.?

Can't imagine that happening in England.

I'm pleased out worked out for you OP.

ChloeHel · 26/08/2022 21:12

catandcoffee · 26/08/2022 17:21

Just out of curiosity how can the Chemist just give it out like that.?

Can't imagine that happening in England.

I'm pleased out worked out for you OP.

They must have different regulations and licensing in Greece.

There are some medications in the UK you’d be surprised that we are allowed to give without prescription. People just don’t know that they are P (pharmacy) medicines instead of POM (prescription only) because they are so used to them being on prescription.

Longdistance · 26/08/2022 21:28

I managed to get antibiotics for a chest infection over the counter in Ireland before. I’m sure countries have different regulations on medication.
I’ve lived in Oz and they are strict like the Uk wrt medication that’s prescribed.