Argh DS has run out of prescription meds in France - what’s the best approach??

[FusionChefGeoff]

I checked with him that he’d packed them (for an overactive bladder) and he assured me he had. Forgot to specifically ask if he had packed enough for the whole trip so he’s just run out and we have a week
left.

We will ask at campsite reception, we have NHS app showing that he has them on repeat at home; do we need a doctor or would a pharmacy be able to help??

Any insider info / headstart on our quest would be gratefully appreciated.

You need to see a GP in France (loads around) pay and get a prescription and pay. Travel insurance will reimburse if covered but usually the cost is no more than the excess anyway. NHS will reimburse you with the correct form but we never bother. Very straight forward. I’m sure the campsite will have a GP they can contact.

I think I would start with a pharmacy as sometimes medicines are available from a pharmacy in France where they aren't in the UK. Plus the pharmacy won't cost anything to just go and ask and worst comes to it they'll direct you to a doctor.

I would get your GHICs and download the French language for Google translate in case the signal is iffy.

If you list the specific medication, someone might also be able to work out if it's prescription only or over the counter in France.

I’ve found it online in a French pharmacy and it has a big Prescription Medication tag on it so I think it will be a GP appointment then - will ask campsite tomorrow

its Solifenacine succinate

Yes, I agree that that is definitely prescription only in France from what I can see as well. GP appointment it is by the sounds of it.

Sigh never mind we’ll get on the case tomorrow and hopefully this will make us all triple check next time!!

How old is DS?

I’ve never found a prescription medicine from the UK available over the counter in France. Spain is a different matter but not sure how legal it was 😂

No insider knowledge about France but I think it's an off label drug for overactive bladder in children in the UK. Hopefully I'm just overthinking and it'll be easy, but if he's under 18 I might go in belt and braces just in case. Dig out any letters on your app from consultant/clinic asking GP to prescribe it, as well as the prescription.

I would try the pharmacy first before the doctor - I live in France and I have twice managed to get prescription medicine from French pharmacies (for gout and HRT) for different UK relatives who ran out when visiting. We just had to explain the situation and they said they would provide a small amount to cover the time away on holiday. We obviously had to pay for the medicine both times. For the HRT, my relative had to show her prescription on the NHS app. Worth a try before paying for a doctor as well?

Check with the pharmacy. My dd needed a prescription when travelling abroad recently and the pharmacist accepted one emailed by our GP.

I agree with pps. If you have a recent prescription take it to a pharmacy and they may very likely be able to sell you a single box of whatever you need. It depends on the medication and individual pharmacy though. However if necessary, a visit to a gp costs about 35€.

I went to France and realised I’d left all my medication at home. We went to speak to a pharmacy, they advised we phone our gp and get them to fax/email over a copy of the prescription.
It was all sorted in an hour.

I have also managed to get prescription medication from a pharmacist in France. I went in and they took photos of the problem and sent them to a doctor who recommended a prescription. I only had to pay for the meds. While things took about an hour and cost me 16 euros.

Some pharmacies have booths for online GP consultations (sadly there are large swathes of France with very limited GP access). You could also try an online consultation doctolib or mobidoctor for example