How do I get a doctors letter for OTC medication?

[talkwithmybestfriend]

I’m travelling to Norway at the weekend. I have a knee injury and I’ve been recommended to take cocodamol with me just in case it flares up. I have done a google search and it says that because it’s a controlled drug in most of Europe, I’ll need a prescription for it.

The only issue is, it’s OTC here! Do I just need to contact my GP, explain that I’ve been recommended to take cocodamol with me, and that because of the rules in Europe I need a prescription? Or am I best off doing a private GP’s appointment? I feel a bit confused now!

Who has recommended you take it with you? Speak to them.

The physio, but she can’t prescribe. So now I’m in a bind!

Have a chat with your GP about it. You don’t need a prescription, a doctor’s letter would be enough- essentially its just to prove its for personal use.

Oh will they do that? I know that it’s all in my hospital notes not my GP ones so it’s going to be a nightmare, at this point I’m considering going to a&e just to get some relief from this pain

i sometimes buy it in the UK and bring it over to my EU country of residence. Nobody bothers about a pack of it in my luggage.

What is the exact issue here? are you worried you'll run out and not be able to buy more? Have you got medical insurance for your trip, just in case?

I’m worried about taking it in without the necessary paperwork.

I have insurance and they’re aware, but I don’t fancy a trip to the doctor while I’m there!

Can you access your NHS notes through the app? I can, and then screenshot anything helpful.

The GP will probably make you pay for the letter.

Yeah this is also a worry. I don’t really see why I should pay for a letter to confirm something I’ve been told by an NHS worker

TBH if you are going at the weekend and worried about it I would go private gp route as I doubt NHS would be able to do a letter in time. Having said that I have taken cocodamol tablets with me and never had a problem. Perhaps not take industrial quantities with you though...

If it’s OTC here, can’t you just take some with you?

People bring melatonin in all the time from the US. I also take prescription medication abroad without any sort of note to accompany it. Unless it's large quantities it wont be flagged at customs.

Just pop some pills into a little tub of you are worried about the packaging, but nobody is going to care or check.

Nope, it’s a controlled drug in most of Europe so you need a prescription

It’s £25 a letter from our GP, a private GP would cost you more than that just for a phone call so surely its a no brainer?

Have just seen Fuzzy Wolf post and can confirm we had to pay £60 for an insurance letter and it took weeks 😥

Decant it into a paracetamol box?
I really don’t think anyone will check on one small box of tablets.

You’re over thinking this. Just take some with you. The amount you’re going to take for a ‘just in case’ scenario will no doubt be very small. No one will be bothered.

I’d just be taking a small amount with me and putting in the suitcase. Worst case scenario you will asked to throw it out. They’re only going to care if it looks like your taking enough to sell to people.

so as i said - buy some in uk and bring it with you.

I've never had any problems doing that at all.

Don’t decant it. That’s worse.

stop stressing and just take it. It is a box, not hundreds. There will be no issues.

The official government advice is to not, I don’t want to risk that. I thought that because I’ve been advised to take it they’d be able to help!

The problem is this “advice” is from someone who isn’t actually qualified to give it. A physio can suggest medication, or discuss, but should not be advising.

Speak to your GP if you’d like a letter, they are the best placed to give it.

Could you ask the GP to prescribe the higher strength version then at least you will have a prescription?

Only the 8mg/500mg or 12.8mg/500mg are available to buy OTC but you could be prescribed 15mg/500mg or 30mg/500mg.

How long are you in Norway for? Just the weekend, or longer? If you‘ve been advised to take it with you by your physio “just in case of a flare-up” do you really need to take it? How often do you have a flare up? Can you avoid doing things that will trigger one? It seems like a lot of worry / hassle if you’re only there for a few days.

I’m away for a week, it’s pretty much always agony so she’s recommended it so I can enjoy the trip